A new partnership between Nedbank Foundation and beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship aims to help young Africans turn environmental ideas into thriving businesses, creating jobs while tackling some of the continent’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
Announced on 2 June, the collaboration forms part of the wider beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship programme, a global initiative designed to equip young people with the skills, mentorship and support needed to drive environmental innovation.
The partnership arrives at a time when Africa faces mounting environmental pressures alongside persistently high levels of youth unemployment. By combining financial support, mentorship and access to business networks, the initiative seeks to nurture a new generation of eco-entrepreneurs capable of building scalable and commercially viable green enterprises.
The fellowship connects young innovators with mentors, industry experts and organisations committed to advancing environmental solutions that can deliver impact beyond national borders. Its long-term ambition is to build a global community of 10,000 planet-positive innovators and supporters by 2030.
According to Mariah Levin, Executive Director of beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship, the partnership strengthens the programme’s presence across Africa by leveraging Nedbank’s experience in the green economy and its established approach to supporting entrepreneurs.
“beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship was created to empower young people to lead the transition to a more sustainable future,” Levin said. “Partnering with Nedbank allows us to combine global ambition with local expertise, helping young innovators transform purpose-driven ideas into practical solutions.”
At the centre of the collaboration is a shared commitment to sustainability, social inclusion and economic growth. Both organisations believe that young innovators will play a critical role in shaping a greener future while creating meaningful employment opportunities.
Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Social Impact at Nedbank, said the partnership aligns closely with the bank’s purpose-driven approach to development.
Young entrepreneurs are not only passionate about protecting the environment, they are also creating businesses that can generate jobs and economic value,” said Pillay. “Through this partnership, we are helping build enterprises that have the potential to grow and make a lasting impact.”
The initiative also complements Nedbank’s Green Economy Social Impact Strategy, launched in 2021 to support sustainable enterprises through a systems-based approach rather than traditional one-off funding models.
The strategy focuses on four key sectors: renewable energy, water and sanitation, waste management, and regenerative agriculture. These sectors are widely regarded as critical to Africa’s sustainable development and offer significant opportunities for youth-led innovation.
Over the past four years, the programme has supported more than 1,300 enterprises, contributed to the creation of over 2,500 jobs and generated more than R400 million in social value.
Pillay said the fellowship goes beyond funding by helping entrepreneurs navigate the journey from idea to commercial success through mentorship, skills development, market access and tailored funding opportunities.
The partnership marks the first phase of the programme’s rollout, with a broader official launch expected later this year.
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This article was published by Miriam Kimvangu for Getaway.
