ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability)

What ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability) does

ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability) is a Dakar, Senegal-headquartered ESG and HSEC advisory firm founded in 2019, operating across 18 countries in Africa and Central Asia with a team of approximately 46-51 employees. The firm serves mining, energy, and infrastructure corporates alongside development finance institutions, delivering a portfolio of 10 core service lines: HSEC outsourcing, ESG outsourcing, management systems implementation, ESG/HSE due diligence, IESC auditing, social and community engagement, biodiversity advisory, green finance, sustainability/climate/carbon services, and training & capacity building. Its client base includes IFC, AFC, UNDP, IFAD, UK FCDO (via Climate Fund Managers), and Manufacturing Africa, indicating alignment with international standards including Equator Principles, IFC Performance Standards, ISSB, and GRI.

The firm operates a hybrid business model combining fixed monthly subscription-based HSEC/ESG outsourcing (producing recurring revenue) with project-based consulting engagements (providing project fees). Its technology stack centers on a proprietary training platform backed by a library of 100+ template documents and management systems documentation, which serves as the firm's primary reusable knowledge asset. The company is increasingly investing in software development capacity, including recent senior technical hires, suggesting a transition beyond purely service-delivery toward digital tooling.

ESS monetizes its positioning as a low-cost, locally-embedded alternative to European and North American ESG consultancies that compete for the same institutional contracts. With 45% female employees and 55% female leadership, the firm promotes gender-balanced staffing as both a hiring differentiator and a signal to institutional clients. Geographic expansion into Kazakhstan and Brazil indicates intentional extension beyond West and East Africa into Central Asia and Latin America, while the launch of Green Finance and Carbon advisory services extends the firm into climate finance, a high-growth segment where development finance institutions are channeling significant capital.

Name

ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability)

Legal name

ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability)

Website

https://essustainability.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ESS is a Dakar-headquartered ESG and HSEC advisory firm serving mining, energy, and infrastructure clients across 18 African and Central Asian countries via subscription outsourcing and project consulting, with institutional clients including IFC, UNDP, IFAD, and UK FCDO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ESG and HSEC Advisory Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Strategy & Materiality Assessment (EUAHAJAA), Stakeholder Engagement & ESG Governance (Policies, KPIs, incentives) (EUAHAJAJ), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

Keywords

• ESG advisory services
• HSEC management consulting
• Sustainability advisory services
• Environmental due diligence
• Green finance consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. HSEC & ESG Outsourcing: Fixed monthly rate service providing experienced teams and management systems aligned with international standards (IFC PS). Provides full-time in-country managers with support teams and back-office assistance.
2. Consulting and Advisory Services: Due diligence, gap analysis, IESC services, third-party audits, biodiversity assessments, social and communities planning, and sustainability reporting.
3. Training and Capacity Building: In-person and online training programs tailored for different organizational levels, leveraging proprietary learning platform.
4. Carbon and Green Finance Advisory: Carbon credit generation, feasibility studies, green finance strategy development, and climate risk assessments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ESS is an implementation-focused advisory services firm that provides HSEC, ESG and sustainability outsourcing, management system implementation, environmental and social due diligence, IESC services, third-party audits, biodiversity and social/community advisory, green and sustainable finance work, and training and capacity building for companies, investors, financial institutions, governments, and NGOs operating in Africa and emerging economies. Services are delivered by multi-lingual in-country teams and are aligned with international standards such as IFC Performance Standards, ISO requirements, Equator Principles, ISSB, GRI, SDGs and TCFD.

Product overview

ESS is a leading implementation-focused advisory services firm delivering sustainable development in Africa and emerging economies. The company offers a comprehensive suite of ESG, HSEC, and sustainability services structured as ten core service offerings: HSEC Outsourcing (providing in-country HSEC managers and management systems for companies and projects), ESG Outsourcing (providing ESG management teams for financial institutions and corporate groups), Management Systems (developing HSEC and ESG management documentation using over 100 template documents), Due Diligence & Gap Analysis (identifying ESG risks and developing action plans), IESC & Auditing (acting as Independent Environmental & Social Consultant and conducting third-party audits), Social & Communities (resettlement planning, stakeholder engagement, human rights assessments), Biodiversity (biodiversity action plans, rehabilitation planning), Green/Sustainable Finance (developing sustainable financial instruments), Sustainability/Climate & Carbon (carbon accounting, sustainability reporting), and Training & Capacity Building (proprietary learning platform and curriculum). These services work together to provide integrated end-to-end sustainability solutions for emerging markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HSEC Outsourcing (Companies & Projects) Provides experienced HSEC management teams and management systems aligned with international standards (IFC Performance Standards) at fixed monthly rates for companies and projects, including full-time in-country HSEC Managers, support teams, management systems, and back-office support.
• ESG Outsourcing (Finance & Corporate) Provides ESG management teams and management systems for banks, funds, programmes and corporate groups to enhance ESG performance and proactively manage ESG risks throughout deal-flow, including full-time ESG Managers, support teams, and management systems.
• Management Systems Develops HSEC and ESG Management Systems (ESMS/HSMS) at project and corporate/investor levels using over 100 template documents, implementing and auditing systems aligned with ISO requirements and IFC Performance Standards.
• Due Diligence & Gap Analysis Conducts environmental and social due diligence and gap analysis to identify hidden ESG challenges, develop Environmental and Social Action Plans (ESAP), and provide cost-effective pathways to compliance with international standards.
• IESC & Auditing Provides Independent Environmental & Social Consultant (IESC) services for investors, third-party ESG audits for companies, and E&S performance monitoring from construction to operations aligned with IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles, and ISSB/GRI-aligned sustainability reporting.
• Social & Communities Prepares and implements Resettlement Action Plans, Livelihood Restoration Plans, Stakeholder Engagement Plans, and Human Rights Impact Assessments, providing teams for community relations and stakeholder management.
• Biodiversity Identifies biodiversity risks and develops Biodiversity Action Plans, Closure and Rehabilitation Plans, and ecosystem impact assessments, providing specialists for key species management, reforestation, and offset feasibility studies.
• Green / Sustainable Finance Supports financial institutions in developing green and sustainable financial instruments, reviewing portfolios and loan books, and integrating climate, gender and ESG-related risks aligned with SDGs and TCFD frameworks.
• Sustainability, Climate & Carbon Develops annual sustainability reports, identifies climate risks, quantifies carbon footprints with Scope 1, 2 and 3 accounting, evaluates carbon credit potential, and provides Life Cycle Analysis and emissions reduction planning.
• Training & Capacity Building Provides in-person and online training on HSEC, ESG and sustainability issues using a learning-by-doing teaching method, with proprietary learning platform and curriculum tailored for each organisational level.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4 years of HSEC Outsourcing for Ghoubet 60MW Wind Farm with multiple investors with strict ESG requirements
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UN Global Compact (UNGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESS is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and undertakes regular annual UNGC reporting on progress in line with the SDGs.
• IFC (International Finance Corporation)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIFC is a key standard-setter whose Performance Standards ESS aligns with. ESS has worked on IFC-financed projects including USD 375M loan to Moov Africa Telecoms.
• MIGA (World Bank)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS has provided environmental and social advisory services for MIGA-financed construction projects including Mohammed VI Polytechnic University New Campus.
• UK FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESS has been the Climate & Environment Team for the Manufacturing Africa Programme since 2021, providing ESG outsourcing across 7 countries.
• Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS has provided multiple services spanning due diligence auditing, management systems, and site-based HSEC support. Working on Infrastructure Climate Resilient Fund (ICRF) Programme across 17 African countries.
• Climate Fund ManagerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS has provided valuable services spanning due diligence auditing, management systems, and site-based HSEC support. Helping fill resource gaps with readily-available network of staff.
• IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS developed ESMF for IGREENFIN Programme I & II across 12 West African countries and Africa Integrated Climate Risk Management Programme.
• FSD AfricaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS conducted scoping study and stakeholder engagement for Green Bonds in the West African Economic & Monetary Union (WAEMU).
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS supported GCF accreditation renewal, reviewing and updating E&S and gender safeguards and management systems worldwide.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anthesis Group: Anthesis is a global sustainability consultancy offering ESG strategy, climate advisory, and sustainability reporting. It is comparable to ESS in offering practical, implementation-focused ESG services, though with a stronger developed-market footprint.
• Steward Redqueen: Steward Redqueen is a specialized impact, ESG, and sustainability advisory firm active with development finance institutions and corporates in emerging markets. It overlaps with ESS on IFC-aligned ESG due diligence and impact advisory.
• SLR Consulting: SLR is a global environmental and advisory consultancy with strong mining, energy, and infrastructure E&S capabilities. It competes with ESS on environmental and social due diligence, ESG advisory, and HSEC outsourcing, with comparable emerging-market exposure.
• South Pole: South Pole is a global climate solutions and carbon advisory firm active in emerging markets. It overlaps directly with ESS's green finance and carbon credit advisory lines, particularly in Africa.
• dss+ (formerly DuPont Sustainable Solutions): dss+ provides operational risk management, HSE consulting, and sustainability advisory to industrial clients globally. It is comparable to ESS on HSEC outsourcing and management systems for mining, energy, and industrial projects.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): ERM is the largest pure-play global sustainability and environmental consultancy with deep emerging-market coverage. It is the most direct competitor to ESS in IFC Performance Standards, E&S due diligence, and IESC services, though it operates at significantly larger scale and price points.

Broad incumbents

• KPMG Sustainability Services: KPMG's sustainability practice provides ESG advisory, climate risk, and assurance services to large corporates and financial institutions globally. It competes with ESS on ESG advisory for African corporates and DFI clients but as part of a much broader audit and advisory portfolio.
• WSP Environment & Energy: WSP is a global engineering professional services firm with a large environmental, energy, and climate adaptation practice. It competes with ESS on E&S advisory for major infrastructure and mining projects, though as part of a much broader portfolio of engineering services.
• AECOM Environment: AECOM provides global environmental, engineering, and advisory services including ESG and climate advisory for large infrastructure and mining clients. It overlaps with ESS on E&S due diligence and HSEC support but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Emerging players

• Palladium: Palladium is an implementation-focused advisory firm operating across emerging markets with development finance and corporate clients. It shares ESS's donor- and IFI-aligned, on-the-ground delivery model across climate, ESG, and sustainable development mandates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/essustainability

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability)