Over the last 30 years, the coverage of social grants has increased substantially with more than 18 million vulnerable children, women, persons with disabilities and older persons.

In addition, more than 8.5 million unemployed adults between the ages of 18-59 receive income support in a form of Social Relief of Distress on a monthly basis. Without the social grants, income distribution in South Africa will be severely skewed and those on the lower end of the income distribution will be worse off.

As part of implementing it Framework on Linking Social Protection Beneficiaries to Sustainable Livelihoods Opportunities, the Department of Social Development and its Entities-the National Development Agency (NDA) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), have partnered with FinMark Trust and BRAC International in a three year pilot project called Generating Better Livelihoods for Grant Recipients.

FinMark Trust is a non-profit organisation that works to improve the lives of the most vulnerable by amongst others, promoting gender equality and financial inclusion. BRAC International is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

The pilot aims to help South African families, particularly those receiving child support grants by linking them to sustainable livelihood initiatives, including skills and job opportunities to improve their lives. This project is piloted in three (3) Provinces which are KZN, GP and FS and has seven (7) sites. Two in GP and FS each and three in GP.

With the pilot phase nearing completion, the Department of Social Development, FinMark Trust and BRAC International are convening a roundtable discussion with other key partner organisations to share lessons and emerging issues, with the view to move the project from pilot to scale.

The roundtable is about the Framework on Linking Social Protection Beneficiaries to Sustainable Livelihoods Opportunities which is being implemented in partnership with FinMark Trust. The FinMark Trust Project on Generating Better Livelihoods for Grant Recipients is used as a pilot to test the efficacy of the Framework.

The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mr Ganief Hendricks, will give a keynote address at the event, and will be joined by senior officials from partner organisations on the pilot project.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover Sustainable Livelihoods Round Table Discussion planned as follows:

Date: 29- 30 October 2024

Time: 09h00

Venue: 23 Strand Street, Cape Sun Hotel, Cape Town

Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Nomfundo Xulu on 0664806845 / NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Media enquiries may be forwarded to Mr Bathembu Futshane on 0711621154 or