On 30 June 2021 The Impact Catalyst hosted a virtual launch where organisations from both the private and public sector, including Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore, Assmang, Deloitte, Department of Mineral Resources, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Kudumane Manganese Resources, Minerals Council South Africa and South32 came together to collectively catalyse socio-economic impact in the region and in South Africa.
It was found that despite significant financial investment by mining companies in Northern Cape communities, these organisation’s efforts were often not meeting the real needs of communities, or were not as efficient and effective as they could have been because companies were working in isolation.
The programme being pursued by the Impact Catalyst follows the establishment of the Northern Cape Shared Value Project. The programme was initiated in 2017 under the auspices of the Minerals Council, by Assmang, Kudumane Manganese Resources, Kumba Iron Ore and South 32, and undertaken by Deloitte.
These organisations recognise that new ways of working are needed if real, sustainable socio-economic transformation is to be achieved.
“Building on the Shared Value work that has already been completed, the Impact Catalyst will provide various socio-economic actors with a transparent, efficient and effective platform to collaborate throughout the Northern Cape,” says Roger Baxter, CEO of the Minerals Council, “the Impact Catalyst’s vision and purpose is fully aligned to the Northern Cape Shared Value Initiative, and we are very pleased to have entered into this partnership to deliver socio-economic change on a regional scale.”
“The beauty about Impact Catalyst is their collaborative approach,” says André Joubert, CEO of ARM Ferrous, “they will assist us to collaborate with not only mining companies, but communities, traditional leaders, municipalities, and provincial and national government to ensure that we all work together towards one plan, and one objective; to uplift the economic viability of the communities in which we work.”
The aim of the launch was to present our continuous commitment towards creating vibrant sustainable economies through socio-economic development initiatives. The focus area of these initiatives will be expanded to include health, education and early childhood development projects. “To achieve the scale, speed and impact necessary, we need an integrated approach that leverages key role players and drives meaningful change and measurable socio-economic development,” says Themba Mkhwanazi, CEO of Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore.
The official provincial unemployment rate of the Northern Cape stood at 28,7% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020, further emphasizing how crucial a collective partnership is to bring socio-economic prosperity to the region.
“The Northern Cape region has significant potential and with the contribution of a thriving mining sector, sustainable job creation and economic opportunities can be catalysed that could be sustained long after mining has ceased,” says Charl Harding, CEO of Impact Catalyst.
Various organisations in the Northern Cape realise that long-lasting partnerships result in maximum impact through collaboration. “A collective approach is required to truly achieve an impact,” says Harding, “programmes and projects implemented in the private sector will not make an impact if not strategically aligned with governmental strategy and resources.”
All initiatives implemented by Impact Catalyst and its partners in the Northern Cape are designed specifically to create an impact on the socio-economic growth and development of the province. By leveraging collaboration amongst partner organisations and across a variety of sectors, projects and initiatives are selected for impact scalability and replicability to achieve results beyond the reach of individual organisations.
To address some of the socio-economic difficulties in the Northern Cape, the Impact Catalyst will prioritise the following programmes:
- Schools and Community Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Providing communities with the required broadband infrastructure and ICT services.
- Health: Implementing Community Orientated Healthcare services and Health Infrastructure Support, which can include support for the Covid-19 vaccination drive.
- Economic Development: Implement and create a Northern Cape Supplier and Enterprise Development (SED) programme to identify supplier and enterprise opportunities.
- Agricultural Sector Development: Creating enabling environments to support emerging and industrial farms to be more competitive.
- Tourism Sector Development: Creating an enabling environment to assist the tourism sector to attract tourists.
- Municipal Capacity Development and Infrastructure Support: Supporting the municipality to develop the required capabilities to enable service delivery.
- Early Childhood Development: Construction and operationalising best practice early childhood development centres in communities.
“The Impact Catalyst Northern Cape will serve as an advancement of our vision towards institutionalising collaboration to reach a collective impact,” says Harding.
The Impact Catalyst is committed to continuously expand its impact by rolling out cross-sectoral initiatives nationwide through collaboration.
About Impact Catalyst
The Impact Catalyst is an initiative founded by Anglo American, The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Exxaro, World Vision South Africa (WVSA), Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) recently joined and Zutari, to create mechanisms that drive development initiatives through public-private partnerships.
For more information visit: www.impactcatalyst.co.za
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