On Monday, 22 February, the Empowerment Gateway Group announced that it is ready to hand over custodianship of its CSR project, the Adopt-a-Pothole program in South Africa to another organisation or consortium, as its role as project architects and innovators is nearing completion.
The Adopt-a-Pothole program is a Social Enterprise Development programme, and addresses the following key fundamental needs in South Africa: - road infrastructure maintenance and the alleviation of unemployment and poverty.
Empowerment Gateway is now inviting the business sector and other interested parties as either individual bidders or as a members of a consortium, to submit an expression of interest for the 100% acquisition of the Adopt-a-Pothole programme in South Africa as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes or as part of a BBBEE compliance project.
According to Empowerment Gateway, the successful bidder/s will gain the above benefits once they acquire the project:
· The 'Adopt-a-Pothole' programme and its concept have gained extensive visibility and acceptability in South Africa as a unique CSR project.
· A CSR program that you directly manage and one that can be a 100% aligned to your organisation’s growth strategies and bottom line.
· A positive CSR case that can be used in financial reports and sustainability reports aligned to JSE SRI Index, UN Global Compact and GRI.
· Seen by government as addressing a call for businesses to assist in addressing the serious issue of unemployment; poverty; and infrastructure maintenance.
· Visibility and branding leading to enhanced customer loyalty and good reputation management.
· Seen to be complying with own CSR policies and value statements.
· Reduction of typical costs associated with meeting the following BBE elements:- Social Economic Development and Enterprise Development
In addition, the Adopt-a-Pothole program meets all the requirements for reporting on Corporate Social Investment as well as being the perfect methodology to gain maximum BBE points for Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development by the successful bidder.
The bidding process is structured as follows:
1. Phase I – Invitation to submit an expression of interest letter indicating your organisation’s interest to participate in this bidding process in accordance with the registration terms of engagement. Purchase of tender documentation pack. Official registration as a bidder.
2. Phase II – Submission of final bids. Evaluation and assessment of all bids. Selection of the appropriate bidder, who will then be invited to sign the acquisition agreement.
3. Phase III – Handover and transfer of all IP, business manuals, etc to the acquiring bidder. A Bid, may be submitted by an interested bidder, providing that the following conditions are met:
1. The Bidder has purchased the Tender Documents
2. The Bidder as signed the Confidentiality Agreement
3. The Bidder is willing to take over full custodianship of the Adopt-a-Pothole programme
4. The Bidder is committed to the appointment of a project champion who will take responsibility for the implementation of the Adopt-a-Pothole programme.
5. The Bidder has a suitable budget for the acquisition and the initial implementation phase of the programme
This Empowerment Gateway Group initiative, the Adopt-a-Pothole programme addresses various serious issues that affect everyone in South Africa today. Not only will it reduce unemployment, but it will also ensure that a large portion of the millions of potholes that exists currently in the South African roads are repaired. The end result is that there will be fewer accidents, less motor claims, less transport costs, less loss of lives while creating jobs.
For more information about the Adopt-a-Pothole programme, visit
www.adopt-a-pothole.org or email
[email protected].