To build a better future for all, South Africans must secure the foundations for long-term sustainable growth and development. Amongst the many challenges that South Africa faces, the National Business Initiative (NBI) believes that the key sustainable development priorities are:
- Employment creation, economic growth and poverty reduction;
- Strengthening our human capital through education and skills development; and
- Ecological balance so that the scarce resources available to our generation can also be used and developed by the next.
Formed in 1995 to help business make ‘South Africa work’, the NBI is an independent, voluntary business coalition that mobilises South African and multi-national companies to collectively contribute to and ultimately benefit from sustainable development.
The NBI’s impact ranges from strategic public policy intervention to demonstrating the business case for action; from practical projects at the micro-level to high powered partnerships that address issues and constraints to growth at the macro-economic level.
The NBI focuses on national interests and is quick and flexible in its response to business needs and society’s demands. Its record of accomplishments over more than a decade shows outstanding results in past and current projects that have influenced the lives and businesses of millions of South Africans.
It has played a pivotal role in directing individual Corporate Social Investment programmes towards collective nationwide projects that surpass the scale and impact of individual efforts, whilst strengthening the long-term view on sustainability. NBI member companies can contribute to shaping a better society by electing to play a hands-on role or one which allows them to provide strategic advice. Members choose to involve themselves in specific projects, or participate in decision-making, strategy determination or steering committees and can align their interests with appropriate leadership roles. Through the NBI, member companies can improve their contribution to society by:
- Advocating for corporate citizenship and responsible business leadership towards sustainable growth and development;
- Mobilising business leadership and resources for making a difference;
- Facilitating collective business action and critical social dialogue;
- Implementing strategic projects backed by rigorous policy analysis and research;
- Affecting public policy in key areas and effecting systems change;
- Promoting partnerships between business and the public sector;
- Communicating the work of the NBI and the private sector in development;
- Building relationships and trust with government, business and key stakeholders.
The NBI has excellent links to both South African and international business sectors, as well as with government and civil society at all levels. Members are provided with beneficial networking opportunities on a regular basis.
Fees
Each company that is a member of the NBI decides on its own financial contribution to the organisation. Membership fees are confidential between the NBI and the relevant member company. As a result of the NBI having obtained Public Benefit Organisation Section 18A status, membership fees are now defined for tax purposes as donations and are deductable. Additionally, the NBI will allocate your donation to the NBI designated programme that will allow you to optimise on the Black Economic Empowerment Scoring as per the Department of Trade and Industry Codes of Good Practice.
For more information about the NBI, please contact:
Gillian Hutchings