As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the climate crisis – more than ever – is at the heart of global concerns. Financial Afrik asked Erick Maville, President of Santé en Entreprise (SEE Association) specializing in advocacy, policy development, and management of CSR and innovation programs in health, what should be the contribution of the African private sector to the main development goals (SDGs.) The international NGO SEE Association, which he founded in 2011, commissioned the first CSR & Health 2024 barometer, the second edition of which will be presented at the 4th edition of the FORAS 2026 Forum in Morocco.
Interview by Christine Holzbauer, in Paris
You have just participated in a round table dedicated to “the African private sector facing the SDGs: the strategic role of human capital” at the invitation of Tania-Bénédicte M’Baka from the NGO Migrations et Climat as part of the Mobility, Recruitment and Entrepreneurship Days for Africa (JMREA), organized by the African Business Club and the recruitment firm AfricSearch, in Paris. How do climate changes affect the health of populations in Africa?
They act as an aggravating or multiplying factor of risks, amplifying many problems already faced by populations. Particularly exposed and vulnerable, Africa is impacted by the ongoing climate change. The increase in air temperature directly impacts the health of the population with a multiplication of hyperthermia and cardiovascular or respiratory diseases that can lead to peaks in mortality. The most vulnerable individuals are young children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
Furthermore, the intensification of natural disasters (floods, fires, etc.) increases the number of victims and consequently the number of deaths and casualties. A change in climatic conditions triggers a cascade of reactions, from the establishment of new species to a change in behavior, through a modification of environments that can indirectly lead to nuisances for local populations. The increase in temperatures can promote the appearance and proliferation of microbial, plant, and animal species that can cause allergies, intoxications, and infectious diseases.
According to the NGO Oxfam, inequalities between the rich and the poor in terms of carbon footprint are widening. Since 1990, the top 0.1% richest in Europe have increased their share of total greenhouse gas emissions by 14%; while the poorest half have reduced theirs by 27%. What should be the contribution of companies facing this climate/health dilemma on a global scale?
The health of executives and employees should be considered as the first intangible asset of responsible companies. The COVID crisis in 2020 has accelerated the awareness that no business can be sustainable without talented and healthy human capital. As employers and economic operators rooted in territories, companies are called upon to do more in the field of health promotion, as this situation is becoming a current and future strategic issue at the heart of their social responsibility.
In this sense, they must now act differently by articulating the three spheres of workplace health, public health, and ecosystem health. This trend should be affirmed in the coming years, notably through the deployment of the One Health approach, which aims for an integrated approach to all aspects of human health, animal health, and ecosystem management. This concept clearly emphasizes the need for policies integrating human health and biodiversity and should allow companies to better articulate environmental, social, and governance issues in their CSR strategy.
Where are we in achieving the SDGs regarding health?
Infectious diseases transmitted by animals and insects known as “vectors” receive special attention in environmental health. Studies have shown the influence of climate change on vector-borne diseases, whose resurgence is linked to rising temperatures that favor their development, the extension of their distribution areas, and the acceleration of pathogen development. This is the case, for example, with the tiger mosquito responsible for the transmission of chikungunya, dengue, and Zika.
With only five years left to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, global progress is largely insufficient, with only 17% of the goals on track, according to the latest annual report from the UN. Regarding SDG 3 (Access to health and well-being for all), progress has indeed been made since 2015, especially in terms of infant mortality and AIDS-related deaths. However, delays have been observed in other areas such as maternal mortality or access to healthcare for all. The increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers…) as well as the (re)emergence of new global epidemics linked to climate change and biodiversity loss (Dengue, Mpox…) constitute major challenges to be addressed in all countries, especially in Africa.
What lessons do you draw from the findings of your first CSR & Health Barometer published in 2024?
More than just a communication tool, CSR must now be considered as a strategic approach for companies called upon to address the negative impacts of their activities and to meet the challenge of the sustainability of their business model. That is why, in 2024, my association launched the first study dedicated to the place of health in the CSR strategies of companies. Surveys were conducted from November 2023 to October 2024, based on the review and screening of CSR reports from 135 companies (SBF120 + 9.) It emerged that health promotion is not among the main sustainable development goals considered by companies operating in Africa.
Among the five SDGs most “prioritized” by the surveyed companies are: SDG-9 (industry, innovation, infrastructure, 97%); SDG-13 (Climate, 95%); SDG-12 (responsible consumption and production, 93%); SDG-7 (access to clean energy, 86%); and SDG-17 (Partnerships, 75%.) SDG-3 (Good health and well-being) only ranks 10th out of 17 in the ranking: 49% for the entire panel and 52% for companies operating in Africa. Moreover, the sustainability reporting of companies’ actions and the measurement of their contribution to the achievement of SDG-3 remain below expectations.
Do you expect similar results for the second edition of your barometer, the results of which will be published on October 8 and 9, 2026?
We hope that a greater awareness will have occurred by then in the face of the accumulation of natural disasters. What are the major trends observed in sustainability reporting in the context of the delayed application of the new EU CSRD directive, which took place in 2025? How are African companies addressing these issues? Is health being more considered as a strategic priority within COMEX? What place does CSR and health-related issues occupy in the agendas of European and African private sector organizations? These are some of the questions we will ask during the survey. The essential point for us is to determine whether companies are increasing their contribution to achieving the SDGs and what are the prioritized themes and actions they have adopted in the field of health and with what measure of impact. Finally, what strategies are private investors putting in place – in the context of the widespread reduction in official development assistance (ODA) – to boost health programs. In other words, after the withdrawal of the United States to finance this sector, what are the new partnership models being implemented to address the funding gap.
