Better Livelihoods
Through the establishment of strategic partnerships across our Supply Chain we contribute to the development of small enterprises around South Africa and in so doing ensure that the livelihoods of South African’s are enhanced.
Helping smallholder farmers
In partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa – Eastern Cape (AsgiSA-EC) we have established a small holder farming initiative to grow and procure Paprika for our Robertsons Spice brand. Based in Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape, an area which has an 87% unemployment rate, the programme has successfully completed two production cycles and has provided employment to over 200 community members.
Unilever South Africa is committed to supporting the initiative to make this a sustainable and commercially viable agricultural model thereby increasing the benefit to the wider community.
South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC)
Unilever South Africa is a founding member of the SASDC, part of the National Business Initiative (NBI ), which has been established to promote black suppliers through the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practice in supplier diversity. We also support member commitments to increase procurement and development opportunities for black-owned suppliers.
We will work with the Council to achieve their aim of creating a supplier database of 2,000 certified black suppliers by 2013.
Unilever Trade Development Programme
For over ten years Unilever South Africa has worked with Smollans to deliver the Unilever Trade Development Programme. 4,700 Small General Traders around South Africa receive regular on-the-job business development, pricing advice and in-store layout guidance to ensure that their business becomes successful and sustainable. The traders also receive a quarterly Trader Value Club magazine which ensures further transfer of skills.
Future partnership aims
Together with the DBSA and AsgiSA-EC we will explore further opportunities for local small holder farming initiatives. By 2012 we plan to have established a Supplier Development Programme which will identify and support our Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) and Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) suppliers who require development assistance.
