Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Commitment

At rise International, we are committed to fostering sustainable development, social equity, and strong governance in Lesotho and Sub-Saharan Africa. Our work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global climate action frameworks, and principles of ethical governance. Through sustainable building, entrepreneurship development, and community-driven solutions, we ensure that our impact is long-lasting and transformative.

rise International launched the Research & Innovation (R&I) program in June 2022 to drive impactful climate change solutions, innovative building practices, sustainable economic development, and entrepreneurship. The program aligns with our goal of positively impacting Sub-Saharan Africa by improving the quality of design, construction, and economic development. Through rigorous research and cutting-edge solutions, we aim to address climate change, drive innovation in building practices, and promote sustainable development locally and globally. The R&I program bridges the gap between research on sustainable building materials and entrepreneurship in Lesotho through several key strategies, addressing climate resilience and sustainability. 

By aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs & global frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement (2015) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997), we focus on innovative building solutions that utilise locally sourced materials to reduce Lesotho’s reliance on imports and its environmental footprint. In particular, our R&I Program aligns with the following SDGS:

  • 13 CLIMATE ACTION
  • 5 GENDER EQUALITY
  • 1 NO POVERTY
  • 11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES &  COMMUNITIES
  • 9 INDUSTRY INNOVATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
  • 8 DECENT WORK & ECONOMIC GROWTH
  • 17 PARTNERSHIP GOALS

Research & Innovation  Program  Focus Areas

 

Built Environment:

  • By developing locally sourced sustainable materials, Lesotho can reduce its reliance on imported building materials (currently 74%).
  • Promote innovative building solutions aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Improve shelter and housing for low-income households.
  • Decrease household dependence on polluting heating sources by promoting awareness of thermally efficient building materials.

Entrepreneurship:

    • Address youth unemployment (39%) and limited job opportunities (7,500 graduates enter a limited job market annually) by empowering young Basotho entrepreneurs.
    • Support Lesotho’s National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) by promoting economic diversification and small enterprises.
    • Promote a circular economy through workshops and training sessions on sustainable building materials.

OUR IMPACT

Figure 1: Participants of a circular economy workshop

Figure 2: Awareness Exhibition of hemp blocks, ICEB & plastic bricks

Figure 3: ICEB brick production training

Figure 4: Plastic brick production training

FUTURE PROJECTS

  • Research on Sustainable Alternative Binders
  • Training Women and Local
  • Fired Brick Producers on production on ICEB
  • Development of a Manual for ICEB
  • Demo Buildings using Sustainable building materials for Affordable Housing
  • Prototyping of ICEB and
  • Hempcrete Blocks
  • Research on Basalt and Dolerite in the Built Environment
  • GIS mapping of Thatch

FAQ

Answers to Your Questions About Our ESG Commitment.

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