NDA RECOMMITS TO POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN

By Lesego Ranchu

• ⁠The National Development Agency appeared before the portfolio committee on social development on 22 May 2025 to explain its strategy to provide skills development for women who are marginalised, with limited economic participation benefits.
• ⁠The strategy aims to empower women to escape poverty and domestic violence.
• The agency also emphasised the role of women as change drivers of poverty.

The National Development Agency today shared its turnaround strategy in providing skills development for South African women in preparation for their return from places of safety to their communities.

Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe, together with National Development Agency board chairperson, Nozabelo Ruth Bhengu led the National Development Agency executives as they appeared before the social development portfolio committee in Cape Town on 22 May 2025.

The portfolio committee requested the briefing on the ongoing turnaround strategy and how it is addressing women skills development in South Africa, including victims of gender-based violence, as women and children move from places of safety back into their communities.

Under the auspices of the Criminal Asset Recovery Account, the National Development Agency provided grant funding of R86.7-million to support 312 civil society organisations to implement various programmes, reaching 7 000 women.

“The funds disbursed to civil society organisations focused on protection and skills development interventions which empowered women to escape domestic violence but also further empowered them to escape the scourge of poverty as they engaged in meaningful economic activities for the benefit of their children as well,” acting National Development Agency CEO Thabani Buthelezi.

“We focused on capacity building skills programmes on baking, sewing, agriculture, and arts and crafts, which are skills that can be started and activated from home.”

Furthermore, the National Development Agency’s strategy is deliberate in advancing women empowerment through funded civil society organisations and targeted community-based interventions.

Women are economically marginalised and are presented with unequal participation opportunities, which are both key drivers of poverty.

Buthelezi reassured the committee on the agency’s recognition of women as change drivers of poverty and that grant funding and capacity building will continue to be geared up incrementally towards civil society organisations that focus on women empowerment.

The National Development Agency has, in the past five years, funded 287 civil society organisations across the country to the amount of R60 265 621, benefitting 20 655 women.

The agency’s grant funding provides seed funding that allows civil society organisations to attract further investment from other funders, provides safety nets for vulnerable households, assists the organisations increase their asset bases, and to attract trained individuals through employment opportunities.

Children, youth, persons with disabilities, and those affected by poverty are all beneficiaries of the National Development Agency.

While challenges remain a hinderance, the agency is hard at work to find solutions to strengthen resource mobilisation efforts to garner additional funds and institutionalise the district development model to enhance partnerships and collaborations. This also includes linking stronger civil society organisations with emerging ones to make sure skills are transferred and mentorship opportunities are provided.