In Conversation With Odirile Mariri, Project Coordinator at the National Business Initiative
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South Africa’s transition toward a green economy is generating growing demand for new skills, services, and enterprise opportunities. However, for many young people in township communities, significant structural barriers continue to limit access to these opportunities, making meaningful participation in the emerging green economy difficult.
The National Business Initiative, a not-for-profit development organisation established in 1995, is working to address this gap by promoting inclusive economic participation through digital innovation, demand-led skills development, and enterprise support. The organisation works in partnership with business, government, and civil society to advance inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social transformation in South Africa.
A key focus of NBI’s work is the Installation, Repair and Maintenance sector, which is closely linked to renewable energy, infrastructure development, sustainable services, domestic appliances, and e-waste management. This fast-growing sector presents strong potential for job creation, township enterprise development, and the establishment of sustainable livelihoods for young people, particularly where training and opportunity pathways are aligned with real market demand.
To support this ecosystem, the NBI has developed an integrated set of digital tools designed to reduce barriers such as limited access to information, markets, and business support services. These include the Green Economy Toolkit, which provides practical guidance for youth and small, medium and micro enterprises seeking to enter and grow within the green economy; the IRM Hub Portal, which connects township enterprises to funding opportunities, compliance support, and market access; and the IRM Learning App, a mobile-based platform offering accessible training, micro-learning, and pathways to certification and employment.
The NBI also works directly within communities and collaborates with Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape to extend access to these tools and opportunities. This approach is designed to ensure that skills development and enterprise support are closely aligned with labour market demand, enabling young people to participate more effectively in the green economy transition.
Through this work, the NBI seeks to strengthen small business growth, stimulate local economic activity, and expand employment opportunities for young people by linking training, enterprise development, and market demand within a coordinated ecosystem.
The National Business Initiative, a not-for-profit development organisation established in 1995, is working to address this gap by promoting inclusive economic participation through digital innovation, demand-led skills development, and enterprise support. The organisation works in partnership with business, government, and civil society to advance inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social transformation in South Africa.
A key focus of NBI’s work is the Installation, Repair and Maintenance sector, which is closely linked to renewable energy, infrastructure development, sustainable services, domestic appliances, and e-waste management. This fast-growing sector presents strong potential for job creation, township enterprise development, and the establishment of sustainable livelihoods for young people, particularly where training and opportunity pathways are aligned with real market demand.
To support this ecosystem, the NBI has developed an integrated set of digital tools designed to reduce barriers such as limited access to information, markets, and business support services. These include the Green Economy Toolkit, which provides practical guidance for youth and small, medium and micro enterprises seeking to enter and grow within the green economy; the IRM Hub Portal, which connects township enterprises to funding opportunities, compliance support, and market access; and the IRM Learning App, a mobile-based platform offering accessible training, micro-learning, and pathways to certification and employment.
The NBI also works directly within communities and collaborates with Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape to extend access to these tools and opportunities. This approach is designed to ensure that skills development and enterprise support are closely aligned with labour market demand, enabling young people to participate more effectively in the green economy transition.
Through this work, the NBI seeks to strengthen small business growth, stimulate local economic activity, and expand employment opportunities for young people by linking training, enterprise development, and market demand within a coordinated ecosystem.
