The AR Initiative — ESG & Impact Consulting
Advising on sustainable energy transitions through research and communications strategy.
Role: Sustainability Analyst, Research & Advisory Services
Type: Contract
Year: 2022
Location: Nigeria · Remote
Context
The AR Initiative is a Lagos-based sustainability consultancy helping African startups and SMEs embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their operations. As sustainability reporting becomes essential for investment and growth, The AR Initiative bridges the gap between global frameworks and local realities.
I supported research and advisory work across multiple sectors—helping businesses align with ESG standards, assess their impact, and develop actionable sustainability strategies.
I supported research and advisory work across multiple sectors—helping businesses align with ESG standards, assess their impact, and develop actionable sustainability strategies.
What I Did
1. Transforming Africa: Tackling Carbon Intensity
Type: White Paper | Client: Ambo Ventures Researched Nigeria's most carbon-intensive industries (food, transport, energy) and their impact on biodiversity.
Conducted industry assessments, expert interviews, and data visualization to inform climate-conscious policies.
Developed policy recommendations tailored to Nigeria's context, guiding Ambo Ventures' $50M socially responsible investment strategy.
Delivered actionable insights to help SMEs adopt low-carbon, biodiversity-friendly business models.
Impact: Provided a foundational framework for sustainable investment across Africa's high-emission sectors, influencing green policy dialogues and sectoral reform.
2. Empowering Farms with Data-Driven Sustainability
Type: Impact Report | Client: Farmz2U (Agric-Tech) Designed custom sustainability disclosure questions focused on soil health, aligned with GRI Standards.
Enhanced Farmz2U's data collection on environmental performance in Nigeria's agricultural technology sector.
Helped the company establish measurable metrics to monitor soil quality and sustainable farming outcomes
Impact: Enabled Farmz2U to embed sustainability reporting into operations, positioning the startup as a leader in data-driven sustainable agriculture in Africa.
3. Empowering Education for Africa
Type: Impact Report | Client: Teesas (Ed-Tech) Developed a materiality map identifying key sustainability priorities: inclusion, retention, and educational quality.
Conducted stakeholder interviews and performance analysis to assess social and environmental outcomes.
Recommended strategies to improve accessibility, community involvement, and educational impact.
Impact: Informed Teesas' sustainability strategy, ensuring its growth aligns with inclusive, socially responsible education practices.
4. Transforming Healthcare in Africa
Type: Impact Report | Client: Healthtracka (Health-Tech) Created a GRI-aligned sustainability framework covering economic, environmental, and social dimensions.
Evaluated key metrics such as waste management, procurement practices, and data privacy.
Developed recommendations to enhance operational sustainability and stakeholder engagement.
Impact: Strengthened Healthtracka's ESG performance and established it as a responsible leader in Africa's digital healthcare ecosystem.
5. Revving Up Nigeria's Green Transit
Type: Research Survey | Cities: Lagos & Abuja Co-led a nationwide survey and emissions analysis on Nigeria's transportation sector.
Designed and executed stakeholder surveys with drivers, automakers, and policy actors.
Identified key challenges in outdated vehicle fleets and emissions intensity.
Proposed sustainable urban mobility strategies and policy frameworks for green transport.
Impact: Produced one of Nigeria's early data-driven reports on transportation emissions, guiding urban sustainability policy discussions in Lagos and Abuja.
Featured Article:
Can Sustainability Reporting Drive SDGs?
Read here Overall Impact
Through these projects, I helped bridge the gap between sustainability theory and actionable practice—supporting African startups and SMEs to operate responsibly, align with ESG standards, and drive measurable social and environmental change.
Skills Demonstrated
Sustainability Consulting
ESG Strategy
Research & Policy Analysis
GRI Reporting
Environmental Impact Assessment
Stakeholder Engagement
Data Visualization
Report Writing
Editorial Communication
ESG Strategy
Research & Policy Analysis
GRI Reporting
Environmental Impact Assessment
Stakeholder Engagement
Data Visualization
Report Writing
Editorial Communication