Empowering South African Township SMME's and Youth.
South Africa's high youth unemployment requires urgent action. SMMEs, making up 98.5% of businesses, are key to job creation but employ only 28% of the workforce. The NBI’s IRM initiative supports township-based SMMEs by providing enterprise development, technical skills training, and market access. IRM hubs at TVET colleges will link skilled youth to businesses, fostering employment. By 2035, the goal is 30,000 IRM graduates employed and 4,200 startups incubated.