As a responsible corporate citizen, Sanlam recognises that long‑term prosperity depends not only on financial inclusion and education, but also on the strength and resilience of the environments in which people live. Supporting resilient communities is therefore an essential part of ensuring that people have the stability, resources and opportunities they need to plan for the future, sustain their wellbeing and participate meaningfully in the economy. Through targeted partnerships, the Sanlam Foundation invests in initiatives that help communities protect natural resources, rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, strengthen governance structures and secure sustainable livelihoods. These programmes create opportunities for work, skills development and enterprise growth, while preserving the ecological systems that underpin water security, agriculture and local economic development. Within this focus, the Foundation supports two key programmes that help communities build resilience in ways that are both environmentally and economically meaningful: our long‑standing partnership with WWF‑SA to protect freshwater resources, and our collaboration with the Vumelana Advisory Fund to support community‑led land utilisation and development. See Sanlam’s 2025 sustainability report for more on the WWF-SA partnership. Protecting freshwater resources The Foundation’s long‑standing partnership with WWF‑SA focuses on safeguarding South Africa’s critical freshwater ecosystems — the rivers, wetlands and catchments that supply the bulk of the country’s water. Healthy freshwater systems are central to community resilience: they enable food production, support local economies, and ensure that households have reliable access to safe water. The programme works closely with local communities, landowners and SMMEs to protect strategic water source areas. Activities include community workshops, farmer training, veld assessments, invasive species clearing and restoration of degraded land. These environmental interventions are intentionally paired with local enterprise development and job creation, ensuring that conservation efforts also contribute to immediate socio‑economic benefits. Auxiliary projects Community resilience programmes Communities are at the heart of Sanlam’s purpose. When communities are healthy, secure and able to adapt to environmental and economic pressures, people are better positioned to build livelihoods, participate in the economy and live with confidence. Many communities in South Africa are increasingly faced with challenges that place additional strain on households that are already navigating difficult socio‑economic conditions. Key outcomes included: 2025 Performance These efforts help sustain communities, protect essential natural resources and strengthen the ecosystems that support long-term livelihoods. Co-funded with Sanlam group sustainability, the partnership supported 123 projects in 2025 in 2025 (2024: 36 projects). 3 229,32 hectares of foreign species cleared (2024: 3 865,15) 33 local SMMEs contracted in restoration projects (2024: 26) 808 jobs created within the project (2024: 680) 36 local organisations contracted for restoration, with over R24,5 million in funds accessed (2024: nine organisations; R72 million) Sanlam Foundation Annual Report 2025 22 About this report Sanlam Foundation social impact 2025 Message from the Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Message from the Head of the Sanlam Foundation Strategic aspirations Our theory of change Programmatic performance Monitoring and evaluation Income and expense report Group-wide social impact intent Our partners
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTAwNDEy