Key Highlights:
South Africa’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector plays a vital role in shaping the country’s future. But behind this essential service are thousands of micro-enterprises, mostly led by Black women, struggling to survive without the tools, training or recognition they deserve.
At IMBE, we believe that supporting the women-run businesses that form the backbone of the ECD sector is an essential and often neglected ingredient to improve access, quality and long-term impact. Our Accelerator Programme was designed with this belief in mind. It is a structured intervention that helps ECD entrepreneurs build the financial and operational capabilities they need to grow resilient, sustainable enterprises.
ECDs are not just spaces for care and education; they are small businesses that power communities. When these businesses are strong they can serve more children, retain staff and reinvest in higher-quality learning environments.
Yet many ECD providers operate informally and earn less than the national minimum wage for their services. They face unpredictable income, high operating costs and limited access to finance or training. In low-income communities, most have no formal education, often only holding a matric certificate, which doesn’t adequately equip them with business acumen. To build a system that delivers both access and quality, we must first invest in the capacity of those who deliver it.
IMBE’s Accelerator Programme is a 12- to 18-month offering that provides hands-on, tailored support across five key stages:
Each business begins the programme with an in-depth health assessment through a personalised diagnostic. While there are many building blocks that form part of an ECD business, we focus on five pillars of growth. The Accelerator Programme outlines these as the necessary factors for ECDs to succeed, and we work with our practitioners to find ways to improve these elements of their business:
Practitioners set measurable goals based on their realities identified through their diagnostic process, whether that’s improving fee collection, increasing enrolment or preparing for registration.
3. Entrepreneur Capability Building
Through workshops, individual field visits, and peer learning, centre owners strengthen their business and leadership skills. The journey begins with Growth Day workshops, which use real-world simulations to build confidence and capability in budgeting, planning and managing operations. This is followed by a period of financial and operational data tracking, supported by technology, remote and in-person support.
Not all centres are ready for infrastructure upgrades, but understanding what’s needed is a crucial first step toward compliance and helps set owners on the path to registration with the Department of Basic Education (DBE). As part of the programme, they receive a site visit aligned with the DBE’s Mass Registration Drive to assess safety, regulatory alignment and operational needs. IMBE then uses the results of these assessments to raise funding and deliver targeted upgrades that support long-term improvements.
After completing the core programme, ECD owners join IMBE’s alumni network, gaining access to ongoing advisory, data insights and partnership opportunities. We remain a long-term business partner to every graduate.
The Accelerator Programme is anchored in IMBE’s Theory of Change, which links stronger ECD businesses to better outcomes for children. When centres are well-run, financially viable and resilient to shocks, they can hire and retain qualified staff, improve their facilities and create safe, stimulating learning environments. This, in turn, improves developmental outcomes for children, especially in underserved communities.
We track business performance across key indicators, including income growth, learner numbers, financial behaviours and operational resilience. These insights help us tailor support and demonstrate the value of enterprise-driven models to funders and partners.
Our data shows clear progress: since joining the programme, practitioners have reported an average 35% increase in monthly fees and a 30% rise in learner numbers. Around 65% of participants said their reward enabled them to attract more families and enrol more children. And nearly 90% would recommend the Accelerator Programme to their peers.
To further encourage progress, IMBE has introduced a rewards-based system that recognises and celebrates high-performing practitioners. As they apply their new skills and meet key milestones, participants can access products and services that accelerate their business growth, reinforcing strong behaviours and unlocking additional value.
Practitioners who complete the programme report not only stronger financial outcomes, some increasing their real monthly income by up to R10,000, but also greater confidence, improved staff management and deeper engagement with families.
The Accelerator Programme has evolved from years of listening to what women ECD entrepreneurs need most. It’s built on the understanding that sustainability doesn’t come from one-off training, it requires consistent, customised support.
The programme is designed to meet providers where they are, offering practical tools that make a real difference. Whether it’s helping them register for government subsidies, upgrade their premises or gain control of their finances, the goal remains the same: long-term, sustainable impact.
Since welcoming our first cohort in 2021, more than 2,500 practitioners across four provinces including Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo have completed the Accelerator Programme. This year, we plan to onboard over 2,000 ECD owners and expand into three additional provinces — Free State, Mpumalanga and North West. Going forward, we have built the capacity to onboard 2,000 new practitioners annually.
As South Africa works toward universal access to quality early learning programmes by 2030, IMBE’s Accelerator Programme shows what’s possible when we invest in the ecosystem from the ground up. We’re not just training caregivers, we’re backing business leaders who are growing the education economy, one ECD business at a time.
