Key Highlights:
South Africa’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector is made up of thousands of micro-enterprises, most of them run by Black women, providing essential care and early learning to young children. These ECD centres are more than educational spaces; they are also small businesses, community anchors, and engines of inclusion and employment. However, they often operate informally, with limited financial support, infrastructure, or access to training and capital.
IMBE was established to help shift this reality. As a social enterprise committed to building a stronger ECD ecosystem, we support the very people at its heart: the women entrepreneurs running community-based centres across South Africa.
IMBE was founded in 2015 in response to a critical gap in the sector—while public and private efforts focused on education and infrastructure, few were addressing the viability of ECD centres as small businesses.
The name “IMBE” is inspired by the indigenous Imbe fruit tree, known for its resilience and ability to thrive in harsh conditions. It reflects our belief in long-term, sustainable growth, both for the entrepreneurs we work with and the sector as a whole.
Initially focused on providing start-up capital for ECD owners through a stipend model. IMBE’s model has evolved significantly. In 2021, we launched the Accelerator Programme, a structured, 12- to 18-month model that combines learning, coaching and infrastructure support to help ECD business owners become financially sustainable and better equipped to serve their communities.
Our work is guided by a clear and measurable Theory of Change, which links our activities to outcomes that strengthen the broader ECD ecosystem. We focus on three interconnected pillars:
We equip ECD business owners with practical business and financial skills, from budgeting and fee collection to marketing and growth planning. Growth Day workshops, the first step in the Accelerator Programme journey, use real-world simulations to build confidence and apply learning directly to their centres.
We support practitioners in building strong financial habits by emphasising the importance of accurate record-keeping, goal setting and cash flow management, critical skills for growing a sustainable ECD business. Our digital tracking tool helps practitioners monitor income and expenses, providing a clear picture of performance and viability. This data can unlock access to credit, insurance and long-term financial planning.
We help centres identify and reduce unnecessary costs, freeing up resources to improve quality, retain staff and create safe, nurturing environments for children.
Beyond the core programme, IMBE offers ongoing support through check-ins, data insights, and personalised advice tailored to the individual needs of ECD owners, ensuring they stay connected and continue to grow. Our goal is to serve not only as a training provider, but as a long-term business partner committed to each entrepreneur’s success.
IMBE has supported over 2,500 centres in the way described above. In addition, in collaboration with our ecosystem partners, IMBE has supported 5,000 ECD businesses across four provinces in South Africa with over R47 million in startup capital. We have also equipped 3,500 centres with health and safety packs that comply with municipal standards. Practitioners in our Accelerator Programme have reported real income growth of between R300 to R5,000 per month, even up to R10,000 per month, and consistent increases in learner numbers and fees.
These results are more than individual success stories. They show that when supported with the right tools and guidance, ECD centres can grow into financially viable, high-impact micro-enterprises that uplift communities through job creation and high-quality education, especially in underserved areas.
While IMBE’s direct focus is on women-owned ECD centres, our broader ambition is to contribute to system-wide transformation. We work alongside government, funders and civil society to co-create solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and responsive to the realities on the ground.
We are proud to play a role in building an ECD sector where entrepreneurship, education and equity go hand in hand, and where every child and every practitioner has the opportunity to thrive.
