Focus Areas 

The case for sustainable and improved quality across the education spectrum in South Africa is clear. In one way or another, our goals for sustainable economic growth, global competitiveness, poverty alleviation and equity depend on high quality, accessible education and education institutions. Research consistently highlights the pivotal link between human capital development, starting from a foundation phase in education and underpinning lifelong learning, and sustained growth and development. Key national initiatives confirm the crucial link between education, economic growth and improved living standards.

Private sector corporations stimulate and sustain crucial economic linkages in South Africa. The extent to which small- and medium-sized enterprises are included in growing business relationships with corporations will make a positive contribution to the sustained socio-economic development of our country.

Climate change and energy are no longer purely of environmental concern but are becoming an important issue in economics and sustainable business. The adverse changes to climate and the depletion of energy resources have a direct impact on the "business as usual" approach. NBI, therefore, aims to mobilise business as a whole towards the formulation of a business climate change response strategy through: increased awareness, voluntary collective action, policy engagement, mitigation activities, adaptation, and promotion of capacity building initiatives through partnerships

The Global Compact, a network of thousands of companies and organizations across 100 countries worldwide, was launched on 26 July 2000. It was initiated by several dozen business leaders who came together at UN Headquarters to join an international drive to bring companies together with UN agencies, labour and civil society to advance universal social and environmental principles. Since then, the Global Compact has become the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.