Imani Development International has successfully completed its B Corp recertification audit, with an impressive B Impact Score of 104, ranking it as the third highest B Corp™ in South Africa. This milestone coincides with B Corp Month 2025, a global movement celebrating businesses that use their work to drive positive change for people and the planet.
Every three years, companies must re-certify and demonstrate continuous improvement and high standards in five impact areas; social sustainability, environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Businesses that are recognized as Certified B Corps adhere to high standards of social and environmental impact to achieve a balance between profitability and purpose.
A Journey of Impact: How it Began
Imani’s journey to B Corp Certification began in May 2017, with a simple but powerful belief: business should be a force for good. The team set out to build a company that uses its business to build inclusive and sustainable economies. Since then, Imani has worked hard to push boundaries, holding itself accountable to reshaping the future through ethical business.
To qualify for certification, the organisation has made significant changes to its legal structure, embedding stakeholder interests into its governing documents. This ensures its commitment to social and environmental responsibility is legally bound, ensuring long-term dedication beyond just profit maximization.
A key part of this success relates to development work focused on serving underserved populations in Africa. Specific projects include the AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund and Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund projects, which are supporting the inclusion of smallholder farmers into agri-business value chains. Both projects aim to increase incomes and food security for at least 250 000 smallholder farmers who lack access to services or inputs. Imani Development is also part of a consortium of partners implementing the Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy (GREEN Tech4CE) project in Zambia. This EU-funded initiative aims to promote sustainable practices by supporting the development of start-ups and MSMEs within the green, circular, and digital sectors.
Why B Impact Certification Matters
Commenting on this great achievement, Imani Development’s Managing Director, Mirabel Bausinger said, “For Imani Development, B Corp Certification is a formal recognition of the values we have long held using business as a tool for good, prioritizing long-term impact over short-term gain, and actively contributing to positive social, economic, and environmental change. By being a part of this global movement, we demonstrate our commitment to ethical business practices and to advancing economic development in Africa in a way that benefits all”.
In 2022, Imani Development was also named 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp™ in recognition of its exceptional positive impact on its Customers. Learn more about Imani Development’s overall B Impact Score across five impact areas: social sustainability, environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.