Old Mutual and the Department of Trade and Industry have launched a R100million development-finance fund. The Isivande Women's Fund is aimed at supporting women-owned enterprises in South Africa.
Isivande, an isiZulu word for garden, came into being as a result of a study conducted by the Gender and Women Empowerment Unit of the department (DTI), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and FinMark in 2006 on women's access to finance.
The study found that limited access to finance by women inhibits the establishment, growth, sustainability and profitability of women's enterprises.
The Isivande Women's Fund (IWF) marks the fourth partnership that Old Mutual's Masisizane Fund has entered into with like-minded organisations that share its vision and passion for poverty alleviation through job creation and empowering women economically.
The Masisizane Fund is a Section 21 company that was created following the closure of the Old Mutual Unclaimed Shares Trust.
The aim was to contribute to economic transformation through job creation, infrastructure development, capacity building and education.
The fund aims to accelerate women's economic empowerment by providing affordable, usable and responsive finance for women-owned enterprises.
The target market for the fund includes formally registered enterprises that have been in existence for two or more years and are at least 60percent owned by women. The staff profile of the enterprise must be made up of at least 60percent women, of which 75percent must be black. The staff complement must also include people with disabilities.
Loans will range from R30000 to R2m a business with a maximum loan-repayment period of five years. To be eligible for these loans, the businesses must have at least a two-year track record of business activity and must be operating according to a sustainable business plan.
The fund would finance start-up funding, business expansions and business rehabilitations and turnarounds.
To enhance the chances of success of the enterprises that receive funding, the fund will identify and package business support services that will be made available to the enterprises. Old Mutual will provide free financial education to women-owned enterprises and the DTI will be responsible for skills training, mentoring and after-care through third-party organisations.
Old Mutual (SA) managing director Paul Hanratty said: "We are investing in the success of micro and small women-owned enterprises.
Small businesses are the engines of real economic growth. If they grow, job creation takes place and when jobs are created, poverty diminishes. This is real economic growth in action . when it is shared by all the people of our country."
The fund's chairman, Marshall Rapiya, said Old Mutual united with the DTI to alleviate the plight of rural women whose business ventures are hampered by lack of funding and support.
Boost for sisters
Old Mutual and the Department of Trade and Industry have launched a R100million development-finance fund. The Isivande Women's Fund is aimed at supporting women-owned enterprises in South Africa.
Isivande, an isiZulu word for garden, came into being as a result of a study conducted by the Gender and Women Empowerment Unit of the department (DTI), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and FinMark in 2006 on women's access to finance.
The study found that limited access to finance by women inhibits the establishment, growth, sustainability and profitability of women's enterprises.
The Isivande Women's Fund (IWF) marks the fourth partnership that Old Mutual's Masisizane Fund has entered into with like-minded organisations that share its vision and passion for poverty alleviation through job creation and empowering women economically.
The Masisizane Fund is a Section 21 company that was created following the closure of the Old Mutual Unclaimed Shares Trust.
The aim was to contribute to economic transformation through job creation, infrastructure development, capacity building and education.
The fund aims to accelerate women's economic empowerment by providing affordable, usable and responsive finance for women-owned enterprises.
The target market for the fund includes formally registered enterprises that have been in existence for two or more years and are at least 60percent owned by women. The staff profile of the enterprise must be made up of at least 60percent women, of which 75percent must be black. The staff complement must also include people with disabilities.
Loans will range from R30000 to R2m a business with a maximum loan-repayment period of five years. To be eligible for these loans, the businesses must have at least a two-year track record of business activity and must be operating according to a sustainable business plan.
The fund would finance start-up funding, business expansions and business rehabilitations and turnarounds.
To enhance the chances of success of the enterprises that receive funding, the fund will identify and package business support services that will be made available to the enterprises. Old Mutual will provide free financial education to women-owned enterprises and the DTI will be responsible for skills training, mentoring and after-care through third-party organisations.
Old Mutual (SA) managing director Paul Hanratty said: "We are investing in the success of micro and small women-owned enterprises.
Small businesses are the engines of real economic growth. If they grow, job creation takes place and when jobs are created, poverty diminishes. This is real economic growth in action . when it is shared by all the people of our country."
The fund's chairman, Marshall Rapiya, said Old Mutual united with the DTI to alleviate the plight of rural women whose business ventures are hampered by lack of funding and support.
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