Developing dynamic ecosystems by empowering “weavers”

IYBA-SEED in South Africa is deploying a pilot approach aimed at developing ecosystems or sub-ecosystems around agents of change and catalysts of innovation, known as “weavers”. These “weavers” are national and local players with proven experience in developing relationships, promoting synergies and collaborating within ecosystems and/or between different ecosystems.

South Africa has few weavers relative to the size of its economy, which may be illustrated by weak networks and trust levels (EDSE Inception Report Ecosystem Assessment 2018). The importance of “weavers” as essential intermediaries in the economy has only recently been recognized. Their impact remains limited and uneven due to the lack of resources allocated to this key ecosystem segment and the absence of established standards for operational best practice.

Aligned with existing initiatives, IYBA-SEED in South Africa prioritizes inclusivity, resilience and informed state interventions in the South African entrepreneurial landscape.

It emphasizes the interaction between actors and institutions to develop dynamic ecosystems around specific challenges, opportunities or regional assets. By sharing strategies from successful sub-ecosystems, the project also aims to enrich dialogue between the public and private sectors, and effectively tailor state support.
By sharing experiences through peer-learning, the project also aims to inform private-public dialogues, to address existing gaps and, thus, catalyse ecosystem development.

Activities of IYBA-SEED in South-Africa includes:

Building capacity of weavers, through training and networking.
Equipping and empowering (pilot) ecosystems by transferring know-how and by supporting the development of missing knowledge products and instruments.
Supporting and facilitating public-private dialogues.
Enhancing visibility of the (pilot) ecosystems, the weavers, and role models (women, youth, pre-/seed entrepreneurs).
Fostering sustainability and strengthening (new) partnerships, by reviewing previous interventions.