Professional Accountancy Organisations in Africa to Pioneer Sustainability Reporting Capacity Through PAFA-Led Pilot

Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 November 2025

The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is launching a pilot initiative that will enable professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) in Africa to take the lead in building the continent’s capacity for sustainability reporting.

Through this pilot, participating PAOs will be the first to access a dedicated online platform powered by The ESG Exchange — a cutting-edge sustainability learning environment designed to strengthen professional competence in sustainability and integrated reporting.

Empowering Members to Lead Africa’s Sustainability Transition

The pilot will equip members of participating PAOs with the knowledge and tools to meet the growing global and national demand for credible sustainability information. The platform offers interactive, role-based learning aligned with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 and IFRS S2), the Transition Plan Disclosure Framework, and the International Integrated Reporting Framework.

Courses are tailored for board members, executives, professional accountants, internal auditors, and project managers, providing both technical and practical learning to help each group apply sustainability principles in their respective roles.

Participants who complete the pilot course will be the first in Africa to gain a home-grown yet globally benchmarked foundation in sustainability reporting — laying the cornerstone of the continent’s capacity to meet evolving global expectations and to advance Africa’s sustainable development.

PAFA Driving Capacity Building at Scale

This pilot is a central part of PAFA’s commitment to advancing sustainability reporting through the PAFA Sustainability Centre of Excellence, which seeks to build capacity at scale across Africa’s accountancy profession. Working through its member PAOs ensures that capacity is developed where it matters most—within national systems and professional communities.

“By empowering our member organisations and their professionals to lead in sustainability reporting, PAFA is helping to position Africa not as a follower, but as a driver of global sustainability transformation,” said Walid BEN SALAH, President of PAFA. “The participating PAOs and their members will set the foundation for a continent-wide capability that reflects Africa’s realities, priorities, and ambitions.”

Collaboration for Sustainable Impact

The pilot will run until April 2026, involving up to 15 PAOs and more than 500 professionals across Africa. Plans are also underway to extend the platform in French and Portuguese, ensuring inclusivity across the continent’s linguistic diversity.

The ESG Exchange, PAFA’s technology partner in this initiative, will provide the platform infrastructure and course content. PAFA will coordinate the pilot through its network of member organisations and evaluate its potential for continent-wide rollout.

About the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA): PAFA is the continental body representing professional accountancy organisations in 47 African countries. Its mission is to accelerate the development of the accountancy profession and strengthen Africa’s voice and influence in the global economy.

About The ESG Exchange: The ESG Exchange is a global digital platform that delivers sustainability education and collaboration opportunities through a network of white-labelled microsites, enabling professionals to build competence in sustainability and integrated reporting.