About this report

Airtel Africa plc is pleased to present its Sustainability Report 2025, reflecting the company’s commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices for the financial year 2024/25. This report provides an overview of our sustainability performance, highlighting our achievements, challenges and programmes that minimise impact on the environment and optimise the positive impact we have on the communities in which we operate.

The report has been prepared in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework, adhering to GRI’s nine reporting principles of accuracy, balance, clarity, comparability, completeness, sustainability context, timeliness, verifiability and stakeholder inclusiveness. We also align with GSMA’s ESG recommendations for the telecommunications industry and the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Alignment with these reporting frameworks ensures we maintain best practices in transparency and accountability.

Scope and boundaries

This report covers Airtel Africa’s operations across its 14 markets: Nigeria; Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia (East Africa); and Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Republic of the Congo, the Seychelles (Francophone Africa). Where data is disclosed on a Group wide basis this is separately noted in the GRI disclosure index. Updates on certain activities may not be included due to lack of data availability and in these instances, we provide clear explanation in the GRI disclosures index. We’ll continue to enhance our reporting and disclosures in future publications.

Double materiality assessment and stakeholder engagement

The report details Airtel Africa’s material topics (impacts) which were identified through a structured double materiality assessment in the previous reporting year. The assessment incorporated input from stakeholders, including employees, investors, customers and local communities. This rigorous approach to identifying our highest priority material topics ensured we focused on the most relevant ESG issues affecting our business and stakeholders in 2024/25. This report provides details of how we manage our high priority material topics.

Data collection and assurance

We are committed to enhancing the integrity and transparency of our sustainability reporting and governance. In addition to the comfort that management obtains internally over this report, we are working towards obtaining independent assurance on sustainability KPIs in future reporting cycles, which reflects our ongoing efforts to strengthen data quality and governance.

Our commitment to sustainability

We recognise our responsibility to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and our responsibility towards environmental protection, corporate governance, human rights and community development. We report our progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and remain committed to upholding the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). We remain wholly committed to maintaining responsible business practices guided by appropriate internal governance, the Sustainability Committee (a Board sub-committee) and oversight from the Board of directors.

This Sustainability Report has been developed by the head of sustainability and approved by the Sustainability Committee, Executive Committee (ExCo) and the Board of directors.