Opportunity Issue 111

MAISHA SOCIAL SOLUTIONS

MAISHA SOCIAL SOLUTIONS Finding solutions for the most pressing challenges Finding solutions for clients is what most excites Geralda Wildschutt, founder and CEO of Maisha Social Solutions, a company that works on ESG in a wide variety of sectors. Sound stakeholder and accountability strategies are key to building trust. Trust in companies operating in the extractive sector is low. Working to overcome suspicion of communities is a long-term process. Please explain the name of the company. Maisha, a Swahili word meaning “life”, represents our passion to provide solutions for better livelihoods, living conditions and general wellbeing for all. We believe in the prosperity of the planet and a better world for all. Our logo is two Siamese crocodiles displayed as a symbiotic relationship of sharing one stomach and believed to represent democracy and unity. We believe in co-dependence between people, planet and systems and the values of democracy and unity. Are there sectors in which you mostly work? We work mostly with mining and renewable energy companies, but our field of expertise, which is Sustainability and ESG (Environment, Social and Governance), is relevant to any sector. We support these companies in delivering their goals in mostly Social Performance, which is the S in ESG. The topic covers all stakeholders relevant to a company, ie its employees/people, its communities, host governments, industry bodies, etc. We assist in navigating relationships and partnerships. This can mean working on Corporate Social Responsibility topics, for example designing a strategy, a portfolio of bestsuited community-benefit-and-impact projects, stakeholder engagement and social research. It can also mean advising a large-scale mining company’s board or executive team about entry strategies into Africa, where it means working with communities and governments. We often find ourselves sitting with community members under trees and in community halls in Botswana, South Africa, Congo and Namibia, where we do baseline socio-economic impact studies for mining companies, or stakeholder engagement sessions for renewable energy companies. We also work on capacity-building of mining staff on the pertinent topics of ESG, and how to put systems and policies in place. What excites you about the work of Maisha? We work in fascinating industries. The mining sector will provide the critical minerals the world needs for our electric cars, wind turbines, solar panels and smartphones. It is integral to creating the green future that we need. Mining also drives the renewable industry across Africa, as most mining companies are building renewable solutions for their energy demands. We are excited about the growth of renewables in South Africa, and how this can unlock access to energy for vast communities who have been energy poor. We work in human rights, assisting companies to assess their impact on the rights of households neighbouring the mine or renewable energy plant. This is critical work to build trust with communities and build a culture of No Harm. These industries invest large sums of money in communities and we get to assist in designing impactful projects, from infrastructure, agriculture, health and education and many more. What excites us most is finding solutions together with our clients for their most pressing challenges. Can you talk about some of the challenges? Trust building for mining companies: this is at an all-time low for the industry internationally, lower than oil and gas, due to the perceived and real negative impacts that mining brings in the PHOTO: wirestock on Freepik

shape of ugly heaps, displacement of people for land required for mines and pollution of water and air. Working on solutions for our clients to build trust with governments and communities, with non-profit organisations and industry bodies, is important work. This is achieved through sound stakeholder and accountability strategies. Minng occurs in the poorest places in the world, including in South Africa. Therefore, the demands and expectations are high. International companies entering these environments to mine often do not understand the cost of community expectations. Conflict can cost companies a lot of money, since communities can directly prevent the mine from producing. We advise on this work and design systems in collaboration with communities and partners. Lack of understanding of what the industry is like and why it is important could be harmful to the industry; we design communication plans and community participation to educate about mining and its purpose. Do you help companies comply with legislation? In South Africa we assist companies with Social and Labour Plans (SLPs), which is regulated by the Department of Mineral Resources. This is the plan designed with municipalities and communities which contains the Community Benefit projects that the mine will deliver in a five-year period. It also contains obligations for human resource development, community development and housing, among other things. This is an important document since the SLP gets assessed and signed off, and non-delivery may result in the loss of a mining licence. The Economist recently noted that ESG reporting is somewhat in retreat internationally. Is this true of SA or is there still a robust interest in ESG? The standards and requirements for ESG reporting is different for various sectors and different countries. Reporting on one’s environmental footprint and plans to avoid harm while protecting the environment is essential for mining companies, but also for many other sectors. Communities, governments, shareholders and investors care about the companies’ negative impacts on the natural environment, on the climate and water resources. Stakeholders also care about the social commitments and contributions of companies. I would say that ESG reporting remains critical for all industries. The topic of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is still critical and companies should report on their commitment and delivery on this critical topic. South Africa is doing very well and leads the way on gender equity, and the percentages of women on boards of listed companies. Founder and CEO, Geralda Wildschutt. Training staff in ESG protocols is an important part of the modern work environment. BIOGRAPHY Geralda is a sustainability and ESG expert. Her significant leadership roles include that of independent board director at Caledonia Mining Corporation and Northam Platinum Holdings. In these roles she is instrumental in steering sustainability decisions and she is a panellist on the Climate Change Advisory Committee of Sasol. Geralda has worked in more than 15 countries across four continents. She was a winner in the 50 Power Women in the 2021 Mail & Guardian competition and in the World Women Leadership Congress Awards 2024. Geralda is an Educational Psychologist by training and holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from BSN, as well as post-graduate certificates in Crosssector Partnerships and Advanced Social Management from Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership. She is a Director of SAICA Enterprise Development and The Hope Factory, where she serves in a voluntary capacity. As a successful woman entrepreneur, please share your observations about your own journey. What helped you succeed? I’ve always been open to opportunities, even when they were hard, requiring studying or late nights. Being willing to put oneself in unfamiliar situations and open to change is important for growth, as is having a positive mind-set. I encourage everyone to look for sponsors and mentors who will support your path and listen when things get tough. PHOTO: prostooleh on Freepik Commons www.opportunityonline.co.za | 57