SAB Foundation opens entries for Social Innovation, Disability Employment Awards

The SAB Foundation has opened applications for its ninth annual Social Innovation Awards, as well as the fourth annual Disability Empowerment Awards.

In this year’s awards the SAB Foundation will hand out a total of R12-million in prize money. Winners will receive prizes ranging between R200 000 and R1.3-million.

In a statement last week, SAB Foundation social innovation specialist Ntando Nodada said the foundation — through its Social Innovation Awards programme — aims to develop products and services which help the country’s most vulnerable communities, while supporting South Africa’s “innovative thinkers and brightest entrepreneurial minds”.

Winners of this year’s SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards, and Disability Empowerment Awards will receive between R200 000 and R1.3-million in prize money

SAB Foundation director Bridgit Evans said through the awards, the foundation has had the opportunity to work with “incredible” entrepreneurs who create “real, lasting change” in their communities.

“We’re excited to see the entries for 2019 and believe that this year’s innovations will bring about even bigger, positive changes in South Africa,” said Evans.

Previous award-winning innovations have improved efficiency and affordability in housing, healthcare, smallholder farming techniques, education, medical diagnostics and cutting edge technology solutions to support people with disabilities.

To date, the SAB Foundation — through the awards — has invested in over 160 social entrepreneurs and their innovations, with a total investment of more than R52-million.

Social Innovation Awards

The Social Innovation Awards are aimed at innovators, social entrepreneurs, institutions and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that solve social problems.

Submitted solutions should directly address the challenges faced by low-income women, youth, people living with disabilities, or people living in rural areas.

Disability Empowerment Awards

The Disability Empowerment Awards seek and award social enterprises with innovative solutions which improve access to the economy for disabled people while generating enough revenue to become sustainable over time.

In addition to the prize money, the foundation said winners will also be assessed on a “case-by-case basis” and placed in a tailored programme with an industry expert business mentor.

Read more: SAB Foundation awards R12.5m to SA’s most promising social innovators
Read more: Livestock Wealth wins R1.3m at SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards

Featured image, left to right: SAB Foundation 2017 Social Innovation Award winner Livestock Wealth founder Ntuthuko Shezi, Safika Holdings chairman Moss Ngoasheng and the SAB Foundation’s social innovation project manager Ntandokazi Nodada (Supplied)