As the NEPAD Business Foundation (NBF) celebrates its 22nd anniversary since its establishment in 2002, we reflect on our continued growth and resilience as a trusted implementing agent in the development space. Through strategic public-private partnerships, we have further solidified our position as a key player in driving socio-economic transformation across the African continent, even in the face of persistent
challenges.
Impactful Multi-stakeholder Collaboration
Our Africa Infrastructure Desk (Afri-ID) programme has made significant progress across its key initiatives over
the past year. On the North-South Rail Corridor (NSC), Afri-ID has commenced implementation of recommended
projects, advanced new governance models, and engaged with development finance institutions to secure funding
for rail infrastructure development. In the SADC Regional Gas Programme, Afri-ID secured approval for the regional gas masterplan and initiated efforts to help South Africa address an impending gas shortage.
The SADC Business Council (SADC BC), for which we serve as the Secretariat, has redoubled its efforts in addressing technical issues affecting regional integration. Our advocacy through thematic technical and ministerial committees has become even more crucial in the current economic climate, focusing on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and Trade Facilitation, Tax Regulatory Harmonisation, a SADC Tourism Business Platform (TBP), a SADC-Africa Trade Investment Marketplace (SATIM), Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
The SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) and the recent Southern African Industrialisation Forum have taken
on renewed importance as we seek to boost economic recovery and growth in the region. Our engagement with
SADC business leaders, governments, policymakers, and industry leaders has influenced the efficiency, effectiveness, and success of SADC plans, priority programmes, and regional projects.
Water Security: A Critical and Ongoing Focus
The Strategic Water Partners Network (SWPN), which we host, has intensified its efforts in fostering water
management partnerships. The water crisis remains one of our most pressing challenges, and our work in this
area has become more critical than ever. The SWPN has made significant strides in fostering water management
partnerships between South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the private sector, non-profit partners, and other key stakeholders. Through participatory problem and opportunity analyses, we have developed and scaled out projects to improve water security and address the anticipated 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030 in South Africa.
In alignment with various MOUs with these municipalities to boost water security in Africa, we successfully implemented Phase 3 of the Polokwane Water Partnership, we implemented the first phase of the Nelson Mandela Bay Water Partnership, we have scoped various projects for the City of Johannesburg, and we have an MOU with Rand Water. In collaboration with South African Breweries (SAB) and Anglo-American, we handed over the third Water Efficiency Leakage Reduction project report to the City of Polokwane, as part of a partnership with the municipality to protect and conserve the region’s scarce water resources.
Addressing Persistent Energy Challenges
The energy crisis continues to be a significant obstacle to economic growth and development across Africa. In
response, our partnerships have focused on accelerating the transition to sustainable energy sources, aiming to
contribute significantly to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030.
A Renewed Call for Collaboration
The past year has reinforced the critical importance of reliable and quality energy and water supply in driving
industrialisation, boosting productivity, and spurring human development. The challenges we face have only heightened the need for innovative and robust public-private partnerships.
We continue to believe that harnessing the collective resources, expertise, and networks of governments, businesses, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and donors is essential for creating sustainable, long-term, and systemic impact. To this end, we are actively seeking new partnerships and strengthening existing ones to drive our interventions forward.
Board Announcements
We are pleased to welcome John Lloyd Ashley as a nonexecutive director. Mr Ashley currently serves as the
Chief Financial Officer at Nestle for the East and Southern Africa region (ESAR). His unique skill set and deep regional experience in global businesses will be invaluable to the NBF as we pursue our mission to contribute to the economic development of Africa.
Vote of Thanks
Despite the ongoing challenges, I remain optimistic about Africa’s future. This optimism is rooted in the resilience
and innovation I’ve witnessed across our partnerships and initiatives over the past year. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our board members, patrons, corporate members, partners, donors, funders, and the dedicated NBF team. Your unwavering commitment, especially during these challenging times, has been truly inspiring.
And finally, to Sabine, our NBF Vice Chairperson, your diligent dedication to our cause is truly astounding and
appreciated. As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024, I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to make a significant impact on Africa’s sustainable development journey. Thank you all for your continued support and dedication to our shared vision of a prosperous Africa.
Geoff Rothschild
Chairperson – NEPAD Business Foundation
