8 minute read
Thought Leadership - Leading The National Business Initiative
Driving Economic Transformation and Social Inclusion
By Shameela Soobramoney, CEO at The National Business Initiative
The National Business Initiative (NBI) – Its Backstory And Its Mandate
The National Business Initiative (NBI) was launched in 1995 by former President Nelson Mandela to support South Africa’s new democratic government. Today, we are a coalition of approximately 100 leading South African corporations and multinationals working toward sustainable growth and development through responsible business action. Our purpose focuses on thought leadership, collective action and project implementation, and fostering collaboration between business and government.
We pride ourselves on being a trusted partner to both sectors, driving initiatives that address systemic challenges like inequality, unemployment, and climate change.
Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) is embedded across all levels of the NBI through:
Human Resources Practices: We ensure compliance with DEI principles and regularly assess employee demographics and experiences through surveys and one-on-one engagements
Projects: Integrate GESI elements into all initiatives, even when not explicitly required by partners
Board Composition: Prioritise diversity in demographics, experience, and skills to benefit from varied perspectives and enhance decision-making
DEI Dialogues: Hosted discussions on corporate action, academic research, and practical studies, reaching over 500 participants annually
CEO Interviews: Showcased best practices in DEI, inspiring over 20 companies to adopt similar measures
JET Skilling for Employment Programme: Focused on green transition skills, targeting 5,000 students in TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges. This initiative ensures equal opportunities across gender, race, and geography, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
“Re-Imagine Africa”
In 2018, the NBI launched with Accenture Strategy Reimagine Africa, a strategic initiative designed to address the complex and rapidly evolving landscape faced by businesses across the continent. At the time, Africa was on the cusp of a demographic dividend, with a burgeoning consumer class creating unprecedented opportunities for growth. However, capturing these opportunities required businesses to build trust, foster community support, and create shared value, all while navigating resource constraints and environmental pressures that threatened supply chains and profitability.
The initiative was driven by a clear commercial imperative. Rather than treating sustainability as a barrier to GDP growth—a misconception that was prevalent at the time—NBI positioned it as a significant opportunity. In collaboration with Accenture Strategy, NBI conducted extensive research, engaging with CEOs and business leaders from Africa’s leading companies. This research revealed that African businesses could unlock $350 billion annually by addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges. While this insight was groundbreaking in 2018, the four key areas identified for scaling innovation remain highly relevant today:
New Consumption Opportunities: Meeting the needs of the rising African consumer class with sustainable products and services.
Collaborative Operating Models: Leveraging partnerships to drive efficiency and innovation.
Resource Efficiency: Reducing waste and optimising resource use to improve profitability and environmental outcomes.
Trust and Transparency: Building stronger relationships with communities and stakeholders to ensure long-term success.
The initiative also highlighted the potential for cross-sector collaboration, urging businesses to work with governments and other stakeholders to overcome inefficiencies caused by operating in silos. For example, partnerships across sectors could address shared challenges such as climate change, infrastructure gaps, and skills development, creating a multiplier effect that benefits both businesses and society.
Today, the principles and strategies of Re-imagine Africa are more critical than ever. The global context has shifted dramatically, with political and economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and climate crises intensifying the challenges faced by African businesses.
These developments have heightened the urgency for innovation and collaboration, reinforcing the need for resilient and sustainable business models. NBI continues to drive this initiative forward, bringing it to life through ongoing efforts to foster partnerships, promote resource efficiency, and build trust within communities.
By contextualising Re-imagine Africa within the current landscape, NBI is not only addressing today’s challenges but also positioning the continent as a leader in sustainable development. This proactive approach ensures that African businesses can thrive while contributing to the well-being of future generations, creating a legacy of shared value and long-term resilience.
In a world where uncertainty is the new normal, Re-imagine Africa stands as a testament to the power of strategic foresight and collaborative action, demonstrating how businesses can turn challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth.
Fostering Collaboration Between Business, Government, And Civil Society
The NBI has built a legacy of impact, rooted in collective action, to advance a sustainable and resilient South Africa. Our work is deeply embedded in fostering collaboration between business, government, and civil society, and our current initiatives continue to strengthen our role as a trusted, people-centred organisation. Some of our recent key achievements include:
Transformation Blueprint: We developed a comprehensive toolset to help companies embed transformation imperatives, including Gender Pay Gap (GPG) assessments, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) action plans, and Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) programmes. This work has directly influenced over 50 companies to adopt more inclusive and equitable practices.
Ethical Leadership and Anti-Corruption Programme: This initiative focuses on developing practical insights into ethics and corruption while addressing the organisational and behavioural drivers of transparency and accountability in the private sector. A key outcome is the upcoming launch of an online training platform to support businesses in ethical conduct and anti-corruption practices.
Just Transition Pathways: We published stakeholder-driven research and recommendations for decarbonising key sectors of the economy, contributing to South Africa’s climate action goals under SDG 13 (Climate Action). This work has been instrumental in shaping policies and practices for a just and inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy.
Powering Our Futures Report: This report identified job opportunities in the renewables sector at a municipal level, supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). It has informed skills development programmes targeting over 10,000 individuals, equipping them with the skills needed for the green economy.
South African Pavilion at COP: In partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), we host the South African Pavilion at COP, facilitating collaboration between business, government, and civil society. This platform has enabled over 100 progressive actions and partnerships, driving collective climate action.
Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA): As national delivery partners for the CFA South Africa, in collaboration with GreenCape, we support climate projects to improve their bankability and appeal to financiers. This programme brings together project developers, finance providers, and policymakers to accelerate climate finance flows. The CFA builds on over a decade of UK International Climate Finance support to South Africa, totalling more than £250 million.
TAMDEV Programme: Through private sector skills transfer, we have supported state capacitation, achieving measurable outcomes in municipal financial management, water and sanitation, and energy efficiency. For example, one initiative improved financial management in 15 municipalities, benefiting over 2 million citizens.
Installation, Repair, and Maintenance (IRM) Programme: This programme fosters private sector collaboration, offering demand-driven technical skills and strengthening pathways into sustainable employment. Aligning with the President’s call for businesses to scale up work-based experience, the IRM Programme has trained over 800 learners since 2017, ensuring they are not only skilled but also absorbed into the workforce.
In uncertain times, collaborative action is essential to build resilience and address systemic challenges. For example:
Business for South Africa (B4SA): with the NBI’s support for these three areas through TAMDEV: energy, logistics, and crime challenges.
Renewables Collaboration: Convened stakeholders to accelerate renewable energy projects, enhancing energy security and supporting the green transition, through for example, the NBI’s RAiSE Programme, Just Transition Pathways and the Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme.
These efforts demonstrate the multiplier effect of collaboration, where collective action achieves far greater impact than individual efforts.
Challenges
Like any member-based organisation, we face challenges such as:
Member Value Proposition: Ensuring our offerings remain relevant to our diverse membership base.
Funding: Attracting partners who align with our theory of change and long-term vision.
Talent Retention: Operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment requires exceptional diplomacy and subject matter expertise, making talent retention a priority. To address these, we continuously refine our value proposition, diversify funding sources, and invest in employee development and well-being.
Measuring Success
We measure success through pre-set metrics aligned with our mission and vision. For example:
Thought Leadership: Track the impact of research publications and opinion pieces (e.g., 10,000+ downloads of the Just Transition Pathways report).
Project Delivery: Monitor on-the-ground outcomes, such as the number of jobs created, or municipalities supported.
Collaboration: Evaluate the strength of partnerships and stakeholder engagement, ensuring measurable progress toward systemic change.
The Importance Of IQ, EQ, CQ, Aand SQ In The Workplace
IQ, EQ, CQ, and SQ are all critical in the workplace. While IQ ensures technical competence, EQ, CQ, and SQ enable effective collaboration, cultural understanding, and ethical decision-making. In South Africa, we’ve seen positive trends, such as:
Increased Board Diversity: Over 40% of JSE-listed companies now have gender-diverse boards, improving governance and decision-making.
Inclusive Leadership: Companies are increasingly leveraging EQ and CQ to create inclusive environments, resulting in better employee engagement and innovation.
These trends align with global best practices and contribute to more resilient and adaptive organisations.
Looking Forward
I look forward to a future where South Africa fully harnesses its potential as a thriving, inclusive economy.
With our abundant natural resources, innovative culture, and diverse population, we have the tools to overcome current challenges and achieve sustainable development. Key priorities include:
Green Transition: Scaling up renewable energy projects to create jobs and ensure energy security.
Youth Empowerment: Expanding skills development programmes to equip young people for the jobs of the future.
Collaborative Governance: Strengthening partnerships between business, government, and civil society to tackle systemic issues like inequality and unemployment.
By staying focused on these goals, we can build a South Africa that thrives in its diversity and delivers sustainable growth for all.
