Indalo Inclusive South Africa, in collaboration with The Innovation Hub-Climate Innovation Center South Africa, Gender CC South Africa, and with financial support from the Government of Flanders, is hosting the South African Women Entrepreneurs Climate Change Award Program (SiAWECCA). After the successful launch and implementation of the first cohort in 2021, the call for applications to host the second cohort awards program was launched in March 2022 at the annual Indalo Inclusive SA symposium.
Indalo Inclusive is a non-profit company that promotes and supports eco-inclusive entrepreneurship and promotes responsible business practices. In everything we do, entrepreneurship and the environment are combined; each aspect is as important as the other.
The awards program showcases South Africa’s innovative climate-smart female companies. It states that they are core contributors and change makers in the country’s green recovery and adaptation to the effects of climate change. The purpose of the award is to promote entrepreneurial minds that advance the transition to a green and climate resilient economy in South Africa while supporting gender equality.
The second SiAWECCA cohort is supporting seven female entrepreneurs who will receive a six-month enterprise development support package including contact and online workshops, one-on-one business development mentoring and a R85 000 grant.
The SiAWECCA Award is given to women-led, locally-oriented and climate-resilient companies that have the potential to replicate, develop and bring climate-smart solutions to their communities while improving their livelihoods.
The following women-led companies have been selected as participants for the SiAWECCA Programme:
- GUGU Clean Tech, a clean and sustainable energy agriculture company based in Amazimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, was founded by Zinhle Ngidi. The company specializes in biodiesel production using Solaris plants. IGUGU partners with farmers in the rural communities of KZN to grow specialized hybrid crops, for virgin vegetable oil, feedstock and high-value press cake for cattle protein feed. This partnership gives local farmers (especially women) the opportunity to be trained in climate-smart and best practices in Solaris cultivation and then IGUGU to become a sustainable market, buy their crops, which will be the biodiesel refining process.
- Aqua Green and Agricultural Co-operative, an eco-inclusive initiative based in Bethal, Mpumalanga, was founded by Joana Ngele. Aqua Green breeds, types and rears catfish for six months, when they reach market size. At harvest they select the breeding stock and transfer the fish to the holding unit in the hatchery for breeding. The harvested stock is packed in 1kg bags and sold unsoured, fresh or frozen. The company also makes organic framing from fresh produce and fish waste is used as fertilizer. Aqua Green uses a modern system (Aquaculture Production System) that saves water through water recirculation, and an indoor system for climate control, resulting in fish free from chemical contamination. This reduces the cost of production, which in turn leads to affordability for consumers and marginalized communities. Aqua Green organic fertilizer, produced at home using fish waste, is currently being tested by the Department of Agriculture.
- PWK Waste Management is a waste management company based in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, founded by Susan Kone. The company is a waste collection and buy-back center that focuses on the reduction of waste sent to landfills, while reducing the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. In addition, the company identified women around the Vhembe district and empowered them with knowledge on recycling and waste collection. PWK Limbah has also partnered with Dziphathutshedzo Green Surfacing in the manufacture of pavement bricks, using used plastic oil cans; the process does not require water.
- Sibocali Foods is an agro-processing company based in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, founded by Sibongile Mtsabe. The company now produces cocoyam and sweet potato chips, gluten-free flour and indigenous fermented instant porridge. Mtsabe works with local farmers who have indigenous knowledge of growing the root. The company supplies seeds to farmers and buys back fresh produce to produce a variety of products. It is currently expanding to six snack shops, a health shop and eight mini shops, and an online platform is in the pipeline. He currently works with seven farmers and plans to add 12 more as he continues planting. In addition, the company helps alleviate poverty in local communities and educates families on the importance of growing their own crops. Short-term plans include opening a processing plant at the current site and replicating the model to other communities in the long-term.
- BeeAfrican is a social enterprise specializing in beekeeping, based in Mamogaleskraal, Northwest, and founded by Memme (Mems) Ramaila. The company offers women and youth in marginalized communities the opportunity to earn a sustainable income through honey production. They collect honey and facilitate market relations. The company focuses on creating a beekeeping enterprise, bridging the biodiversity knowledge gap at the grassroots, and transforming the beekeeping sector through manufacturing and localization. BeeAfrican makes beehives to supply the community, and sell them to other companies. The beehive manufacturing process recycles wood pellets that would end up in landfills. The company developed a honey-based immune booster under the supervision of a prominent Zambian naturopath, who shared the formulation. This product was released in August 2020 and increased sales, as honey, ginger and garlic became common purchases at home during the height of Covid-19.
- Vatsakeme Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd is a women-led company focused on organic farming and collecting biomass waste such as cow dung and food waste to be converted into biogas as a valuable source of energy. The cooperative is based in Mopani, Limpopo and was founded by Netion Rikhotso. With this technology, Vhatsakeme produces green energy as an alternative to electricity, which is used in farms. Vhatsakeme offers training on biogas manufacturing to community members, especially farmers, and businesses in Limpopo.
- AVYSTOS Trading Projects is a female-led e-waste management company based in Tembisa, Gauteng founded by Molatelo Lebogang Mosehla. The company provides e-waste collection, recycling, and disposal services, thus creating awareness among the community about recycling electronic gadgets. AVYSTOS offers services through a user-friendly ordering platform, with a turnaround time of just 24 hours. The company uses shredding machines to dismantle electronic waste in a controlled and safe manner that does not pose a health hazard.
About Indolo Inclusive South Africa NPC
Indalo Inclusive South Africa is a non-profit company established with a mandate to support and promote social, green, inclusive and responsible entrepreneurship in South Africa. Indalo’s main services are the development of corporate capacity and the facilitation of dialogue processes. As part of corporate capacity building, Indalo educates and trains entrepreneurs, established companies, organizations and business advisors to profitably integrate green and social dimensions into their business operations.
In four years of official incorporation, Indalo has a portfolio of projects financially supported by various entities including the Government of Flanders, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the European Union (EU), Old Mutual Foundation, Nedbank , the British High Commission, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
In addition, Indalo has contractual agreements with entities such as SANParks, with a focus on implementing projects, among others to support land claimant communities living next to protected areas and wildlife such as the Kruger National Park (KNP) through structured entrepreneurial support and dialogue. , also identify and support entrepreneurs in the eco and inclusive sector.
Indalo also hosts various global climate green and smart entrepreneurship programs such as Climate Launchpad, the International Labor Organization’s Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) program, which focuses on improving productivity and working conditions in small and medium-sized enterprises, and SEED South Africa . (inaugural host between 2017 and March 2021).
Indalo is proud to be a selected implementer for Reaping the Entrepreneurial Potential for a Climate Smart Inclusive Green Economy South Africa (ECSIGE). This is a three-year project, funded by the Government of Flanders, with the aim of ensuring that the climate resilience of South African rural communities is continuously improved through an approach of empowering innovative and economical climate-smart companies that create solutions to climate change. adaptations are available. The ECSIGE project is implemented in partnership with the Center for Climate Innovation – South Africa (CIC-SA).
The “Indalopreneur South African Green and Inclusive Enterprise Awards and Support Programme” (SiAGIA) is a 3-year program funded by Nedbank and aims to support innovative entrepreneurial solutions to contribute to the evidence base for climate change that brings climate-resilient societies and economies inclusive green, which addresses the country’s three challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
Indalopreneur – South Africa’s Green and Inclusive Enterprise Award and Support Program addresses social ills through an innovative and holistic approach that systematically and continuously strengthens the capacity, organizational resilience and sustainable impact potential of green and inclusive enterprises, while promoting the relevance of climate change and entrepreneurial solutions.
Strategic and direct support for green and inclusive companies in the water, energy, agriculture and waste sectors will be provided through Innovation Evidence (Indalovator), Growth Phases (Indalogrow) and Accelerators (Indaloaccel) – based on Indalo’s tested and proven adaptation model. . In addition, the program focuses on strengthening the ecosystem of green companies through prototyping, testing and showcasing, financing and support instruments.
For more information, visit: www.Indaloinclusive.org.za