Sama has announced that it has completed the recertification process as a Certified B Corporation. Conducted by B Lab, Sama increased its score from 98.5 five years ago to 118.4. The new score showed an increase across the board. With an uplift in governance, workforce development, community impact, and environmental stewardship. It was well above the 80-point threshold and double the average organisation score.
Over the last five years, since it was initially certified, the increases represent recent initiatives. Such as cutting its carbon footprint by 17.1% in 2024. It achieved this by switching 23% of its electricity usage to renewables. It has also expanded its career-building programs for East African talent.
Sama has also published its 2024 Environmental & Report, which includes further details of its progress. To establish itself as a fair and inclusive employer that invests in the regenerative economy.
Wendy Gonzalez, CEO of Sama, commented, “We are thrilled to recertify as B Corp, which offers independent proof that responsible AI can, and must, deliver measurable benefits to both people and planet. Raising our score nearly 20 points reflects the thousands of decisions our teams made in recent years to embed ethics, transparency and sustainability deep into our business model.”
What is in the report
The Sama report is substantive. Reflecting how it has continued to advance the positive impact it has on its stakeholders, both internal and external. In 2025, it will move several initiatives forward.
It reduced carbon emissions by 17.1% from the 2023 baseline. By reducing business travel emissions by 38% and increasing the sourcing of renewable energy.
Sama now claims 23% of its electrical energy requirements are sourced from renewable sources, following deals with San Francisco’s CleanSF program and Malindi Solar Farm in Kenya.
Environment Impact
Sama’s recently published 2024 Impact Report details a year of accelerated stakeholder value that included several improvements to its environment impact.
- 17.1% reduction in absolute carbon emissions from the 2023 baseline, advancing the company’s Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated targets.
- 23% of global electricity is sourced from renewables. Supported by partnerships with San Francisco’s CleanSF program and Kenya’s Malindi Solar Farm.
- Through its electronic recycling program, the Sama Nairobi office saw 7,505 kg of electronic equipment either refurbished (71%) or recycled (29%). Which otherwise would have gone to landfills.
Sama is launching further initiatives to reduce emissions in 2025 across Scope 1,2, and 3 as it targets its 2030 objective. It will continue to shift towards renewable energy sources. And plans to move to a more energy-efficient office in Gulu during 2025.
Social Impact
It continues to impact people. Since 2008, it has trained 30,500 people through Sama U and offered $88,000 in Sama Scholarships ($16,000 in 2024 alone). In total, 391 career advancement certification courses have been completed. Overall, the company has impacted 69,575 people through training, employment, and a ripple effect since 2008.
In 2024, it launched the Sama Leadership Mentorship Program. Through the program, 23 East African senior leaders were paired with junior staff to provide guidance, share knowledge, and support personal development.
One participant, Cleophas Moriasi, Team Lead, explained the benefit, saying, “The leadership mentorship program helped me become more self-aware, especially through feedback from my mentor. Discussing real-life scenarios on topics like change management, business relationship building, proactivity, stakeholder mapping, communication challenges and how to overcome them. Gave me practical tools to grow both personally and professionally.”
Sama continues to foster gender parity across the organisation, promoting both International Women’s Month and International Men’s Month. Overall, the company has an impressive balance across genders:
- 50% of the executive team identifies as female
- 50% of senior managers identify as female
- 51% of the workforce identifies as female
Last year, Sama also launched the Leila Janah Awards, named after the founder. The award celebrates Sama employees who exemplify excellence across three key areas. Teamwork, Leadership, and Living Sama Values. Through these new initiatives, the first 16 employees were recognised.
Wellness initiatives continued with a Financial Wellness campaign for employees. In October 2024, it hosted on-site general health check-ups, breast cancer awareness sessions, and screening services for all staff as part of its Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.
These initiatives will have contributed to its recognition as one of the top three Inspiring Workplaces in 2025 across the Middle East and Africa. The company was also recognised by Newsweek on its Greatest Workplaces for Women and Greatest Workplaces for Inclusion & Diversity lists.
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
Sama continues to impress with its ESG initiatives and its results. Its annual report is comprehensive. It demonstrates an awareness of global governance guidelines and initiatives that are moving the needle significantly.
The increased score in its B Corp recertification is impressive. The report details not only how it continues to drive change but also notes some of the new initiatives it is planning for 2025 as it looks to achieve its targets. The report demonstrates how a single company can make a significant impact on both its people and the communities it operates in.
