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Minister Creecy to announce recipients of Driving Force for Change (DFC) grants
Introduction and background
The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms. Barbara Creecy, is set to announce the thirteen (13) successful projects for the R1, 3 million worth Driving Force for Change initiative on Thursday, 26 November 2020 in Pretoria.
On Youth Day, more than 100 youth from across South Africa took part in a virtual dialogue during which they expressed concerns about the dire economic impact of Covid-19, and its effect on achieving the goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Among many suggestions presented to the minister was a green recovery mechanism that is gender and youth-responsive. In response to their concerns, Minister Creecy announced that a total of R1 million had been set aside to enable the selected youth projects to implement ideas that will support young innovators and entrepreneurs to create a more environmentally friendly economy and society.
On 01 July 2020, a call for applications was opened and closed on 31 August 2020. A total of 272 applications were received, of which 114 applications were disqualified, which did not meet with the necessary requirements. The remaining 158 applications were pre-screened and evaluated during September and October 2020.
Allocation of financial resources
Initially, only a total of 10 finalists was set to be supported through the department as originally announced. However, in addition, the department, secured an amount of R300 000 from the British High Commission. This contribution enabled the department to support additional three applicants, bringing the total number of finalists to 13. The initial proposal for allocation of the cash awards was determined as follows: waste solutions – two (2); biodiversity and ecosystems – 2; climate change mitigation – Three (3) and climate change adaptation – 3, respectively.
However, with the additional financial resource of R300 000, an additional two cash awards were allocated to the waste solutions theme bringing the revised total to four (4), given the large number of proposals which were received (a total of 82). An additional cash award was allocated to the biodiversity and ecosystems theme, bringing the total number to three.
Furthermore, the department has been able to secure additional support from the European Union (EU), the German Technical Agency (GIZ), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The EU, the GIZ and UNIDO have offered technical expertise to assist successful finalist to develop their business plans and capacity development on business acumen skills. While the ILO, through the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), is also currently pursuing options for mobilisation of both technical and financial support toward the DFC youth pilot Initiative
Criteria for evaluation
The Departments of Science and Innovation and Trade, Industry and Competition have actively participated in the evaluation of the applications. In addition, representatives from the EU, GIZ, ILO, UNIDO and the British High Commission participated as external evaluation panellists. The total number of panellists was 12 and a maximum of three panellists were allocated to each of the 4 thematic areas.
The evaluations were informed by four primary segments: technical, economic, social and environmental segment, which the project application needed to respond to. Each segment comprised of 25% weighting.
Event schedule / programme
| Time | Item |
| 09:00 – 09:45 | Arrival Tea and Coffee (background music) |
| 10:00 – 10:10 | Scene setting remarks - Mr Albi Modise – Chief Director: Communications |
| 10:10 – 10:40 | Introduction of speakers - Mr Albi Modise Deputy High Commissioner – Mr Adam Bye European Union - HE. Raul de Luzenberger, Charge d'affaires - |
| 10:40 – 10:50 | Keynote address – Minister Creecy |
| 10:50 – 11:10 | Introduction of the 13 winners - Mr Albi Modise |
| 11:10 – 11:15 | Vote of Thanks – Dr Thulie Khumalo – Acting Deputy Director-General: Climate Change, Air Quality Management and Sustainable Development |
| 11:15 – 11:25 | Photo Opportunity |
| 11:25 – 12:00 | Networking |
Media related information
26 November 2020 - Today I am pleased to announce the winners of the Drivers for Change Youth pilot initiative. This initiative announced on Youth Day this year, responded to President Ramaphosa’s challenge to South Africa’s youth challenge to craft and design programmes that will make the country reach its developmental goals and address the unemployment crisis. At that time, I announced that the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has set aside at least R1 million to fund youth-led project preparation for initiatives tackling the issues of climate change, waste management and biodiversity loss.
Minister Creecy to announce recipients of the Driving Force for Change grant
24 November 2020 - The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms. Barbara Creecy, will announce the thirteen successful projects for the R1, 3 million worth Driving Force for Change initiative on Thursday 26 November 2020, in Pretoria. On Youth Day, more than 100 youth from across South Africa took part in a virtual dialogue during which they expressed concerns about the dire economic impact of Covid-19, and its effect on achieving the goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Among many suggestions presented to the Minister was a green recovery mechanism that is gender-and-youth-responsive.