African SMEs remain central to driving economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development across the continent. According to the World Bank’s 2025 insights, the future competitiveness of SMEs depends on their ability to adopt resilient, environmentally responsible business models that close financing gaps, unlock employment opportunities, and withstand climate and market pressures. The Resilient Sustainable Business (RSB) Programme supports this transition by equipping SMEs with practical tools to strengthen operations, enhance ESG performance, and scale responsibly. Cohort 5, commencing on 5 March 2026, will provide participants with dedicated guidance from experienced facilitators, including B Corp founders and B Lab experts from across Africa.

RSB equips African SMEs with hands-on tools to:

  • Strengthen operations and reduce costs through smarter processes
  • Build resilience against market and environmental disruptions
  • Boost ESG credibility to attract investors and partners
  • Leverage pan-African networks for peer learning and collaboration

Practical modules cover impact measurement and ESG management, high-performance culture, sustainable supply chains, responsible branding and marketing, and sustainable financing practices. Participants leave with actionable strategies to integrate purpose into performance and scale responsibly.

Partnerships and High-Potential Entrepreneurs

The RSB Programme continues to attract some of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurial talent. Finalists from the GreenCape GreenPitch Challenge 2025 joined Cohort 3, where they gained practical tools to strengthen and scale their sustainable ventures. Entrepreneurs from RIZE Diversify are currently participating in Cohort 4, enhancing their operational capacity, building long-term resilience, and expanding their access to pan-African networks.

High-potential SMEs are also referred to the programme through partnerships with leading investors and ecosystem actors, including Mercy Corps Ventures, Seedstars, Purple Elephant Ventures, Pearl Capital Partners, and iGravity underscoring RSB’s growing credibility and relevance within the investment community. Real Impact Across Africa

Cohorts 1–4 have already helped participants gain practical skills and insights to strengthen their businesses:

  • SMEs report learning how to improve operational efficiency and integrate ESG practices
  • Participants gained tools to attract new partnerships
  • Pan-African peer networks enabled knowledge sharing and new collaborations

Voices from Past Participants (please revise from testimonials we have)

“RSB helped us see sustainability not as a cost, but as a way to make our business more resilient and profitable,” says Armand Fouche, Mo’s Crib, South Africa.

“The network of African SMEs opened doors to collaborations we never thought possible,” adds Joyce Wangari, Mr. Green Africa, Kenya.

Looking Ahead: Cohort 5

RSB helped us see sustainability not as a cost, but as a strategic advantage that makes our business more resilient and profitable,” says Armand Fouché of Mo’s Crib, South Africa. “The programme pushed us to refine our operational systems, rethink how we use resources, and adopt practices that strengthen our long-term growth. The insights we gained are already shaping how we scale.”

“The network of African SMEs opened doors to collaborations we never thought possible,” adds Joyce Wangari of Mr. Green Africa, Kenya. “Being part of RSB connected us to like-minded entrepreneurs, experts, and potential partners across the continent. These relationships continue to create opportunities for innovation, shared learning, and expansion into new markets.

Grounded in the globally recognized B Impact Assessment, RSB is a practitioner-led program that equips SMEs to align purpose with performance. By embedding ESG principles, operational resilience, and peer learning, it prepares Africa’s businesses for a competitive and compassionate future.