South Africa’s Global Business Services (GBS) sector is internationally recognised for its leadership in impact sourcing, a proven approach that boosts competitiveness while driving positive business and social outcomes. It is one of the reasons why an average of 90% of sector hires are youth, with approximately 30% coming from households where no one was previously employed, or where families are entirely dependent on social grants. Impact sourcing employs holistic strategies that include recruitment, training, onboarding, and retention.
Reshni Singh, CEO of BPESA, the national trade and industry association for South Africa’s (GBS) sector, said: “Impact sourcing is the future of South Africa’s Global Business Services sector. It’s about future-proofing not just our sector, but our young talent, who ultimately define our global positioning.”
Singh was speaking at the launch of BPESA’s Impact Sourcing Practical Guide in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal. The guide is aimed at sector operators who are still developing or refining their impact sourcing and inclusive hiring models. It was developed with contributions from BPESA’s partner, Harambee, and a wide range of employers, training providers and delivery partners.
“The success of South Africa’s GBS sector is measured by who benefits from that growth. As an industry, we have set ourselves an ambitious goal of creating between 350,000 and 500,000 cumulative jobs by 2030. This will require us to continually expand, strengthen and diversify our talent pipeline,” Singh added.
There are several non-profit organisations (NPOs), such as Harambee, CareerBox and Shadow Global, helping fulfil that ambition. “The GBS sector is growing and hiring at entry level, but existing programmes are not producing enough beneficiaries able to take up the roles employers offer. Impact sourcing is the bridge, and models that are demand-led and proven at scale are how you build that pipeline,” said Adjoa Ayivor, CEO and co-founder of Shadow Global, a South African pioneering impact sourcing initiative that provides excluded youth with practical skills training, mentorship, and permanent job placements, primarily in the BPO and (GBS) sectors.
Impact sourcing and AI
As AI, digital transformation and automation reshape GBS roles, the sector continues to explore how talent sourcing, assessment and development need to evolve, and which human, digital and future-of-work capabilities will become increasingly important.
“In South Africa’s GBS sector, impact sourcing and artificial intelligence are two aspects of a single agenda. One ensures that more South Africans have access to meaningful careers, while the other ensures those careers remain relevant, competitive and future-ready. Together, they strengthen our industry’s ability to deliver exceptional value to clients while creating sustainable opportunities for our country,” concluded Singh.
The launch of the Impact Sourcing Practical Guide brought together BPESA members, partners, industry leaders, HR and learning teams, government, academia, training providers and young professionals for panel insights, youth presentations and an AI workshop, with support from the dtic, Harambee and InvestSA. Further roll-out is planned for Johannesburg and Cape Town.