Avo Vision
Strengthening Rural Charcoal Enterprises
Avo Vision is a development organisation focused on supporting rural livelihoods through enterprise development, environmental restoration, and sustainable resource use. They work closely with small businesses and communities to unlock economic opportunities, particularly in the biomass and charcoal sectors.
LEAD Associates partnered with Avo Vision, to serve as a Local Extension Services (LES) Provider across Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. This work formed part of Avo Vision’s support to small-scale enterprises under the SEF 3 programme. LEAD supported 35 charcoal businesses by conducting baseline assessments, identifying productivity barriers, and implementing targeted interventions. Our work included GIS-based biomass resource analysis, enterprise training, support for the MOAT reporting system, and the development of tailored business tools to enhance operational efficiency. This initiative is helping build viable, sustainable value chains rooted in invasive plant biomass utilisation and rural enterprise development.
The Impact Catalyst
Social Employment Through Environmental Innovation
LEAD Associates, in partnership with Impact Catalyst under the Social Employment Fund (SEF) managed by the IDC, helped turn South Africa’s unemployment crisis into opportunity. The programme cleared 1,550 hectares of invasive alien plants across Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Free State, creating over 4,000 work opportunities for unemployed youth.
LEAD trained more than 700 participants in land restoration and biomass valorisation—transforming invasive plants into wood chips, firewood, and pellets to support green economic activity in mining-affected regions. As part of this, a micro pellet production unit was established to provide hands-on training, mentorship, and practical experience with heavy machinery—enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to enter the sustainable energy sector.
Additionally, LEAD registered and capacitated 35 small businesses, offering tailored business training and integrating them into the biomass clearing value chain. This ensured participants left the programme with both operational skills and formal business structures.
All activities were implemented with full SHEQ compliance and POPIA-aligned data protection, while productivity and performance were tracked in real time using the MOAT Reporting System.
Working for Ecosystems (WFE)
The Working for Ecosystems (WFE) programme, initiated by WESSA and supported by the eThekwini Municipality, focuses on poverty relief and sustainable development by creating jobs while restoring ecological integrity. It reduces invasive alien plants (IAPs) in high-priority biodiversity areas, with a focus on rural sites of conservation importance. The programme emphasizes environmental best practices, providing workers with training on IAP identification and eradication. Collaborating with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), WFE fosters the establishment of co-ops within communities, further supporting local business development. The programme strengthens ecosystem resilience, enhances community livelihoods, and aids climate change adaptation.
As part of this initiative, LEAD Associates, in joint venture with Imveloyami Environmental Projects & Consulting (IEPC), entered into a formal agreement with the eThekwini Municipality to manage IAP clearing operations across ecologically sensitive areas. Under this agreement, LEAD was responsible for project management, team deployment, training, reporting, and adherence to best environmental and operating practices—playing a key role in restoring biodiversity and supporting green job creation across the D’MOSS open space system.
Conservation South Africa - War on Wattle
The "War on Wattle" project in Matatiele, spearheaded by Conservation South Africa (CSA), is part of a broader effort to restore ecosystems by clearing invasive alien species, particularly wattle trees, from vital landscapes. The Matatiele area, located in the upper Umzimvubu River catchment, is a critical water source in South Africa. Wattle, an invasive species, threatens water availability and biodiversity in the region.
In Ward 21 of Matatiele, CSA, along with LEAD Associates, cleared over 2,300 hectares of wattle-infested land. This effort not only improved the health of rangelands but also engaged local communities, creating employment opportunities for 770 people, many of whom were youth and women. The project has helped to improve water access, promote sustainable grazing practices, and restore natural springs. This is a key part of the broader Umzimvubu Catchment Partnership, which aims to improve both the environmental and economic well-being of the region by integrating conservation with livelihood initiatives such as livestock management and grazing restoration
SANParks Value Added Industry
The Natural Resource Management Programme, in collaboration with the Economic Development Department, plans to establish 17 Eco-Furniture Factories across the country. These factories will primarily produce school desks and benches from invasive alien plants cleared under the Working for Water (WfW) programme. Each factory, when fully operational, will create about 100 jobs, focusing on marginalized groups in terms of race, gender, disability, and age. The initiative is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme, and desks are expected to be more cost-effective and durable than current options. The Economic Development Department has contributed R8 million to the establishment of these factories.
Food For Us
Food for Us is a project that is supported by the 10YFP Trust Fund, which was established by UNEP. The project was chosen after an open call for proposals for the Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme, which was financially supported by the Government of Japan. Donations are used to fund the sustainability, running costs, and maintenance of the system.