The concept of sustainability has sparked extensive debate, in practice and academia. The term is applied across multiple contexts, often to mean different things. Sunkings Consultants is in the business of sustainability: We promote sustainable growth across Africa. In this article, we outline what sustainability means in our context and why that definition matters.
For a long time, ecologists used the term sustainability to refer to the rate at which natural resources could be used without destroying the ecosystems that support them. In 1987, however, the United Nations’ Brundtland Commission provided one of the most widely used definitions of sustainability: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Vos, 2007). Since then, several related terms have emerged, each emphasizing different aspects of the concept. These include sustainable development, sustainable communities, ecological/environmental sustainability, sustainable growth, and strategic sustainability.
Sunkings Consultants’ understanding of sustainability is drawn from these definitions and then localized to the African context. We understand sustainability as an approach that requires stakeholders to balance social development, economic growth, and ecological integrity. Put simply, social development and economic growth cannot ignore or sabotage ecological integrity. Ecological integrity cannot also ignore or sabotage social development and economic growth. For us, the economy, environment, and society must progress in tandem.
These three areas, however, are highly context-specific-and this is where Sunkings Consultants localizes sustainability. In the economic facet, for example, Africa is distinguished by large informal economies, heavy reliance on agriculture for employment, limited access to affordable formal finance, and infrastructure gaps. At Sunkings Consultants, we therefore focus on productivity and livelihood security, improving market access, and strengthening value chains. In the societal facet, on the other hand, Africa is defined by community-based decision-making, a large and growing youth population, indigenous knowledge passed across generations, strong informal networks, and social identities closely tied to farming and herding. Sunkings Consultants therefore works through community structures, respects cultural knowledge, and recognizes the youth as key stakeholders. Lastly, Sunkings Consultants is cognizant of the unique environmental realities in Africa: increased climate vulnerability, dependence on rain-fed agriculture, uneven water distribution, higher biodiversity, and more fragile ecosystems. These challenges place adaptation and resilience at the heart of Sunkings Consultants’ work.
Reference
Vos, R. Perspective-Defining sustainability: A conceptual orientation. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 82, 334-339.