Supplier Diveristy: Gary Joseph on Supplier Diversity in South Africa

Recently, the SAIBL Business Forum sat down with Gary Joseph, Director of Corporations and Linkages for the National Business Initiative (NBI). NBI is part of the US/South Africa partnership that runs the SAIBL program, as well as a member of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development that represents 150 companies supporting growth and democracy initiatives in South Africa.

NBI is also leveraging their corporate membership and private sector expertise to provide technical assistance to the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC).

Mr. Joseph has been deeply involved in the formation of the SASDC. He brings years of experience with the South African business community to the table and offers unique insights into the state of supplier diversity in the country.

When asked “What is the current corporate interpretation of the business case for supplier diversity in South Africa?”

Mr. Joseph replied:

"For many companies they would find the business case to be a compliance issue and consequently strategies tend to be focused around making sure they meet the compliance requirement of government and [as far as they are concerned] that’s an adequate business case. However, we need to create more value for our supply chains... And get companies to embrace diversity throughout their organizations. We know that it is possible because they have easily created diversity in their workforces, therefore we encourage them to see the benefits of supplier diversity because it is an opportunity to add value to their business and we are gathering information to back that claim."

Mr. Joseph and the SASDC are working towards that goal by bringing large companies and value-creating, historically disadvantaged suppliers together as outlined in our previous SASDC profile. Since the publication of that post the SASDC has launched a website that has resources for companies and suppliers seeking certification, as well as event listings and other information.

Furthermore, the SASDC is part of a global network of supplier diversity organizations comprised of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC), Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC), Minority Supplier Development China, Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK) and the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in the USA. To spread the word and meet our peer supplier diversity organizations, the SASDC will be sending a delegation and staffing a booth at the NMSDC’s convention in Miami, Florida from October 24th – 27th. More information to follow on the SASDC delegation to Miami!