Lisa Simango

Township entrepreneurs don’t lack ambition; they lack access to finance that works for them. Township Spark is reshaping how finance reaches the township economy, grounded in listening to entrepreneurs themselves. Watch the video: bit.ly/3KGxEeJ

“AfYWL is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you will never regret.” — @SimzyLisa From day one, Lisa gained hands-on experience in sustainable development, building leadership with purpose. Read her story in #AMANI: 🔗go.undp.org/AMANI #AfYWL #YouthLeadership #SDGs

Introducing #AMANI, the 3rd edition of the #AfYWL storybook. 📚 This collection captures the journeys of 36 young African women, their experiences, their courage to dream & their commitment to lead with purpose. 📘Read the storybook 👉🏾go.undp.org/AMANI #AfricanWomenLead

Millions work but remain poor. #SocialSummit2025 must deliver on decent work — fair pay, safe conditions, and social protection for all women and men. Because work should be a path to progress, not a trap of survival.

READ (Op-Ed): Township businesses built a R1-trillion economy without the system — yet 80% are still labelled “informal”. As Maxwell @GomeraM & Miles Kubheka argue in the @dailymaverick: it’s not informal, it’s the independent economy. bit.ly/4oFu82m

We’re proud to announce that we will be hosting a high-level panel at the @awieforum 2025 in Cape Town! Join us as we explore how women-led innovation is powering inclusive growth & digital transformation across Africa. Register here: lnkd.in/eNvsbaVT

Powerful conversations on women’s leadership, digital transformation & inclusive innovation are shaping #AWIEF2025. Our Dep Res. Rep, Dr. @GloriaKiondo, opened the forum with a keynote on financial inclusion, digital innovation & empowering women in the informal economy.

At the @KMotlantheFDN Drakensberg Forum in South Africa: Shared prosperity is a choice — and the time to choose it is now. We know what works: reimagining development finance, building stronger partnerships, and investing in women and youth. Let’s take it to the next level — from South Africa, with Africa and to the world.

With the right tools, spaza shops can transform economies! Our #DIME initiative unlocks new opportunities for spaza shops—from digital tools to food safety—to drive growth, resilience & market access. We're deepening our support, drawing experiences from Senegal🇸🇳 & Lesotho🇱🇸

Congratulations to @DieneKeita for her appointment as Executive Director of @UNFPA today by the @UN Secretary-General. I look forward to working with you as you assume this new role and towards the continued partnership between @UNDP and @UNFPA.

Youth can turn global ambition into local impact, but only with the right skills and tools. Through our inclusive Just Energy transition initiatives, we’re equipping them with green skills for a greener future, empowering action where it matters most. #IYD2025

#ICYMI On #IYD2025, we spotlighted how our inclusive Just Energy initiatives equip youth to turn global ambition into local impact. From training solar technicians to certifying energy performance practitioners, fostering skills for the Global Goals. 📹: bit.ly/45EKCQz

I am grateful and excited to be given an amazing opportunity to manage and coordinate such an impactful UNDP SA - Digital Innovation for Modernising the Informal/ Independent Economy (DIME) initiative implemented in South Africa’s Townships! #DIME #Digital

Leadership starts with opportunity. 💡 Lisa joined the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship, a joint initiative by @UNDP & the @_AfricanUnion. Her journey shows how structured support can strengthen women’s roles in public life. 🌍 #InternationalYouthDay #IYD2025 #Agenda2030

REMINDER! We are still accepting proposals. Due Date: 15 August 2025

Today, I’m reminded that for many of us young people, hope isn’t just a feeling it’s what keeps us going. In a world where opportunities feel out of reach, hope drives us to keep learning, to keep trying, and to believe that a better future is still possible.....

Empowering Young People: A Call for Reproductive Agency and Economic Justice on #WorldPopulationDay2025 @YuUnfpa championing the rights & choices for all young people youtu.be/-4ggZ-OalJM?si… via @YouTube @UbuntuRadioZA #StandUp4HumanRights #YouthEmpowerment

“Free trade must be fair trade — serving development, not deepening inequalities.” – @AminaJMohammed ahead of next week’s 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. More about #FFD4: financing.desa.un.org/ffd4

Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are the engines of job creation, innovation, and community resilience. In honor of #MSMEDay2025 and a powerful week of collaboration and engagement towards strengthening support for a robust 💪🏾 ecosystem, we invite you to 📣 join the conversation! Tag a Nigerian 🇳🇬 MSME you admire, whether it’s a neighborhood food vendor🍛, a fashion label🪡, a tech 👩🏾‍💻startup, or the kitchen that feels like home! 🇳🇬 📌Share which #SDG their efforts are advancing 🚀.

Africa in Motion! 🌍 The continent is innovating & charting new pathways for inclusive growth daily. 📈 Through the Regional Programme for Africa, we’re investing in this journey across 4 key pillars: People, Prosperity, Planet & Peace. ✨ 🔗 Read more: go.undp.org/AfricaInMotion