On Earth Day, Bank of Africa took a major step toward environmental leadership by joining the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), becoming the first financial institution in both Morocco and the broader MENA region to join this pan-African platform. This move signals a strategic shift for the bank and a deeper alignment with the growing global focus on sustainable finance.
The decision reflects the long-term vision of the bank’s chairman, Othman Benjelloun, and underscores Bank of Africa’s commitment to sustainable development at a time when climate change, biodiversity, and natural resource preservation are becoming central to Africa’s financial and economic priorities.
ANCA, created in 2022 by the UN Economic Commission for Africa in partnership with FSD Africa, serves as a regional driver for integrating nature-related risks and opportunities into the decision-making frameworks of African financial institutions. Its ultimate goal is to promote a “nature-positive” economic model tailored for the continent—a framework that values ecosystems and natural capital as essential to long-term prosperity.
Bank of Africa’s membership in ANCA is not a starting point but rather a continuation of a journey it began nearly a decade ago. Since 2015, the bank has been developing financial products that promote energy efficiency, sustainable water management, and circular economy principles. It has also embedded environmental, social, and climate-related (ESG) criteria into its investment and portfolio strategies, reinforcing its role as an innovator in Morocco’s financial landscape.
This broader commitment is also reflected in the bank’s structural initiatives. Through the BMCE Bank Foundation, it has supported education and environmental projects, while also earning ISO certifications for its environmental and energy management systems—a pioneering achievement in the banking sector.
By joining ANCA, Bank of Africa aims to deepen its impact and help drive a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth model across the continent. “Joining ANCA is a commitment to real, actionable change for Africa,” said Brahim Benjelloun-Touimi, the bank’s Managing Director. The alliance will also help advance financial inclusion and entrepreneurship—two key engines of development for Africa’s future.
