News & Insights

Read our insights and analysis that will keep you up to date and help you to gain a better understanding of trends and shifts in the ecosystem and beyond.

UNDP South Africa, UNCDF and partners at the official launch of Township Spark, a new blended-finance guarantee facility advancing access to finance for township-based MSMEs.

UNDP, UNCDF, DBSA and African Bank launch Township Spark to ignite inclusive growth in South Africa’s township economies

15 December 2025 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and partners including the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and African Bank have officially launched Township Spark, a new blended-finance guarantee
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René Botha, regional investment manager at Business Partners Limited

Business Partners launches Basadi Fund to close gender financing gap

The GEM SA Special Report: Women’s Entrepreneurship in South Africa (2024) shows that women entrepreneurs are exiting their businesses at higher rates than they are starting and running them, with access to finance emerging as a key driver of this attrition. Around 21.5% of women entrepreneurs cite
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Research, Development and Innovation Incentives Guide

Empowering Innovation: A Deep Dive into the Western Cape’s Research, Development, and Innovation Incentives Guide

The Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) has released the Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) Incentives Guide, a strategic resource designed to bolster the provincial economy. Published in September 2025, this comprehensive booklet serves as a
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