Key stakeholders from various parts of South Africa gathered in Cape Town from 29–30 October 2024 for the important ‘Sustainable Livelihoods Roundtable Discussion’. Hosted by the Department of Social Development (DSD), the event brought together role-players and partners, including SASSA, NDA, NYDA, and BRAC International to explore strategies and progress in empowering social grant beneficiaries and fostering sustainable livelihoods for social protection beneficiaries in South Africa.

The two-day event featured a keynote address by Deputy Minister Mogamad Ganief Ebrahim Hendricks, who emphasised the importance of integrating social protection with economic empowerment strategies. He highlighted how sustainable livelihoods are essential for breaking the cycle of poverty and achieving long-term social and economic development across the region.

One of the event's key highlights was the presentation by Brendan Pearce, CEO of FinMark Trust, who shared valuable insights on the Generating Better Livelihoods (GBL) Project. This initiative focuses on connecting child support grant recipients with sustainable livelihood opportunities.

During the session, Brendan provided an overview of the GBL project’s progress, showcasing how the initiative leverages partnerships with the public and private sectors at the national, provincial and local levels and the critical role of building on existing social protection programmes to empower individuals and families to secure resilient livelihoods.

Read more about his presentation here: DSD’S SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS ROUND TABLE: ADVANCING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS – DSDnews

The Roundtable provided a platform for meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange, with key stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector coming together to share their commitment to sustainable livelihoods.

More coverage of the event is available through the following links:

www.dsdnews.org/social-protection-how-south-africas-regulatory-frameworks-can-unlock-sustainable-livelihoods/
www.dsdnews.org/turning-grant-beneficiaries-into-thriving-entrepreneurs
www.dsdnews.org/roundtable-discussion-focuses-on-graduating-social-grants-beneficiaries-out-of-poverty
www.dsdnews.org/sassas-commitment-to-shifting-the-narrative
www.dsdnews.org/a-mission-to-eradicate-poverty-and-improve-livelihoods
www.dsdnews.org/a-collective-effort-to-eradicate-poverty