Every organisation has its own objectives when it comes to B-BBEE and transformation in the communities in which it operates.JASA enables you to invest into the overarching JASA Fund or to develop a programme designed specifically for your objectives.

Whichever solution you choose, JASA supports you to maximise your B-BBEE reporting and scorecard.

All investment will go towards one or more programmes that speak to three core B-BBEE pillars

1. Skills Development
2. Socio-Economic Development
3. Enterprise Development

Ultimately, the objective isn’t merely to reach a B-BBEE score, but to ensure that your investment has the maximum impact on the communities around your organisation.

Through this lens your business objective is fully reflected in any investment that you undertake, as well as the reporting thereof, which JASA recognises as a top priority.

We have outlined further some of JASA programmes that you can invest in which will be fully recognised under the updated B-BBEE Codes.

The South African Economy

In the third quarter of 2019, unemployment in South Africa had risen to the distressing level of 29.1%, a conservative estimate not taking into account people of working age who had given up looking for work.

The country’s youth unemployment rate, for people between the age of 18 and 34, is one of the worst in the world at almost 60%.

With an economy that has slowed almost to a standstill, we cannot expect new jobs to be created – at the rate that is needed by big businesses or Government, which are both doing everything in their power to cut costs.

This typically means downscaling of projects, a freeze on new hiring and in many cases, retrenchment.

A History of Inequality

A reality of the South African economy is that it is characterised by structural inequality on racial lines.

The Apartheid system ensured that the majority of Black, Coloured and Asian South Africans were legally disenfranchised and restricted from economic opportunity.

The effects of this systemic racism will be felt for generations to come.

However, the collaboration between Government, non-profit organisations and the private sector, can develop innovative solutions to improve access to opportunities for all South Africans without harming the economy or alienating a particular group.

It’s a tough job, but the Government has kickstarted the process through the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Conduct.

These codes are founded on seven pillars: Ownership, Management Control, Employment Equity, Skills Development, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development.

Arguably the biggest and most far-reaching impact on the economy will be made by the Skills Development, Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development pillars.

These pillars have the ability to not only transfer wealth in the form of shares, contracts or salaries (ownership, procurement and employment equity), but empower communities and individuals to create and growth wealth.

The Role of Entrepreneurship

If South Africa is to make a meaningful dent in the employment deficit, especially for young people, the answer lies in the small business sector and entrepreneurship.

A culture of entrepreneurship needs to be rooted into the minds of young people from an early age, as this is where innovation, creativity and solutions to some of our most pressing societal challenges will come from.

The education system is currently overwhelmed and while Government provides a number of great funding and incentive programmes, the work of jumpstarting small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa needs to be driven by the private sector.

Not only is the private sector where the most resources are located, it is also where best the business practices and innovation expertise lie.

This is where unrestricted entrepreneurial spirit can be nurtured to thrive. While public sector provides the policy framework that enables business, and the non-profit sector is dedicated to serving society, whilst the private sector has the means to make things happen.

“South Africa has been trapped in a low growth trajectory for about 10 years. This has made it difficult to reduce high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment. For a while now, many have pointed out that harnessing the small business sector and entrepreneurship lies at the centre of the solution.”

TheConversation.com

http://theconversation.com/ramaphosa-makes-noises-about-backing-small-business-its-about-time-93094

The NGO’s, public sector and private sectors need to work together to incubate and develop entrepreneurs. Emerging businesses provide much-needed jobs, but they are also fertile training grounds for complex skills vital to growing the South African economy.

B-BBEE legislation has provided a system in which these stakeholders can contribute to meaningful transformation of the South African economy and society. This integrated framework allows businesses to contribute to the development of skills, enterprises and communities in a way that fosters diversity and inclusivity while supporting economic growth.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are recognized as key building blocks of competitive and dynamic economies. Countries and regions with vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems tend to witness higher productivity rates, leading to increased economic growth and more robust job creation, the main pathways through which the poor can escape poverty. As a key driver for firm growth, innovation fosters shared prosperity by stimulating formal employment and increasing wages.”

The World Bank

http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/competitiveness/brief/innovation-entrepreneurship

Socio-Economic Development

JASA’s Mini Enterprise Programme is designed for the different stages of an entrepreneur’s lifecycle from idea development to business acceleration and job creation.

The programme is fully recognised under the social responsibility contribution of the B-BBEE Codes, allowing you to make a difference in the community in which you operate.

The programme has been designed for learners in Grades 10 and 11 with their needs, lives and dreams in mind. Learners are taught what is needed to establish and manage a small business, develop an understanding of how a business functions and various models of entrepreneurship.

Our goal is to empower young people to believe in themselves and give them the skills they need to take a dream and turn it into a functioning business. In three months, we transform an ambitious teen into a successful entrepreneur.

To qualify for the Mini Enterprise Programme, learners need to be:

• In either Grade 10 or 11;
• Aged 16 – 18;
• Prepared to commit to three hours a week for approximately three to four months;
• Driven, dedicated, interested in business, creative, enthusiastic and a team player.

This programme will teach young talent how to:

• Start their own mini company, including selecting the company name, electing managers and buying and selling shares;
• Identify their product or service. Here they will examine what their community needs and identify solutions to meet these needs;
• Do market research, source suppliers and either develop or produce a product or service;
• Handle sales and marketing so they can correctly sell and market their unique proposition; and
• Work with finances and understand shares, profits and losses.

The programme can be customised to:

• Support local community needs; and
• Support designated groups such as women.

Skills Development

The following skills programmes are designed to train your entry level employees on the most important knowledge and abilities relevant to the world of work, empower their future decision making and earn maximum points under the Skills Development pillar of the B-BBEE codes.

The Success Skills programme is an in-depth experience, with sessions totaling between 12 and 15 hours. Participants take the skills assessment, assisting them to discover their strengths in working with others, as well as ways to improve their interpersonal skills. They also assemble a skills portfolio to demonstrate their accomplishments and skills for career progression.

After the programme students have the confidence to pursue their education and career goals, thereby creating their own futures.

The My Money Biz programme develops participant’s ability to analyse their motivations about the uses of money and, through learning the basics of money management skills, establish good financial habits which can carry through their working lives. The programme increases the students’ financial literacy and so prevents them from making costly decisions that could have repercussions for many years on.

These programmes can be customised to:

• Support the company’s human resource development needs; and
• Support designated groups such as women.

Enterprise Development

The Youth Enterprise Development Programme is a richly layered educational experience that takes passionate youth and teaches them how to establish a sustainable business.

The programme is fully recognised under the Enterprise Development pillar of the B-BBEE Codes.

The SETA-accredited programme is designed to empower 18 – 35-year-olds who are unemployed or self-employed with essential skills that will inspire them to study further, find employment, or start or grow their own businesses through:

• Personal positioning strategies;
• Financial literacy;
• Entrepreneurship; and
• Work readiness training.

In the first six months of this year-long incubator style programme, participants start up and learn to run sustainable businesses, where they are guided to implement the theory as they learn through the provision of facilitation and support. The students are introduced to an array of entrepreneurial concepts that inspires them and builds their business confidence. The training includes site visits, case studies and guest speakers.

In the latter six months, after the course work is complete, participants receive ongoing support and mentorship and they are also introduced to micro-finance institutions as options for funding their businesses going forward. Graduates receive a JASA and an NQF level 4 Services SETA accredited certificate.

The programme can be customised to:

• Link youth-led businesses to your supplier-development objectives to ensure a pipeline into your supplier-development programme;
• Engage employees through volunteerism

Should you wish to partner with us, feel free to contact our Managing Director, Nelly Mofokeng

JA South Africa programmes