South Africa Unveils Business Initiative for Impact as G20 Presidency Takes Centre Stage

The United Nations and business launched the South Africa Business Initiative for Impact (SABII), a platform committed to advancing sustainable development and inclusive economic growth in South Africa. As the first localised platform of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), SABII exists to boost local entrepreneurship, connect South African businesses to African and global markets, and attract foreign investments, whilst promoting sustainable and inclusive job-creation and emissions-friendly growth.

SABII is aligned to four national priorities - Energy Transition, Digitisation, Human Capital Development, and Food Systems Transformation - key imperatives to drive meaningful change on the African continent. Through coordinated action, SABII sets out to accelerate green mobility and renewable energy adoption, launch a digital livelihood initiative to promote digital skilling, bridge the skills-to-jobs gap for unemployed youth, and promote climate-smart agriculture to strengthen food security.

Underlying SABII is the strategic insight: these challenges are too complex for the government, business, or the UN to solve alone. SABII is the permanent infrastructure that connects the three sectors – with clear roles, measurable outcomes, and shared accountability.

"No single institution - public or private - can drive systemic change alone. Energy transition requires joint investment. Digitisation requires shared infrastructure and innovation. Human capital requires collective responsibility. Food systems require coordinated action across value chains. SABII can only succeed therefore through strong, sustained partnerships," noted Nelson Muffuh, United Nations Resident Coordinator.

"If we stay committed, transparent, and united, this platform will outlast the summit, outlast the headlines, and become part of South Africa's long-term institutional strength. This is how we build an ecosystem where we partner with the whole of society to make a demonstrable difference," said Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, SA CEO and Executive Director of Naspers and Prosus. "As a founding partner of SABII in South Africa, Naspers is committed to driving impact through coordinated action".

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Ms. Sanda Ojiambo attended the launch and affirmed that the initiative will play a vital role in empowering local enterprises to scale sustainably and competitively across value chains.

As an official B20 South Africa side event, the launch was attended by B20 Sherpa Cas Coovadia. The B20 Summit begins tomorrow. SABII's launch today positions South African business leadership at the centre of global business conversation, and as the national mechanism for converting B20 outcomes into bold, future-ready partnerships that unlock opportunity. 

About SABII

The South Africa Business Initiative for Impact is South Africa's national anchor of the Global Africa Business Initiative. SABII brings together business, the United Nations, and government through four pillars: Energy Transition, Digitisation, Human Capital Development, and Food Systems Transformation. The partnership includes the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, the UN Global Compact, business champions including Naspers as founding partner, and the South African Government.

About GABI

Launched at the UN General Assembly in September 2022, the Global Africa Business Initiative has elevated Africa's standing in the global economy through three successful New York convenings. Under "Unstoppable Africa," GABI connects African and global business leaders, governments, and investors on solutions aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa Agenda 2063.

About the United Nations in South Africa

The United Nations in South Africa works with national partners to advance the full spectrum of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through policy support, joint programmes, and partnerships with government, civil society and the private sector, the UN helps drive inclusive development, human rights, climate resilience, and social and economic transformation that leaves no one behind.

About Naspers:

Established in 1915, Naspers has transformed itself to become a global consumer internet company and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Through Prosus, the group operates and invests globally in markets with long-term growth potential, building leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. Prosus has its primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam, and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Naspers is the majority owner of Prosus.  In South Africa, Naspers is one of the foremost investors in the technology sector and is committed to building its internet and ecommerce companies. These include Takealot, Mr D Food, Autotrader, Property24 and PayU, in addition to Media24, South Africa’s leading print and digital media business.

Naspers has a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (NPN.SJ) and a secondary listing on the A2X Exchange (NPN.AJ) in South Africa and a level 1 American Depository Receipt (ADR) programme which trades on an over-the-counter basis in the US.

For more information, please visit www.naspers.com.

Note to the editors:

SABII Key Strategic Pillars

Energy Transition

• Policy Challenge: South Africa faces persistent energy insecurity, high carbon emissions, and limited access to clean transport infrastructure. The transition to green mobility is hindered by fragmented policy implementation, underinvestment in public transport electrification, and slow uptake of renewable energy solutions.
• Opportunity: SABII can catalyse a coordinated shift by convening stakeholders across government, industry, and finance to scale green mobility solutions. Leveraging South Africa's automotive manufacturing base and regional transport corridors offers a pathway to decarbonise mobility while creating jobs.
• Call to Action: Mobilise blended finance and regulatory reform to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, public transport electrification, and local battery production. SABII should establish a national platform to align industrial policy, infrastructure investment, and climate goals under the GABI umbrella.

Digitisation

• Policy Challenge: Despite high mobile penetration, digital exclusion persists - especially in rural and informal economies. The digital economy is growing, but many South Africans lack the skills, connectivity, and platforms to participate meaningfully.
• Opportunity: SABII can drive inclusive digitisation by convening actors to expand access to digital livelihoods. South Africa's fintech leadership and innovation ecosystem offers scalable models for financial inclusion and e-commerce.
• Call to Action: Launch a national digital livelihoods initiative under SABII to promote digital skilling, platform access, and inclusive fintech. This should include public-private partnerships to expand connectivity, digital literacy, and microenterprise support.

Human Capital Development

• Policy Challenge: South Africa's youth unemployment crisis is compounded by a mismatch between education outputs and labour market needs. Social protection systems are under strain, and skilling initiatives are fragmented.
• Opportunity: SABII can unify efforts across education, skilling, and social protection by convening leaders from business, government, and civil society. This signals a commitment to systemic reform and inclusive growth.
• Call to Action: Establish a SABII-led national skills and jobs platform aligned with GABI's human capital goals. This should integrate TVET reform, employer-led training, and targeted social protection for vulnerable groups.

Food Systems Transformation

• Policy Challenge: South Africa's food systems are vulnerable to climate shocks, land degradation, and inequality in access to nutritious food. Agricultural innovation is uneven, and smallholder farmers face systemic barriers.
• Opportunity: SABII can convene agribusiness leaders, government, and UN agencies to promote climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems. South Africa's agro-processing sector and regional trade links offer leverage points for transformation.
• Call to Action: Launch a SABII food systems innovation hub to pilot climate-smart practices, support smallholder integration, and promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture. This should align with GABI's sustainability and equity principles.