The National Research Foundation (NRF) has been awarded the Most Empowered Company in Compliance to B-BBEE Adjusted Generic Scorecard for Public Sector and Localisation at the 6th Pan African Supply Chain Awards.
Organised by the Pan African Supply Chain Council, the Pan African Supply Chain Awards recognizes supply chain professionals and organisations for their character and excellence the procurement and supply chain industry. This year’s awards ceremony was held on September 20, at The Seven Villa Hotel & Spa in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The NRF walked away with the prestigious award competing against various prominent private and public sector entities, having demonstrated improvement in their B-BBEE Recognition Level (Status level of contributor) in compliance with the B-BBEE codes of good practice. Said Mr Bishen Singh, NRF Chief Financial Officer, “This award demonstrates our commitment to advancing South Africa’s transformation agenda by ensuring that our business practices go beyond compliance to create real and sustainable impact.”
The NRF aligned with the Adjusted Generic Scorecard requirements by achieving the following:
- Promoted equity and inclusivity through meaningful participation of historically disadvantaged groups.
- Advanced skills development by investing in training, mentoring, and capacity building programmes for employees, suppliers, and communities.
- Enabled enterprise and supplier development which foster opportunities for black-owned SMMEs, women and youth-owned businesses, and rural enterprises.
- Enhanced localisation initiatives that ensure procurement and supply chain opportunities prioritise local industries, thereby strengthening the South African economy.
- Driven socio-economic development through investment in initiatives that uplift communities and contribute to long-term national development goals.
Said Mr Singh, “The NRF, over a period of four years, has shown a steady increase in the level of compliance with the B-BBEE codes of good practice. It has walked the talk in its commitment to increase spending towards local suppliers, more especially from previously disadvantaged persons and/or groups, and locally manufactured goods. These efforts would not have been realised had it not been management’s commitment to advancing transformation agenda within its National Facilities and other divisions."
Roadmap to Successful B-BBEE Level 1 Contributor
The NRF’s journey to achieving this recognition stems from its BEE roadmap that targeted B-BBEE Level 2 by 2025; however, achieving Level 1 through a journey that began in 2021/22 financial year. A SCM Transformation Working Group which consisted of a cross-functional teams from various business units were established to develop structured and coordinated efforts to deal with SCM Transformation within the organisation, to comply and advance the B-BBEE Act. The NRF’s SCM Transformation Strategy 2025 was developed and approved in 2021 with a focused roadmap.
Illustration of the Main Achievements That Led to the Award
- Management control: This element of the scorecard was of critical importance to NRF management and its efforts to improve on the scorecard have been evidenced by the appointment of four Managing Directors to lead its National Research Facilities. Corporate Executive has also seen an increase in representation by women. Currently at managerial level, the majority of departments at the NRF’s Head Office are headed by females. This further demonstrates the commitment to a diversified team of leaders within NRF’s management team.
- Skills development: The NRF continues to offer employees study assistance to uplift their skills. It further contributed towards skills development through learnerships, apprenticeships and internships. These initiatives have also resulted in the absorption of unemployed people that participated in learnership programmes.
- Preferential procurement: The NRF’s Head of SCM and the GE: Finance and Supply Chain believes that the bulk of the public funds dedicated to public procurement should be spent locally in order to increase domestic output and assist local employment despite the highly technical environment that the NRF finds itself in. The organisation has achieved maximum allocated points for the Enterprise and Supplier Development element over the last two verified financial years. This can be attributed to its commitment to increasing spending towards SMMEs that are black-owned, black women-owned, and youth-owned. Despite the repeal of Preferential Regulations 2017, the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC), the NRF has committed to engaging all contracted suppliers at Level 4 or lower to demonstrate how they intend to contribute to broader transformation. The focus shifted from merely looking at ownership to how contracted suppliers can leverage skills development of previously disadvantaged labour force and sourcing from emerging black entrepreneurs/suppliers. These indirect interventions ultimately resulted in better B-BBEE levels and further opportunities for suppliers to do business with the state.
- Supplier development initiatives: National Facilities continue to host supplier development initiatives beyond what the scorecard calls for. NRF-SAIAB, NRF-SAEON, NRF-iThemba LABS and NRF-SARAO hosted supplier days to showcase opportunities that exist for emerging enterprises. This has afforded such enterprises to access procurement opportunities.
- Youth Employment Services (YES) Programme: As part of its youth upliftment, the NRF contributes to the YES Programme. More than 80 youths have been trained through this programme over a period of three years. An additional 40 youths have been enrolled for this current financial which brings the total to 123.
Says Mr Singh, “Winning this award affirms that our organisation is not only compliant with the B-BBEE framework but also a champion of transformation in the public sector. We remain dedicated to the creation of value that supports economic empowerment, sustainable development, and the growth of local enterprises, while setting a benchmark for excellence in ethical and responsible business practices.”
“This achievement belongs to our employees, partners, and stakeholders who continue to work tirelessly towards building an inclusive economy where opportunities are shared through lived transformation,” added Mr Singh.
Amendment to the Gazette