place-based synergies

Ultimately, the opportunities described in the previous sections must come together in the lives of individuals, in their homes and communities. Inequality is deeply spatial, especially in a country like South Africa where communities were segregated on a racial basis. Compelling research from highly acclaimed Harvard economist Raj Chetty shows how neighbourhoods shape the development of human capital. 32 This evidence illustrates the importance of placebased approaches to our work. Through our involvement in the Lesedi Solar park Trust (Lesedi) and the Letsatsi Solar park Trust (Letsatsi), we aim to test, learn and demonstrate the effectiveness of a comprehensive set of interventions concentrated in a geographical location for improving human development outcomes.

Our work in the “Lesedi and Letsatsi communities” has four key strategic goals. Our fifth goal casts a wider net as we hope to engage a broader network of change makers to allow for a constant exchange of both exploratory and tested ideas.

CULTIVATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIp

The sustainability of any programmatic intervention rests on local ownership and co-creation. People within the community are generally far more adept at articulating everyday barriers to and enablers of their own health, education and experience accessing opportunities than technical experts who live outside the system. Without an appreciation of local perspectives, expert-driven interventions are far less effective.

ENABLE THE IMpLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED HUMAN DEVELOpMENT pROGRAMMES

Most South Africans living in rural or “poor” communities face a number of challenges through various stages of life. This reality results in a system where those who “make it” are the exception. To turn things around, we believe that holistic investment from pre-conception to employment are critical to close opportunity gaps and open pathways to self-sufficiency.

CREATE OppORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC pARTICIpATION

There is a limit to the number of jobs that can be created within the status quo. This is true nationally for South Africa and hardest felt by young people from townships and rural communities. If we do not contribute to job creation locally, our skills and human capital development investments will not go very far in enabling young people to be self-sufficient adults, perpetuating an unsustainable welfare state.

Foster Safe And Enabling Environments

Societal issues like substance abuse and gender-based violence hinder our efforts to develop the potential of people in our communities. Similarly, when communities do not have access to basic services like clean water and good sanitation, both their health and schooling outcomes are compromised.

SCALE THE IMpACT OF EFFECTIVE pROGRAMMES AND AppROACHES

Funding from the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) presents a wonderful opportunity to drive developmental change in some of South Africa’s poorest communities. In addition, many NGOs and philanthropic organisations work tirelessly to help vulnerable communities to escape the inequality trap. As a stakeholder in this ecosystem and a strategic investor in evidence-based programmes, we want to engage with the broader ecosystem and find a way to make a unique contribution to it.