SAB Foundation Social Innovation & Disability Empowerment Awards 2026 (South Africa)
Applications are now open for the 2026 SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards, a national funding and business support programme aimed at strengthening early-stage social innovations that address systemic barriers faced by vulnerable and underserved communities in South Africa.
The programme supports entrepreneurs, social enterprises, institutions, and innovators whose products, services, technologies, or business models respond to real socio-economic challenges affecting:
- Women
- Youth
- Persons with disabilities
- People living in rural areas
The Awards recognise innovations that have progressed beyond conceptual stage and demonstrate both measurable social impact and commercial sustainability potential.
Purpose of the Awards
The programme seeks to:
- Support early-stage social enterprises with strong social impact potential
- Enable inclusive economic participation and job creation
- Advance innovations that improve access to health, housing, rural livelihoods, energy, water, financial inclusion and other essential services
- Empower persons with disabilities through economic participation solutions
Since inception in 2015, the programme has invested over R88 million in funding and business development support, backing more than 200 innovators whose ventures collectively employ over 4 000 people and support more than 16 000 livelihoods
Funding and Support Package
Award funding ranges between:
R300 000 – R1 300 000
In addition to financial support, awardees receive:
- Tailored mentorship
- Business development support
- Technical assistance
- Structured growth support
- Case-by-case mentorship placement based on venture needs
Geographic Scope
- Country-specific: South Africa
- Province-specific: Open to all provinces within South Africa
Applicants must be South African citizens, 18 years or older.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a South African citizen (18 years or older) and submit a certified copy of their South African ID
- Be an innovator, entrepreneur, social enterprise, institution, or university department
- The innovation must:
- Be original work of the applicant
- Be a true innovation or significant improvement on an existing product, service, technology, production method or business model
- Have progressed beyond “blue-sky” stage with evidence of prior investment (time and/or financial investment in development, prototyping, research, business planning)
- Demonstrate measurable social impact, particularly benefiting women, youth, persons with disabilities or rural communities
- Show commercial viability and sustainability potential
Applicants who have previously received support from the SAB Foundation through the Tholoana Enterprise Programme are not eligible to apply
Award Categories
Applicants must apply under one of the following categories:
- Social Innovation Award
- Disability Empowerment Award
The Disability Empowerment Award focuses specifically on innovations that create economic participation opportunities for persons with disabilities, including assistive technologies, job placement pathways, training solutions, and inclusive income-generation models
Application Process
- Applications open: 10 February 2026
- Applications close: 16 March 2026 at midday
Applications must be submitted online via the SAB Foundation website.
Shortlisted applicants will undergo:
- Eligibility screening
- Judging panel assessment
- Site visits (for up to 25 top innovations)
- Two-day workshop
- Final pitch to judging panel
- Award ceremony in Johannesburg