Nedbank hosted its annual Green Economy Indaba and Awards ceremony on 31 October 2024, bringing together innovators and change-makers who are driving South Africa’s transition to a more sustainable future. The event showcased the bank’s commitment to its Green Economy Strategy, through which it aims to address key social and environmental challenges in the 4 key sustainable development priority areas of water, energy, waste and agriculture.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious ‘Impact Partner of the Year Award’ to Local Village, a social enterprise that has demonstrated exceptional achievement in community socioeconomic development. Local Village’s comprehensive approach involves helping rural community members establish businesses and providing them with extensive training in manufacturing, business operations, and financial literacy, as well as access to markets for the products they produce.
Announcing the award, Kensi Nobanda, Nedbank Executive for Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs, praised Local Village for exceeding their targets, achieving a consistently high social return on investment (SROI), and being the green economy partner that employs the highest number of people, including those with disabilities.
Other notable awards on the night recognised pioneering contributions by many of Nedbank’s Green Economy Strategy partners across its 4 focus areas, including the following:
· Mishies Company in Limpopo for achievements in pollution and waste management.
· Pheko Group in Gauteng for advancing sustainable agriculture.
· Dziphatu Green Tech (Pty) Ltd in Limpopo for social innovation in waste management.
· Big Q Enterprise (Pty) Ltd and The Hill Trading in the Eastern Cape for contributions in energy and water; and
· Leano Agri Cop in Gauteng for contributions to sustainable land use.
The awards, which included cash prizes ranging from R50 000 to R200 000, represent Nedbank’s ongoing commitment to supporting and scaling innovative solutions that address environmental and social challenges while promoting inclusive economic growth.
Speaking at the event, Nobanda emphasised the crucial role of partnerships in advancing the green economy agenda. ‘These partnerships aren’t just meaningful; they’re impactful’, she explained. ‘Together, we’re proving that strong partnerships can create a future that is not only environmentally responsible but also economically resilient.’
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