Progress Report – May 2019
Prepared by: Chief Development Officer, Neftaly
Introduction
In May 2019, the South African Youth Project (Neftaly) entered into a strategic partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to advance inclusive youth development, infrastructure support, and socio-economic transformation across underserved communities. This report provides a detailed overview of the achievements, impact, and lessons learned from this collaborative initiative during the initial rollout phase.
Partnership Overview
The Neftaly–DBSA partnership was built on shared goals of sustainable development, youth empowerment, and skills development in alignment with South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The DBSA provided strategic support, funding, and technical advisory services, while Neftaly executed youth-focused development programmes at the grassroots level.
Key Focus Areas:
- Skills development and training
- Youth entrepreneurship support
- Infrastructure-related educational programs
- Capacity building in rural and peri-urban areas
- Access to employment and mentorship opportunities
Milestones Achieved (As of May 2019)
- Youth Empowerment Workshops
- Over 1,200 young people trained across Gauteng, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape in life skills, financial literacy, and job-readiness.
- Special focus on empowering young women and persons with disabilities.
- Infrastructure Education Outreach
- 5 community-based sessions held on basic infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, and civic engagement.
- Increased awareness of local development processes and DBSA-supported projects.
- Micro-Enterprise Support
- 75 young entrepreneurs supported with business development training, seed funding guidance, and access to mentorship networks.
- 14 micro-enterprises launched with support from Neftaly and DBSA mentors.
- Community Development Integration
- Strengthened partnerships with local municipalities, community-based organisations, and youth councils.
- Programmes integrated into broader local development frameworks to ensure sustainability.
Impact Highlights
- Improved Youth Participation: The partnership significantly enhanced youth involvement in local development dialogue and decision-making.
- Increased Employability: Early indicators show improved employment rates among programme participants due to targeted skills training.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: Demonstrated success in leveraging public-private partnerships to deliver meaningful development outcomes.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
- Logistical Constraints: Rural outreach required extended planning due to limited access and infrastructure.
- Scaling Demand: High interest from other provinces indicated the need for broader roll-out and increased funding.
- Digital Access Gaps: The digital divide limited access to online learning platforms in some communities.
Recommendations:
- Expand digital infrastructure support in underconnected areas.
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for greater accountability.
- Scale programmes to reach additional provinces with DBSA support.
Conclusion
The May 2019 Neftaly–DBSA partnership marked a significant step toward unlocking the potential of South Africa’s youth through strategic collaboration. By combining Neftaly’s grassroots development expertise with DBSA’s resources and infrastructure mandate, this initiative has laid a strong foundation for long-term impact.
Neftaly remains committed to scaling this partnership and deepening its reach to ensure that no young person is left behind.