Social procurement is rapidly emerging as a transformative approach for embedding sustainability and social impact into corporate supply chains. By actively sourcing products and services from social enterprises, companies can align with South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) framework and drive economic inclusion. At Trialogue, we believe that this approach is critical to building resilient and inclusive economies.
One organisation advocating for the advancement of social procurement is Yunus Social Business. Their recently developed Corporate Guide to Social Procurement in South Africa in collaboration with Cape Town-based Accendio serves as a comprehensive resource for corporates and social enterprises looking to collaborate effectively. This guide draws from extensive market analysis, featuring insights from 37 social enterprises with B2B products and services and real-life examples of companies who integrate social enterprises in their supply chains, such as Food Lover’s Market and their pioneer social procurement initiative ‘Seeds of Change’.
Social procurement not only fosters partnerships with black-owned suppliers but also strengthens the broader impact ecosystem. By prioritising collaboration with social enterprises, businesses can address critical challenges such as unemployment and inequality, while simultaneously achieving their sustainability objectives.
To delve deeper into this topic, explore the Corporate Guide to Social Procurement in South Africa. Additionally, the webinar hosted by Yunus Social Business provides valuable insights, including a panel discussion featuring stakeholders from the Seeds of Change programme. Watch the recording to learn more about supplier development and the journey of social enterprises to becoming corporate-ready.
At Trialogue, we’re committed to advancing conversations around social procurement and its potential to create systemic change. We invite you to explore this guide and consider how these insights could inform your organization’s approach to fostering impactful partnerships with social enterprises.