Are you an agripreneur or farmer looking for support to develop your innovative solutions? Look no further than the SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards 2023.
Applications for the 13th annual awards are now open, and the foundation is seeking applicants with innovative ideas that address social challenges faced by low-income women, youth, or people living in rural areas while simultaneously creating a sustainable business model.
The awards are split into two categories: the Social Innovation Awards and the Disability Empowerment Awards. The former is aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs, institutions, and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that can solve social issues in South Africa.
The latter is aimed at entrepreneurs or social enterprises that have developed an innovation that improves access to the economy and/or provides solutions for persons with disabilities while generating enough revenue to become sustainable over time.
How to apply
Prizes for the awards range from R200 000 to R1.3 million in grant funding, as well as valuable business skills development coaching, mentorship, and technical support. Applications can be submitted through the SAB Foundation web portal from midday on 17 February 2023 until midday on 27 March 2023. Only applications submitted through the portal will be accepted.
“We are excited about the 2023 applications and look forward to meeting our finalists this year,” says Itumeleng Dhlamini, social innovation and entrepreneurship manager at the SAB Foundation. “Over the years, we have been so inspired by ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things.”
Through the funding, training, and mentorship provided by the SAB Foundation, award winners are enabled to grow and scale their businesses, ultimately achieving self-sustainability. Previous winners have gone on to create new jobs, contributing to the economic development of their communities.
Social Innovation vs Disability Empowerment
In 2022, the Social Innovation Awards recognised a low-cost utility vehicle that assists up-and-coming rural farmers in performing their daily tasks and a polymer-based, non-pressurised, recyclable, and reusable fire extinguisher designed to combat the threat of fires in informal settlements.
The Disability Empowerment Awards recognised technology that produces high-quality, affordable prosthetics and orthotics for amputees and persons with disabilities.
“Building sustainable businesses in underserved communities is a key priority for us at the SAB Foundation because we know that each business creates employment opportunities for locals which enables them to put food on the table for their families,” concludes Dhlamini.
A rich history
The SAB Foundation was founded in 2010 and provides funding for small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises to contribute to the economic and social empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons through entrepreneurship development.
It has invested more than R534 million to date in social innovation, disability empowerment, and the development of SMMEs. The awards are open to all South African citizens of 18 years or older with evidence that prior to applying, they have spent time and money developing the innovation. Early submissions are strongly encouraged. The awards are not open to NGOs that are fully dependent on grant income.
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