LGT Venture Philanthropy (LGT VP) is delighted to announce the extension of its long‑standing partnership with Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, reinforcing its commitment to tackling youth unemployment in South Africa through systems‑level change and large‑scale collaboration.
Youth unemployment remains one of the country's most pressing challenges, with millions of young people entering the labour market each year while formal job creation falls short. Since 2019, LGT VP has partnered with Harambee to remove barriers to opportunity, connect young people to jobs and skills, and mobilise public and private actors around shared approaches to employment.
During this partnership, Harambee has evolved from a mostly a direct service provider into a national system orchestrator. As South Africa's National Pathway Manager, it operates the SA Youth platform, which brings together employers, government and civil society to support young people into earning opportunities at scale. Over the previous three-year funding period, Harambee strengthened its institutional capacity, enabling its expanded systems' change role.
The follow-on grant will support Harambee's continued contribution to Vision 2030, South Africa's national plan to significantly reduce youth unemployment. The extension focuses on expanding formal sector job creation, particularly in high-growth sectors, while maintaining inclusive pathways into work across the broader economy. Beyond financial support, LGT VP will continue to contribute strategic value through thought partnership, knowledge exchange and by engaging other philanthropic and institutional partners to strengthen collective action around Vision 2030.
Harambee remains LGT Venture Philanthropy's anchor partner in youth employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, offering a model for systemic, scalable approaches in countries facing similar demographic and labour-market challenges.
"Harambee is delighted to renew its partnership with LGT Venture Philanthropies, a trusted and longstanding partner in driving systems change across South Africa. LGT VP's catalytic investment has been instrumental in supporting job creation initiatives within priority growth sectors, while strengthening inclusive hiring and matching systems that have opened pathways to opportunity for millions of young people. This strategic partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a more inclusive economy and expanding access to sustainable livelihoods for youth, at scale." says Kasthuri Soni, CEO of Harambee.
"Harambee shows what is possible when youth employment is tackled as a system, not a set of isolated programs. As South Africa's National Pathway Manager, Harambee is translating policy ambition into real opportunities for millions of young people. We are proud to extend our partnership as they help deliver Vision 2030 at national scale." says Marcia Parada, Investment Director at LGT Venture Philanthropy.
Harambee is a non-profit organisation in South Africa that helps young people access jobs and training opportunities by better connecting employers, government and the education system. It tackles structural barriers in the labour market by improving youth employability, promoting more inclusive hiring practices, and creating new job opportunities through strong public-private partnerships.
LGT Venture Philanthropy (LGT VP) is an independent charitable foundation established in 2007 with partners in Switzerland, Sub-Saharan Africa, and India. The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life of people facing disadvantages, contribute to healthy ecosystems, and build resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT VP focuses on strengthening the capabilities of locally rooted organisations that deliver effective, scalable solutions across health, education, and the environment contributing directly to the SDGs. For more information, please visit www.lgtvp.com.
Read the full press release here.