ASISA ESD Initiative

The ASISA Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Initiative is dedicated to fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. By providing tailored business acceleration and investment support, the initiative aims to create meaningful and sustainable shared value for funders, enterprises, and the nation. The program focuses on developing SMEs that support funders' value chains, create jobs, and contribute to societal advancement.

The initiative's strategy involves a comprehensive approach to SME development, encompassing business acceleration, investment support, and capacity building. It targets various sectors, including financial services, technology, healthcare, education, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, construction, transport, energy, telecommunications, media, tourism, real estate, and professional services. By investing in SMEs at different stages—seed, early stage, and growth—the ASISA ESD Initiative seeks to stimulate economic growth and job creation across diverse industries.

Since its inception, the ASISA ESD Initiative has successfully supported over 1,010 SMEs, providing more than 101,000 hours of business support. This track record underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable growth and development within the SME sector, contributing to the broader economic and social development goals of South Africa.