Page 26 - Infinity Power Sustainability Report 2024

26 INFINITY POWER 2024 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | LEADING THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION
26

Responsible land use “ We’re in a region where the only
Breaking the cycle of migration through
alternative for young people has typically
A significant challenge we often face in building large
agricultural entrepreneurship
scale renewables projects is the use of land. In rural been emigration. By creating these

areas where our assets are located, land is often used Our agricultural development programme in Taiba
farms, we’re enabling local youth to
for agricultural purposes, with farmers relying on it for N’Diaye is creating life-changing opportunities
remain in their villages, find meaningful
their income. for young people in rural communities. Through
employment, and earn decent incomes.”
comprehensive support including solar-powered

We consult communities extensively and transparently mini-drills, seeds, fertilisers and practical
AMADOU SOW
in the planning phase and our goal is to cause no training in sustainable farming and business
ENVIRONMENT & SOCIAL MANAGER FOR WEST AFRICA,
negative impact to land users. Before starting any management, we’re helping youth build viable INFINITY POWER

project, we carry out detailed land use assessments and futures without leaving home.

social impact studies to understand how communities

use the land and what impacts our work may have. Our For Modou Loum, a young farmer from Bayenne

approach is guided by IFC Performance Standards and village, the impact has been transformative. “I’d

the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. already tried emigration twice, attempting to

cross to Spain by pirogue, but without success,” he

When we cannot fully avoid negative impacts, we set up explains. “Today, thanks to this programme, I no

livelihood restoration programmes to support affected longer have that idea in my head. I feel useful and

communities. At our Taiba N’Diaye wind farm in Senegal, fulfilled here, close to my family.”

we’ve worked since 2018 to restore livelihoods through

compensation and projects such as an irrigated garden By enabling year-round production rather than

and solar-powered boreholes that improve people’s relying on seasonal rainfall alone, we’re helping

long-term economic prospects. In 2024, we continued young farmers like Modou develop sustainable

this effort by working with smallholder farmers near businesses. This targeted approach addresses

the site, regularly visiting to coordinate rights of way the root causes of migration while strengthening

and ensure farmers benefit from access to land local food security and economic resilience in the

near our infrastructure while maintaining safety and communities surrounding our wind farm.

environmental compliance.

In Ivory Coast, we are in the early stages of planning

two projects with a minor potential impact on land use.

We are developing a livelihood restoration plan through

early-stage community consultations, which will be

rolled out when construction begins.