“Job creation and employment are not the byproduct of our projects but an explicit aim of them…”

November 16, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

We have long thought it was true, but last month it was finally confirmed. Ajay Banga, the World Bank President, not only reads our articles but also uses them as a blueprint for the World Bank (‘WB’), and most importantly, we have proof just in time for bonus season at Lionesses of Africa [Dream on - on all counts! — Ed.]. In our report on the WB’s Spring Meeting earlier this year (here) we wrote: “Could there be a realisation that to assist Africa, to properly assist Africa, this has to come from the bottom up, to build SME businesses, to build employment, to build communities, to ensure a future at home, all of which we have been pushing and saying since the day Melanie founded the Lionesses of Africa ten years ago.”

2nd South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creators Survey reports key insights

November 20, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Data

The key insights from the 2nd edition of the South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creators Report, produced by Lionesses of Africa in partnership with New York University, and in collaboration with Absa, were shared with attendees at a special Lioness Business Agility webinar on 18 November 2022. The report once again provides key insights into the pivotal role women entrepreneurs play as job creators in the country. These insights are important as the South African National Development Plan (NDP) estimates that the country will need to create an additional 11 million jobs by 2030. 90% of these are expected to come from new and expanding SMEs.

In the meantime

August 29, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Linda Zuze (PhD)

Is it just me or does it feel as if we spend an awful lot of our time waiting for things to happen these days? Waiting for lockdowns to be lifted. Waiting for schools to re-open. Waiting for financing to keep our businesses going. Waiting to feel better. Waiting for ‘pandemic pivot’ to be yesterday’s buzzword. Waiting for things to get back to ‘normal’.

First South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creation Survey reports optimistic green shoots

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2021-06-06 at 9.57.41 PM.png

Lioness Data / Research Report

The first South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creators Survey report was released on 6 June, providing key insights into the pivotal role women entrepreneurs play as job creators. Top line findings from the report indicate a deep commitment to job creation among South Africa’s women entrepreneurs, with 90% reporting that job creation was an important consideration in starting their business. In addition, despite all the challenges and setbacks of the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey reveals ‘green shoots’ of optimism in terms of future job creation. The majority of respondents anticipate that their businesses will recover from the impact of COVID-19 within two years; they anticipate growth in revenues, and are either actively recruiting new staff now or planning for new, near-term hires. The survey was undertaken by Lionesses of Africa, a network of over 1.3 million women entrepreneurs across the African continent, in partnership with New York University, and in collaboration with Absa.