Small businesses are often expected to solve unemployment, drive innovation, and stimulate local economies, yet many remain excluded from formal financing systems.
Khwezi Jackson
Across Africa, access to funding remains one of the greatest barriers to small business growth. While conversations around entrepreneurship often focus on venture capital, high-growth startups, and investor ecosystems, the reality is that many small businesses do not necessarily need millions to scale. In many cases, relatively modest amounts of accessible capital can unlock operational growth, create employment, and improve long-term sustainability.
I was once part of a Corporate Social Investment committee that allocated a R20,000 grant to a micro poultry farmer. At the height of load shedding, the founder used these funds to buy a gas heater, which meant his chicks had a higher survival rate compared to farms that relied solely on electric heat. Another portion of the funds was used to purchase a chicken plucker machine, which improved operational efficiency and created an additional income stream by allowing local chicken resellers to pay for plucking services. The remaining funds went toward additional feed, enabling the business to double the number of chicks purchased per production cycle. Increased production also meant hiring an additional temporary worker, creating employment in the process.
