Our Approach
Impact for Africa’s work is grounded in over two decades of practical experience in sustainable tourism across Africa, including field-tested advisory services, hands-on experience in tourism operations, and specialised expertise in sustainability standards, evidence review, and verification.
We combine our technical sustainability expertise with structured evidence review to ensure that impact claims are not only compelling, but credible.
Drawing on recognised sustainability frameworks and audit practices, our approach includes reviewing evidence required to corroborate sustainability claims, establishing plausibility, and identifying gaps or limitations.
Ultimately, our focus is to ensure that claims are clear, evidence-based, and can stand up to scrutiny.
As a respected specialist in sustainability frameworks, verification, and operational implementation within African tourism and hospitality, Lisa Scriven drives the vision of Impact for Africa.
Her deep experience in sustainability auditing and assurance systems — combined with a strong understanding of both tourism operations and the unique realities of African contexts — brings the rigour needed to distinguish meaningful, evidence-based impact from vague or poorly substantiated claims.
In a landscape of increasing scrutiny around sustainability communication, credible impact claims require more than good intentions; they require robust methodology, critical judgement, and the contextual understanding which Lisa provides.
Making Our Mark
Impact for Africa’s logo – our mark – is shaped as a thumbprint, symbolising human impact and responsibility.
Running through the core of the mark is a river, representing the journey businesses navigate as they engage with the realities around them.
- On one side are the socio-economic contexts in which people live, work, and travel — livelihoods, decent employment, local economies, and development priorities.
- On the other are the natural systems on which we all depend, and where tourism businesses have the opportunity to contribute to regeneration and resilience.
Together, the mark reflects our belief that meaningful impact is created through how businesses respond to, support, and strengthen both human and ecological systems over time.
Our Expertise in Action
Verification Track Record
200+ audits of African tourism businesses against sustainability frameworks & ISO-aligned protocols
Trainer of Verification Experts
Trained 60+ sustainable tourism auditors from across Africa, including Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa
Global Recognition
Served on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Assurance Panel, 2017 – 2024 (including as Deputy Chair)
Operational Support
Sustainable operations & management system implementation support to 100+ tourism SMMEs, CBTEs, and protected areas.
Relevant Qualifications
- Auditor / Technical Advisor – Fair Trade Tourism, Travelife for tour operators, Green Destinations
- Carbon Footprinting – Sustainability Institute
- Systems & Responsible Tourism Technical Assessor (ISO17065), South African National Accreditation System (SANAS)
- Sustainable Tourism – Destination Management, eCornell Course, Cornell University
- MA (Distinction) – Environment, Development & Policy, University of Sussex
SMMEs Supported
Auditors Trained
Audits Conducted
Turning sustainability practice into credible impact communication