Results: Southern Africa
Hand in Hand Southern Africa worked from 2008 to 2015 to create jobs in four countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Each presented unique challenges, but all share high levels of poverty, low levels of employment and cultural barriers to women’s empowerment.
154,467 members
Every Hand in Hand entrepreneur starts off as a Self-Help Group member. Organised by Hand in Hand Southern Africa staff, Self-Help Groups learn together, save together and even launch enterprises together. Groups are typically female, and number about 20 members. By collaborating with governments at every level, we became a major player in the region. Almost one in three NGO-led savings groups in South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Swaziland are run by Hand in Hand Southern Africa.
53,089 businesses
Businesses are an important metric for Hand in Hand. Every enterprise we helped create in Southern Africa results in an average 3.4 jobs.
135,299 jobs
Jobs are at the core of Hand in Hand’s work. Our entrepreneurs in Southern Africa farmed crops, manufactured bricks and wove carpets. Others beaded jewellery, owned shops and ran catering businesses. Whatever their expertise, our job creation model puts sustainability first. If a job doesn’t outlast our intervention, we haven’t succeeded.
Expansion
Hand in Hand Southern Africa worked in South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
