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In the global race toward sustainable business, there is a risk that ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) becomes another imported concept, applied without context or relevance.
But in Africa, and particularly here in Botswana, ESG must mean something more. It must be locally defined, purposefully led, and deeply transformational.
At the BIHL Group, we don’t view ESG as a tick-box exercise or external pressure. It is a conscious commitment, a way of doing business that aligns with our core purpose: Improving livelihoods, and this means ensuring impact for both current and future generations. This commitment is woven into how we invest, the partnerships we form, and the way we hold ourselves accountable to the country we serve.
From Profit to Purpose: Embedding ESG in Capital Allocation
As one of the largest diversified financial services groups in Botswana, we recognise that every investment we make shapes the world we live in. That is why we are intentional in how we allocate capital, ensuring it not only delivers returns, but also drives measurable social, environmental and economic impact.
In 2023, the BIHL Group and its subsidiaries collectively contributed over P12 million to community development, targeting areas such as financial literacy for rural women, education for underserved youth, and access to inclusive health solutions. Done both through the BIHL Trust as well as in direct subsidiary initiatives, this was done not simply as philanthropy; we see it as sustainable value creation that strengthens the very communities in which we operate.
Finance as a Force for National Progress
Why does this matter? Because we see finance as a force for national progress. Through Botswana Life and Bifm, our investment portfolio reflects an evolving priority: to support Botswana’s development aspirations while advancing long-term sustainability.
We are proud to be enabling investment into projects that align with national ambitions for economic growth, prosperity and diversification. In 2024, Bifm-supported instruments contributed to more than 18MW of renewable energy capacity under development across the region. Moreover, we are engaging our investee companies on better governance, labour practices, and environmental safeguards, because how business is done matters just as much as what is achieved.
Locally Led, Globally Aligned
While global ESG frameworks offer useful guidance, they do not always reflect the lived experiences or urgent priorities of African markets. For Botswana, ESG must be about jobs, equity, resilience, and environmental preservation. Things that are relevant to our country’s current reality and future ambitions; to the true temperature of what is happening on the ground.
We believe in building from the ground up, listening to communities, empowering local enterprises, and co-creating solutions that work for our context. Our country cannot outsource its sustainability agenda. It must be defined by Batswana, for Batswana. After 50 years of being in business, this reality has never felt truer or more relevant than it does now.
The Road Ahead: A Call to Lead
Globally, the shift toward ESG is accelerating. But here in Africa, we have the opportunity to shape what ESG means, not as compliance, but as competitive edge. Africa is home to the youngest population, some of the richest biodiversity, and the most urgent development gaps. If we get ESG right, we don't just respond to global standards, we set them.
As Botswana moves towards a more diversified and inclusive economy, financial institutions have a unique responsibility and opportunity to lead by example. We are not shy to stand forward. At the BIHL Group, we will continue to prioritise investments that honour our commitment to people, planet and prosperity. We will continue to ask hard questions and choose the harder, more meaningful path when it comes to doing what is right.
And above all, we will continue to be guided by the belief that improving livelihoods is not just our purpose; it is our promise to the nation.
By Baledzi Makobo, Group Head: Risk and Compliance, The BIHL Group