About the ProjectProject EMBRACE is an initiative of the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC), designed to economically mainstream Black women and youth through participation in South Africa’s growing green economy. Through an integrated ecosystem approach, the project strengthens entrepreneurship, builds skills, improves access to markets, and supports job creation across key green sectors including renewable energy, sustainable construction, and waste management. |
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Why Project EMBRACE Matters
Despite increasing global demand for sustainable solutions, Black women remain underrepresented in green industries due to systemic barriers such as limited access to funding, markets, and leadership opportunities.
Project EMBRACE addresses these challenges by enabling inclusive participation, fostering entrepreneurship, and supporting a just green transition.
What We Aim to Achieve
Increase participation of women and youth in the green economy
Strengthen access to supply chains and markets
Strengthen access to supply chains and markets
Promote gender-responsive and sustainable business practices
Build a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem
Our Approach
Project EMBRACE is delivered through a set of interconnected components that support skills development, enterprise growth, and market access.
Supplier Diversity Academy
Building a strong pipeline of women-owned businesses through structured training, incubation support, and targeted access to corporate supply chains. The programme focuses on strengthening business capacity, improving operational readiness, and enabling women entrepreneurs to meet procurement standards and compete effectively in both domestic and global markets. It also facilitates mentorship, market linkages, and supplier development opportunities to ensure long-term business growth and sustainability.
CADET Programme (Workplace Learning)
The Cadet Programme equips young people with skills to improve employability or start their own businesses. Over 18 months, participants gain practical workplace experience while completing entrepreneurship and business management training.
The programme combines workplace placement with structured training in innovation, venture creation, and applied business skills, supporting participants from idea development to building viable businesses. It is delivered in two phases with ongoing assessment, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure meaningful skills development and workplace contribution.
Women in Green Construction and Waste Management Practices(WIG)
This programme supports women-owned MSMEs in construction, waste management, and renewable energy to build skills and competitiveness in the green economy. It focuses on developing expertise in green construction, sustainable waste practices, green supply chains, and project management.
Participants receive training, mentorship, and access to international e-learning partnerships to strengthen technical capabilities, meet industry standards, and improve access to domestic and global markets. The programme also supports certification readiness and promotes innovation in sustainable construction and environmental solutions.
Women’s Empowerment: Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy (WEFL)
This programme is designed exclusively for women entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners to develop the skills needed to navigate a fast-changing and competitive business environment. It focuses on identifying opportunities within the green economy and building viable, sustainable businesses in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Over 8 weeks, participants gain practical, real-world insights from industry experts through a blend of academic learning and hands-on experience. The course also promotes lifelong learning and empowers women to build strong networks, strengthen their entrepreneurial capabilities, and develop resilient, future-ready businesses.
Greening the Global Export Accelerator Component (G-GEAP)
G-GEAP supports Black women-owned businesses to grow their global competitiveness through sustainable, green, and gender-responsive business practices. The programme focuses on key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, eco-tourism, and circular economy, offering training in green supply chains, product innovation, and leadership development.
Participants also gain access to international markets, trade missions, corporate matchmaking, and exhibition opportunities to strengthen business growth and sustainability.
Gender-Responsive & Green Transformation for SMME’s
This programme equips MSMEs with the foundational knowledge to build sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible businesses. It focuses on integrating gender equality, ESG principles, and green business practices to improve competitiveness and long-term growth.
Through practical, interactive learning, participants are introduced to climate change, the green economy, responsible governance, and inclusive business modelling. The programme supports MSMEs in developing action plans to transition toward greener, more gender-responsive operations that align with global sustainability goals.
