IHS Towers has disclosed that it has invested approximately $45 million in community development initiatives since 2017, underscoring its growing focus on digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, education, and social impact across its markets in Africa and Latin America.
The telecommunications infrastructure company revealed the milestone in its newly released 2025 Sustainability Report, which highlights progress made across its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities during the year ended December 31, 2025.
The report reflects the company’s continued commitment to stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, regulators, governments, and shareholders, while reinforcing its vision of creating a more connected world through expanded mobile connectivity.
As one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count, IHS Towers said its network continues to play a critical role in supporting economic growth and social development in emerging markets.
According to the company, its sustainability strategy is built around four key pillars: ethics and governance, environment and climate change, education and economic growth, and people and communities.
Commenting on the report, Sam Darwish, chairman and chief executive officer of IHS Towers, said the company remains committed to leveraging connectivity as a tool for social and economic transformation.
“At IHS Towers, we remain committed to advancing digital inclusion and delivering meaningful impact through our four sustainability pillars. We believe mobile connectivity has the power to unlock significant social value, and we recognize the critical role it plays in expanding access to education and economic opportunity,” Darwish said.
He noted that the company’s latest sustainability report showcases a range of community-focused interventions across Africa and Latin America, while also highlighting progress on health, safety, security and environmental priorities, climate goals, and long-term investments in local communities.
“We are proud of the long-term value we continue to create for our stakeholders and are pleased to share the progress we are making across key HSSE priorities, our Carbon Reduction Roadmap, and the $45 million we have invested in our communities since 2017,” he added.
On the environmental front, IHS Towers reported significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint. The company said it achieved a 21.4 percent reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity compared to its 2021 baseline, advancing its Carbon Reduction Roadmap.
The company also expanded its climate-focused initiatives through a reforestation programme in Brazil’s Amazon region, where it began planting more than 25,000 seedlings across nine hectares in partnership with the Institute of Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon (Idesam).
In Nigeria, IHS Towers collaborated with the Federal Capital Territory Administration on the “Project Breathe Clean Air-Abuja” initiative, aimed at encouraging the adoption of cleaner cooking solutions. Through the programme, 5,000 households received liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and cookers.
The company further extended its renewable energy interventions by donating 700 solar-powered streetlights to communities across Nigeria, while also launching a pilot project with ApiFusion to support sustainable beekeeping and community empowerment at rural tower sites.
On workplace safety and employee welfare, IHS Towers reported zero recordable work-related injuries or fatalities among its employees during the reporting period.
The company also recorded progress in workforce diversity, with women accounting for 29 percent of total employees, up from 27 percent in 2024, while men represented 71 percent of the workforce.
Employee development remained a priority, with staff completing an average of 13 hours of training through the IHS Academy learning platform during the year.
In terms of social investment, the company said it spent $8.2 million on community-focused sustainability programmes in 2025, bringing cumulative community investments to $45 million over the past eight years.
A significant portion of these investments was directed toward expanding access to education and digital skills.
Through Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, IHS Towers supported the training of more than 140,000 students in digital skills, helping to strengthen the country’s growing digital workforce.
The company also reported reaching 100,000 children through a literacy programme in Côte d’Ivoire, while more than 9,500 students across Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia received training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
On governance, IHS Towers highlighted several achievements aimed at strengthening corporate accountability and ethical business practices.
Its South African operation attained a Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) rating, reflecting progress in promoting economic transformation and inclusion.
The company also maintained its ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System certification, reinforcing its commitment to ethical conduct and anti-corruption standards.
In addition, IHS Towers received a score of 37 out of 100 in the 2025 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, while continuing efforts to strengthen responsible business practices across its supply chain.
According to the report, 7,861 supplier employees completed training related to the company’s Supplier Code of Conduct, helping to promote ethical standards among business partners.
The company further reported that 98 percent of employees completed annual anti-bribery and corruption training in 2025, up from 96 percent in the previous year.
The latest report comes as businesses across emerging markets face increasing pressure from investors, regulators, and other stakeholders to demonstrate measurable progress on sustainability, climate resilience, social impact, and corporate governance. For IHS Towers, the company said its focus remains on combining connectivity infrastructure with initiatives that support environmental stewardship, digital inclusion, and community development across the regions where it operates.
