By Pierre-Samuel Guedj, sustainability expert, economic diplomacy and government relations, President of Affectio Mutandi & of the RSE & ODD commission of CIAN
Long confined to defending commercial interests and seeking foreign direct investments, economic diplomacy in Africa is undergoing a paradigm shift. At a time when climate, social, and governance issues are becoming decisive in global economic decision-making, sustainability, ESG criteria (environment, social, governance), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are emerging as the new languages of power and geopolitical credibility.
Sustainability and sovereignty: the ongoing transformation
Far from being a passing trend, sustainability has become a matter of sovereignty for African states. In contractual negotiations, especially in extractive, energy, or infrastructure sectors, African governments increasingly demand that projects contribute to local value added, climate resilience, and decent employment.
By incorporating local content clauses, social royalty mechanisms, or skills transfer obligations, CSR becomes a lever for rebalancing power dynamics against long-dominant multinationals.
Countries like Gabon, DRC, or Ivory Coast have even enshrined CSR in their positive law, while others are experimenting with national ESG labels to attract investors who are both responsible and competitive.
ESG and green diplomacy: new pillars of international alliances
The rise of international regulations—such as the CSRD directive, European duty of vigilance, or green taxonomy—is reshaping economic diplomacy. International funders, rating agencies, and major clients now condition their commitments on specific sustainability criteria.
This evolution is pushing African states to structure their diplomatic offering around sustainability. Climate financing, green projects, clean energy, biodiversity, and sustainable cities are becoming priorities in bilateral and multilateral summits: COP, One Forest Summit, Africa Climate Week…
But this transformation is not just about aligning with Western standards. It is also an opportunity for Africa to assert its own priorities—adaptation, climate justice, combating energy poverty, inclusion of local communities—in an ESG language that remains too asymmetric.
Sustainability as a criterion for alliance and arbitration
In public tenders, investment projects, and strategic partnerships, social and environmental performance is becoming a criterion for diplomatic arbitration. It is no longer just about amounts or deadlines, but about the ability to create lasting impact. A company that offers a less polluting, more inclusive, or job-creating project can now outperform a traditionally dominant player.
This shift is transforming the nature of international alliances. While some countries like China, Turkey, or the UAE adapt their discourse to these requirements, Europe and the United States seek to redefine their influence through binding normative frameworks. Africa, on the other hand, can now play a strategic arbitrator role by highlighting its ability to reconcile social demands and economic attractiveness.
Between opportunities and risks of instrumentalization
This reconfiguration is not without risks. The temptation of CSR-washing is real, even in government circles. The use of ESG indicators without a clear legal framework, without monitoring tools, and without the involvement of local populations can weaken the credibility of commitments made.
Likewise, green diplomacy cannot be mere rhetoric. It requires strengthened administrative capacities, inter-ministerial cooperation, robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and involvement of civil society. Sustainability is not a facade, it is a contract.
Towards a responsible and ambitious African economic diplomacy
The integration of ESG and CSR issues into African diplomatic practices is no longer just a moral add-on. It is a strategy for influence, competitiveness, and sovereignty. If carried out with coherence, courage, and rigor, it can make Africa a full-fledged normative actor, capable of redefining global standards for responsible investment, transparency, and environmental justice.
Sustainable cities, responsible mining, regenerative agriculture, multi-stakeholder partnerships, social innovation, and inclusive digital are no longer niches. They are the vanguard of tomorrow’s economic diplomacy.
This turning point calls for a new generation of diplomats, negotiators, and public decision-makers, trained in sustainability issues and capable of building impactful coalitions across the continent. It is under these conditions that Africa can impose its narratives, priorities, and solutions in the global economic arena.
