Sasol and SASDC Forge Strategic Partnership to Empower Black Women in the Green Economy
Johannesburg, South Africa – 18 June 2025 – In a landmark move to advance inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability, Sasol, the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have formalised a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to launch Project Embrace — SASDC’s flagship supplier diversity initiative.
The collaboration aims to drive the participation of Black-owned and diverse suppliers in South Africa’s mainstream economy by enabling inclusive and sustainable value chains. A cornerstone of this initiative is the Women in Green (WIG) Business Development Programme, which is designed to equip Black women entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and market access necessary to thrive in traditionally male-dominated green economy sectors, including renewable energy, waste management, and green construction.
Key Highlights:
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Strategic & Technical Partnership: Sasol joins as a strategic partner, leveraging its industry leadership to support transformation, while GIZ serves as a technical partner through its regional Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa – WE4D Programme, bringing global development expertise.
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Empowering Black Women Entrepreneurs: WIG will support 30 Black women-led businesses through a virtual incubator focused on green supply chain management, project management, innovation, and certification readiness in collaboration with EWSETA.
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Capacity Building & Market Access: Project Embrace will offer mentorship, enterprise development, and direct access to procurement networks, ensuring businesses are better positioned to participate in local and global value chains.
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Inclusive Economic Impact: By combining SASDC’s network of 1,100+ certified Black-owned businesses, Sasol’s corporate influence, and GIZ’s development insight, the partnership will strengthen supplier governance and unlock new commercial opportunities across the South African economy.
“Today marks a pivotal step in our commitment to championing diversity and inclusion, particularly in the green economy,” said Rightwell Laxa, Senior Vice President: Corporate Affairs at Sasol. “Through Project Embrace and the WIG programme, we are empowering Black women and youth to lead and innovate in sustainable industries. This is about transforming markets and mindsets.”
Gary Joseph, CEO of SASDC, added: “We are proud to partner with Sasol and GIZ to bring Project Embrace to life. This initiative not only strengthens our vision of inclusive value chains but also creates meaningful, measurable impact where it matters most — at the intersection of transformation, sustainability, and enterprise growth.”
Join the Movement
If your organisation would like to be part of the supplier diversity movement and drive equitable growth through inclusive value chains, visit https://www.sasdc.org.za/index.php/special-projects/project-embrace or contact
About the Partners
SASDC
A corporate-led non-profit, the South African Supplier Diversity Council promotes supplier diversity as a strategy for economic competitiveness and transformation. Its programs support Black-owned businesses through certification, development, and corporate linkages.
Sasol
A global chemicals and energy company, Sasol is committed to sustainability, innovation, and inclusive economic participation. Sasol actively supports enterprise and supplier development across its areas of operation.
GIZ
Commissioned by the German government, GIZ implements sustainable development projects in over 120 countries. WE4D is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); co-funded by the European Union through regional and bilateral Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) and Norway. In South Africa, GIZ’s WE4D programme promotes employment for women in the green transformation — perfectly aligned with the goals of Project Embrace. The partnership also contributes to the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa- Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Development programme, supported by the European Union, co-funded by Germany, France, and Slovakia, through the Team Europe Initiative. IYBA-SEED is implemented by five agencies: Expertise France (France), Enabel (Belgium), GIZ (Germany), SAIDC (Slovakia) and SNV (Netherlands), in 5 partner countries: Benin, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and Togo.
