The Role and Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility in South Africa

Presented by The Greater Tygerberg Partnership

Episode Summary:

Guest: Ray-ann Sedres, Head of Sanlam Foundation.

The Sanlam Foundation, established in 2011, is a registered NPO trust in South Africa, operating for nearly 14 years with close to a billion rand invested in education, enterprise development, and financial literacy programmes. Its core objective is fostering long-term systemic change, focusing on empowering generations for financial confidence and prosperity, with minimal reliance on one-off donations, though small grants are provided for ad hoc applications.

Key Initiatives and Impact:

• Education: The Foundation prioritises education from early childhood development (ECD) to career readiness, targeting four provinces (Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and one other). It focuses on rural ECD centres and primary schools, addressing their critical needs, and supports matriculants transitioning to tertiary education or the job market. This programme, intensified over the last three years, aims to bridge educational gaps in underserved rural areas.
• Consumer Financial Education: A flagship initiative, impacting over 66,000 beneficiaries, targets youth (ages 18-35), the workforce, and retirement fund trustees. It addresses financial illiteracy through workplace and community-based workshops teaching money management, tax contributions, and responsible investment. This programme stands out for its extensive reach and transformative impact.
• Enterprise Development: In collaboration with the Youth Employment Services and the UWC Centre of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Foundation supports youth in the tourism sector by equipping them with videography and photography skills, enabling them to start small businesses. The Trading Hub, repurposed from a vacant office in Sanlam's Bellville headquarters, supports local traders by providing a platform to sell their wares, fostering economic activity in the Greater Tygerberg area.

Measuring Success and Sustainability: The Foundation employs a monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework to track programme efficiency, effectiveness, and impact quarterly, using clear targets and specialist implementing partners. Multi-year funding ensures lasting outcomes, while strategic partnerships with subsidiaries, the Department of Education, and other entities amplify impact. The Foundation collaborates with the Sanlam Group to align efforts and drive sustainable change.

Challenges and Innovations: A key challenge is the limited impact of solo initiatives in addressing South Africa's vast socio-economic needs. The Foundation counters this by 'crowding in' partners, leveraging collective expertise to enhance outcomes. Partnerships with local entities, municipalities, and organisations like the Youth Employment Services and UWC Centre of Entrepreneurship and Innovation have proven effective, as seen in the tourism skills programme and Trading Hub.

Vision for Corporate Citizenship: Looking forward, the Foundation aims to lead by fostering collaboration among corporates and foundations to address pressing issues like unemployment and poverty. It seeks to move beyond brand possessiveness, encouraging collective action to support sustainable urban development, particularly in areas like the Greater Tygerberg. By engaging with local stakeholders and understanding economic landscapes, the Foundation plans to inspire others to contribute to meaningful, systemic change, challenging the status quo to achieve better outcomes for South African communities.