Private sector
Integrated ESG advisory for companies, investors and project developers
I work across all three dimensions of ESG: environmental and climate, social, and governance. I help companies, investors and project developers manage risk and create value, and every engagement ends in concrete deliverables: assessments, management plans, strategies, reports and trained teams. Choose the collaboration that suits your organisation.
Companies I have worked with
EndiamaAngola- CatocaAngola
MinerosColombia
HatchCanada
Sun CableAustralia · Indonesia · Singapore- Continental GoldColombia
- Minería Texas Colombia




The extractive industry should engage with women to enhance their assets and help them forge more sustainable livelihood options.
Dr Isabel B. Franco Extractives and Sustainable Community Development, 2017








ESG advisory and safeguards
Advice across environmental, social and governance performance, delivered as assessments, plans and strategies your teams and lenders can act on.
- Environmental: climate risk, climate finance and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
- Social: Social Impact Assessment, Social Impact Management Plans, resettlement and stakeholder engagement
- Governance: ESG strategy, corporate governance and sustainability reporting (GRI, ISSB, CSRD)
- ESG due diligence for mergers and acquisitions
- IFC Performance Standards compliance
- Social licence to operate and community development
Keynotes and panels
Keynotes, panels and moderation for conferences, leadership meetings and corporate events, in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
- Integrated ESG and the business case for sustainability
- Climate finance and the just transition
- Responsible business and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Women leadership in sustainability
- Social performance in resource industries
Training and workshops
Practical training in environmental, social and governance practice, tailored to your ESG, operations and community relations teams.
- ESG strategy, metrics and reporting
- Social and environmental impact assessment
- Stakeholder engagement
- SDG mapping workshops for teams of any size
- Corporate sustainability communications
Executive education
Programmes for boards, executives and senior managers who lead the sustainability agenda.
- Purpose driven leadership for sustainable business
- Sustainability strategy
- Corporate governance for sustainable business
- Climate and sustainable finance for leaders
My framework
The Better Futures framework for sustainable value creation
Grounded in scientific research and multi stakeholder roundtables held around the world, in collaboration with the United Nations, we developed a model of corporate sustainability that helps companies contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals in alignment with the 2030 Agenda.
The model shows that with the right principles, practices and enablers in place, organisations create impact and add value for both internal and external stakeholders, strengthening their brand and reputational capital.
Approach based on Franco et al. (2017)
Select any part of the circle to explore it.
What your organisation gains from my work in ESG, safeguards and climate finance
How we work together
- ConversationWe discuss your goals, context and timeline.
- ProposalI design a tailored scope, team and budget.
- DeliveryAdvisory, speaking or training delivered in person or online.
- ResultsClear outputs, metrics and next steps for your organisation.

Environmental, social and governance performance belong together. I connect them so that capital, people and institutions move in the same direction.
Dr Isabel B. Franco International Consultant · Climate Finance, ESG and Safeguards
Business cases
Selected work with the private sector

Social Impact Management Plan, AAPowerLink
Social Impact Management Plan and community and stakeholder engagement study for a cross border renewable energy project, approved by the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority.
Sun Cable · Australia · Indonesia · Singapore
Social risk assessment and due diligence
A master class on social risk assessment for Hatch personnel, and confidential due diligence for mergers and acquisitions in mining and gas, aligned with OECD guidance.
Hatch · Asia and the Pacific · The Americas
ESG strategy and sustainable branding
ESG strategy, sustainable branding and corporate purpose, delivered through an interactive masterclass with shareholders and stakeholders.
FIFCO USA · Costa Rica
Responsible Business 2.0
With UNESCAP, corporate sustainability guidelines and a sustainable business model that helped companies across Asia and the Pacific align with the UN Global Compact.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China · China · Thailand
Africa Mining Vision roadmap
With UNDP, aligning Angola’s mining sector with the Africa Mining Vision through a 2030 roadmap and a workshop for senior executives.
ENDIAMA and CATOCA · Angola
Gender in mining
The photo documentary research “It is not just a women’s issue”, funded by Mineros.
Mineros · ColombiaMine life cycle planning
With Continental Gold, AngloGold Ashanti and local governments, planning that creates lasting value for communities over the life of a mine.
Continental Gold · ColombiaDue diligence for a lithium project acquisition
Environmental and social due diligence on lithium projects to inform the client's decisions on whether to proceed with a project and whether to acquire another. Result: an independent basis for go or no go and acquisition decisions. I have also carried out due diligence for mergers and acquisitions in coal mining.
Confidential client · Western and Northern AustraliaStakeholder consultation for a gas project expansion
Facing strong opposition from civil society, a gas operator needed to understand and respond to community concerns before expanding. I led the consultation and research that shaped its approach. Result: the expansion moved forward.
Confidential client · United StatesReporting advisory
Sustainability, climate and ESG reporting
I advise companies on sustainability reporting using GRI, climate and climate related financial reporting aligned with the TCFD recommendations, and ESG reporting for investors and lenders. I also review published reports critically. The reviews below are some of the reports I have assessed.
GRICertified Sustainability ProfessionalCritical reviews of published reports
Coco Chanel Sustainability Report: A Critical Review
Watch on FacebookGucci Sustainability Report: A Critical Review
Watch on FacebookZara Sustainability Report: Is your wardrobe killing the environment?
Watch on FacebookVale Sustainability Report 2017: A Critical Review
Watch on FacebookLet us talk about your organisation
Tell me what you need, whether it is advice on a project, a keynote for your next event or a training programme for your team.
