Corporate-Social-Responsibility

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (SED)

The ECIC’s Socio-Economic Development (SED) strategy is designed to foster growth and sustainability within the export and trade insurance sectors. By implementing targeted programmes aligned with ECIC’s mandate, the strategy supports industry development while ensuring compliance with B-BBEE legislative requirements. Through structured initiatives, ECIC empowers individuals and businesses, enabling their active participation in global trade.

SED PROGRAMME

The SED Programme, governed by the SED Policy, plays a critical role in strengthening the financial, development finance, and export sectors. It aims to:

  • Support individuals in pursuing careers essential to export and trade insurance.
  • Assist new and existing businesses in expanding their footprint in international markets.
  • Foster industry partnerships that drive meaningful economic impact.

The programme is delivered through two core initiatives:

BURSARY SUPPORT PROGRAMME

This initiative provides financial assistance to talented students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them gain qualifications and skills in key sectors such as export, manufacturing, insurance, and development finance. The programme supports studies in fields such as:

  • Actuarial Science, Accounting, MPhil in Development Finance
  • Specialized skills training, including Boatbuilding, aligned with ECIC’s industry focus

CONSUMER FINANCIAL EDUCATION (CFE) INITIATIVES

ECIC is committed to enhancing financial literacy, equipping individuals with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions, manage risks, and leverage economic opportunities. These initiatives are delivered to:

  • ECIC-sponsored bursary students and their peers at the same institutions.
  • Interns and trainees at workplaces where work-integrated learning takes place.
  • Black-owned small businesses in the trade and export insurance industry.

IMPLEMENTATION & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

To maximize impact, the SED Programme is outsourced to specialist partners whose objectives align with ECIC’s mission. These collaborations ensure effective programme execution, industry relevance, and measurable socio-economic impact.

Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Program – ECIC

The Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme of the Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) is a strategic initiative designed to drive economic transformation, promote inclusivity, and foster the growth of emerging businesses within South Africa’s export and industrial sectors.  The programme encompasses both Enterprise Development (ED) and Supplier Development (SD), ensuring meaningful support for small enterprises and the creation of sustainable suppliers within ECIC’s value chain.

Mandate and Legislative Obligation

The ESD Programme aligns with the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act, specifically under the Enterprise and Supplier Development pillar, which aims to enhance the participation of Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) in the economy. This initiative is further guided by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) through the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), which seeks to strengthen the industrial base by fostering competitive and sustainable enterprises.

Enterprise Development (ED) – Driving Industrial Growth

The Enterprise Development (ED) Programme focuses on empowering EMEs and QSEs by providing financial and non-financial support to enhance their operational efficiency, market access, and scalability. The ECIC’s ED initiatives are directly aligned with the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), ensuring that emerging enterprises contribute to industrialization, job creation, and economic diversification.

Support provided under Enterprise Development includes:

  • Mechanisation and Technology Support: Capacity enhancement, machinery and equipment acquisition.
  • Market Access Facilitation: Connecting qualifying enterprises to export opportunities.
  • Productivity and Compliance Support: Support quality management, product testing.

Supplier Development (SD) – Creating Sustainable Suppliers

The Supplier Development (SD) Programme is designed to diversify ECIC’s supply chain by integrating black-owned, youth-owned, women-owned small enterprises into procurement opportunities. This initiative ensures the sustainability and growth of suppliers, strengthening the local supply ecosystem and fostering economic resilience.

Key Supplier Development interventions include:

  • Capacity Building: Enhancing supplier capabilities through targeted training, qualifying assets and working capital support.
  • Access to Procurement Opportunities: Encouraging direct supplier integration into ECIC’s value chain.
  • Sustainability Support: Helping suppliers adopt best practices for long-term success.

Partnership Strategy for Maximum Impact

To maximize impact and ensure long-term success for beneficiaries, ECIC adopts a collaborative approach by forming strategic partnerships with:

  • Industry Stakeholders: Engaging sector players to create an enabling environment for Black owned small businesses.
  • Financial Institutions: Facilitating access to funding for enterprise and supplier growth.
  • Government and Development Agencies: Aligning with national development priorities to enhance support frameworks.

By leveraging these partnerships, the ECIC ensures that ESD beneficiaries receive holistic support, gain access to sustainable markets, and contribute to an inclusive and competitive economy.

Driving Economic Transformation

Through its Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Program, ECIC plays a crucial role in economic transformation, industrialization, and supply chain diversification. By nurturing small enterprises and suppliers, the program contributes to South Africa’s position in global markets while driving meaningful participation of historically disadvantaged businesses in key economic sectors.

For more information on how to participate in the ECIC ESD Programme, please contact ESD Specialist @ 0124713800.