Reimagining Empowerment: SANZAF’s Women Empowerment Survey Sparks a New Era of Support for South African Women

In a time when women continue to face the dual burden of economic instability and social pressures, the South African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF) has taken a bold step to listen not just to statistics, but to the lived experiences of women themselves.

Amongst the many Women Empowerment initiatives that took place during Women’s Month, SANZAF conducted its first Women Empowerment Survey, engaging 119 women across major urban centres. The goal: to give women a voice and shape the next phase of SANZAF’s empowerment programmes through their insights. What emerged was clear South African women are calling for skills, mentorship, funding and sisterhood.

A Snapshot of Women’s Realities

With 62% of women seeing unemployment as their greatest challenge and 55% facing financial constraints, economic vulnerability remains widespread. Yet, these statistics also reflect resilience. 71% of respondents sought skills training and 59% mentorship, proving that women aren’t asking for handouts they’re asking for tools.

As one respondent expressed, “Provide training but pay a stipend for unemployed people to attend. We need to support all unemployed people, not just those from certain areas.”

The Heart of Empowerment: Community and Care

The survey also illuminated that empowerment isn’t just about jobs or training it’s about emotional and social wellbeing. Many respondents highlighted the need for psychosocial support and sisterhood hubs, spaces where women can connect, heal and grow.

From Listening to Action

SANZAF’s Women Empowerment framework is entering an exciting new phase, where the insights of this Survey are being integrated into the plans for the future. This framework will:

• Expand skills training and mentorship programmes that bridge learning with livelihood.
• Establish regional counselling and sisterhood hubs for psychosocial wellbeing.
• Create inclusive community networks that empower ordinary women to connect, collaborate and uplift one another.

SANZAF CEO, Yasmina Francke said the findings have inspired a strategic transformation in how the organisation designs and delivers programmes for women. “This survey is not just data it’s a voice. It tells us that empowerment must be redefined. Women don’t only want opportunities; they want access, mentorship and the emotional strength to thrive. SANZAF is now reimagining how we serve women from training and funding to wellness and sisterhood.”

Towards a More Inclusive Future

The survey findings go beyond data, they capture a powerful truth: that women’s empowerment is not a single event or workshop, but a continuous journey of growth, healing and opportunity.

As SANZAF continues to evolve, this survey marks the beginning of a broader transformation in how development organisations approach women’s issues not from a top-down perspective, but through partnership, empathy and inclusion.

Empowerment begins with listening. SANZAF has done just that and is ready to act.