If the swift pace with which the year started is any indication of things to come, then 2022 indeed bodes well for the SVAI in realising its purpose: to build Africa’s most impactful Shared Value network.

Collective impact is the foundation on which this network is built, with partnerships as a pivotal cornerstone and collaboration as the golden thread that interconnects all projects and initiatives planned for this year.  Not unlike the old African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go it alone. If you want to go far, go together. ”

One such partnership is with Uganda-based Human Capital International (HCI) to host the Strategic Leaders’ Summit on 23 February under the theme: “Africa’s Start-ups and SMEs after AfCFTA: Rethink, Retool, Innovate, Digitalize and Transform.”

Entrepreneurial development, in fact, is another important and strategic building block of the Shared Value ecosystem. At the SVAI, we passionately believe that entrepreneurship must be at the heart of all efforts if we are to successfully transform Africa’s economic prospects for all.

To this end, we are involved in two exciting projects that will come off age in 2022. The first is development of JAMII TRADE, a generic trade information platform and community geared to support small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across the continent. The second project is in collaboration with the US African Development Foundation (US ADF) and VISA to launch a bespoke and dedicated learning management system for the African market. The system, which will be based off VISA’s global Practical Business Skills digital platform, will be piloted in two countries during the course of the year.

Both projects aim to support African start-ups and entrepreneurs who are impacted by the current economic crisis, through equipping them with the tools necessary for ensuring business continuity and identifying opportunities for potential growth.

In addition, as part of SVAI’s development and training programme, attendees at the African Entrepreneurship Forum on 18 February will be invited to apply to the Shared Value Fellowship. Successful candidates qualify for the sought-after and accredited Purpose Playbook and Shared Value Training.

In 2022, the Shared Value Africa Academy (SVAA) will once again host regular, bi-monthly Shared Value Masterclasses, quarterly Investor-Readiness workshops and a 5-day Shared Value Executive Course with Strathmore Business School, which is planned for August.

To view all training, entrepreneurial and leadership forums planned for the year, download the 2022 Activities Schedule here.

Finally yet importantly, the GBV focus of #ITSNOTOK continues relentlessly this year, with the emphasis on research to raise awareness and understanding of the issues at business level

Together with the University of Johannesburg, we hope to build on last year’s efforts with a one-of-a-kind research conducted in South Africa on employees’ perceptions of gender-based violence. This is also an opportunity for you to speak up – CLICK HERE to share your views and help make a difference.

We are also at the fund-raising stage for evidence-based research, which aims to produce a Stakeholder Engagement Framework to help drive changes in the prevalence of GBV and, in the process, significantly contribute towards the prevention of GBV. Equally important is the research conducted by Prof. Corne Davis (UJ) in 2021 in collaboration with the SVAI, KPMG and the University of Sweden. The research aims to provide valuable information on Leadership perceptions of GBVF and the impact, as well as an update of KPMG’s well-known 2014 report on the economic impact of GBV in South Africa – Too costly to ignore. The research findings is due in Q2.

In closing, we encourage all like-minded individuals and organisations to answer the call to action from our CEO, Tiekie Barnard, and make 2022 the year that you, as a business leader, will consciously create Shared Value. Connect with us (www.svai.africa) and learn how the SVAI can help your business deliver profit with purpose.