On the road to sustainability: The role of board characteristics in driving ESG performance in Africa

This paper investigates the relationship between board characteristics and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance by analyzing 109 firms listed in the African Stock Exchanges from 2016 to 2022. Our findings indicate that board independence, as well as board gender diversity and specific skills, are associated with higher levels of ESG performance. In contrast, larger boards tend to diminish ESG performance in Africa. We also found that the presence of a sustainability committee and a corporate governance committee contributes to driving positive ESG outcomes. This study provides relevant insights and yields significant implications for policymakers and companies, suggesting the need to increase sustainability concerns in their agendas to foster sustainable economic growth in Africa.