By: Alice Aryeetey/Starrfm.com.gh
South Africa has officially launched the South African Business Initiative for Impact (SABII), a public-private platform designed to accelerate the country’s sustainable development agenda and amplify Africa’s voice during its historic G20 presidency.
The launch, held on the eve of the B20 Summit in Johannesburg, brought together government officials, United Nations leaders, and top business executives under a unified call to turn ambition into measurable action before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline.
Speaking at the launch, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, described SABII as the first national anchor of the global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022 with the declaration that Africa is unstoppable and possesses unmatched potential.
“SABII is not just another initiative. It is a shared commitment to drive impact, influence investments, and translate vision into tangible, lasting results across the continent,” the UN Resident Coordinator said.
South Africa’s UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Nelson Muffuh, at the launch of SABII
SABII is South Africa’s national anchor of the Global Africa Business Initiative, bringing together business, the United Nations, and government. The platform is built on four strategic pillars: Energy Transition, Digitisation, Human Capital Development, and Food Systems Transformation.
These pillars directly support the United Nations’ global framework of six interconnected transitions – food systems, energy, education, jobs and social protection, digital connectivity, and climate/biodiversity. These six are seen as critical to getting the SDGs back on track in the next five years.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers and Prosus and a founding partner of the initiative, underscored the urgency of preparing Africa’s youth, who will represent nearly 50% of the global workforce by 2050.
“We cannot talk about sustainable growth without reliable energy, modern infrastructure, and real opportunities for our young people,” she said.
She emphasized that Naspers believes business succeeds only when communities succeed, which is why they are fully committed to this year-long collaboration with clear, measurable goals by November 2026.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers and Prosus and a founding partner of SABII
Mahanyele-Dabengwa also highlighted the recent African Business Leadership Council (ABLC) Climate Report, which successfully mobilized US$4.8 billion in new investment commitments, proving that African-led solutions gain global traction when presented with unity and clarity.
B20 Sherpa Cass Coovadia reinforced that SABII will remain tightly linked to global frameworks, starting with GABI, and fully aligned with G20 and B20 priorities, ensuring South Africa’s national efforts elevate the entire continent’s presence on the world stage.
“This is our moment to show what collective African leadership can achieve,” Coovadia told the audience.
“The challenges we face—whether it’s climate, inequality, or digital transformation, cannot be solved in isolation,” he added.
With South Africa as the first African nation to chair the G20, many stakeholders believe the launch of SABII sends a strong signal that African business is ready to co-create solutions to the world’s toughest challenges, from climate and energy to jobs and digital inclusion, and deliver results that matter for people and communities across the continent.
B20 Sherpa Cass Coovadia
