Emanti team grows from strength to strength

Overview of the Groen Sebenza Programme

To support the process of providing access to employment and job creation nationally, SANBI in 2010 put forward a proposal for a sector-wide programme to National Treasury’s Jobs Fund via its administrators, the Development Bank of SA, with a focus on job creation for ecosystems management, hence the strapline: catalysing access to and job creation in ecosystems management. The contract with a value of R300m was finalised between SANBI and DBSA in October of 2011 for the appointment of 800 incubants (as we have agreed to call them in relation to the incubator framework), 500 of these being graduates and 300 matriculants. Key to this contract though is to support the development of these incubants towards job readiness, particularly in the scarce skills areas in the sector and to support their transition from these development placements into the world of work. So a sizable chunk of the budget is allocated to the development of the incubants, through induction, mentoring, training, networking, assessment and appraisal, brought together in what we conceptually call the incubator framework.

SANBI secured the participation of 33 partners in the placement of these interns, WWF-SA being one of these. WWF-SA secured Emanti’s participation in hosting and supporting the development of 4 incubants as part of this bigger national programme. WWF-SA supports the host organizations as well as the incubants themselves as they grow and develop towards and into their chosen careers in ecosystems management.

The name Groen Sebenza, came through an informal consultation process that the SANBI undertook with a group of youth and possible mentors. This group reflected that a mix of languages is more inclusive as such it is able to embrace youth from all walks of life. In a nutshell the name symbolizes the bringing together of young people from across the land with a common purpose to improve their employability and be empowered with the tools and experience to enjoy successful careers in biodiversity / ecosystem management. The name is also in keeping with national imperatives such as job creation and the contribution of the green sector to such imperatives.