STRATEGY 2030
The Foundation embarked on a strategy journey in 2016, commencing with the review and formulation of a vision, purpose, values and objectives to guide the organisation toward 2030.
The strategy was derived from a detailed analysis of trends and opportunities in the national and global development environment of the sectors in which the Foundation operates.
This enabled the Foundation to confirm its mandate in education and entrepreneurship development, as well as adding new focus areas of youth development, support for women and children, and social cohesion and nation formation.
TO REALISE ITS VISION, THE FOUNDATION’S STRATEGIC APPROACH IS TO:
ADVANCE
COLLABORATE
ADAPT
interventions targeting socioeconomic challenges in education, small business development, youth development as well as those affecting women and children.
and harness the power of partnerships to create and shape solutions for South Africa’s developmental challenges.
to the changing environment and deliver relevant solutions.
ADVANCE
COLLABORATE
ADAPT
We harness the power of partnerships to create and shape solutions for South Africa’s developmental challenges
At its establishment in 2004, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation set its mandate to improve education and grow small Black businesses.
To make a meaningful contribution to this, the Foundation sought to address the social and economic factors that impact on outcomes in these areas, such as poverty and gender inequality. The Foundation’s strategic approach is encapsulated as “Strategy 2030”. The requirements to operationalise the strategy formed the substance of the Foundation’s transition from a corporate foundation to an independent foundation.
STRATEGIC PILLARS OF DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATION
The South African education system remains plagued by inequality in the quality of schooling, poor access to resources, and limited access to proper early childhood development. Sustainable improvement in the quality of South African schooling requires an integrated and holistic approach that encompasses all elements affecting a child’s ability to learn.
Our work in primary and secondary education takes place through Adopt-a-School and KST.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Empowering youth with access to quality higher education, the skills to enter the workplace, build their own enterprises and contribute positively to South African society as active citizens is at the heart of the Foundation’s bursary support and youth development programme.
Our work in tertiary education and youth development takes place through Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust.
Entrepreneurship
By 2030, the National Development Plan projects 90% of all employment opportunities are to be created by the small business sector. Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, through Black Umbrellas, works with Black-owned SMEs to enable them as independent and viable businesses
Our work in small business development takes place through Black Umbrellas.
Women and Children
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation addresses issues affecting vulnerable women and children that impact learning outcomes in school communities.
Our work to support vulnerable women and children takes place through Thari.
Annual strategy workshop
Each year, the management team of the Foundation takes time to reflect and enhance its strategic plans at an annual strategy workshop. The outcomes of the 2019/2020 strategy session were translated into an annual strategic plan with detailed objectives, programmes and outcome measures in the following areas:
interventions targeting socio-economic challenges in education, small business development, youth development as well as those affecting women and children;
long term financial sustainability;
good governance, systems and controls;
effective communication approaches;
enabling human capital;
proactive advocacy;
reliable research, monitoring and evaluation processes.
The strategic planning process declared 2019/2020 as the year of “One Foundation”, ensuring greater cohesion of the Foundation and all its partner entities.
PILLARS OF DEVELOPMENT
The Foundation develops and implements holistic programmes to improve education and support small business development among South Africa’s disadvantaged individuals and communities.
South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) indicates key capabilities that individuals need to live decent lives. Of these, it notes that education, skills and work opportunities is where progress is most needed. For the Foundation, education and enterprise development are strategic foci.
Education is seen as critical to the development and self-fulfilment of people, including to function in society, earn livelihoods, and contribute to social, economic and psychological well-being. Education is believed to be significant in interrupting the cycle of poverty and reducing inequality of opportunity and income. However, access to quality education does not guarantee employment, because job opportunities in a challenged economy are limited. Many young people are unable to find work. The need to create work opportunities is addressed through the Foundation’s development of small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs).
For the Foundation, progress in education and enterprise development would be the most direct means of improving the quality of life for South Africa’s people and promote the Foundation’s purpose to develop an inclusive and empowered society. This purpose is contributed to more broadly by the Foundation’s positioning to contribute to the NDP’s goals, including on the economy and empowerment, education, training and innovation, social protection, and transforming society and uniting the country.
The Foundation also acknowledges and strategically contributes to several of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Access to quality education and employment is impacted on by social and economic inequalities. Poorer and marginalised members of society experience greater structural barriers. Factors of inequality like poor health and housing facilities, under-resourced schools, lack of finances, the technological divide, race and gender discrimination and the like, impact on educational and employment access and fulfilment, and need to be addressed.
Education and enterprise development is the most DIRECT MEANS to an inclusive and empowered society
