Empowering Women: The WDB Trust’s 35-Year Journey in South Africa

The Women’s Development Bank (WDB) Trust is marking 35 years of work aimed at reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa through programmes focused on women’s economic empowerment, skills development and community support.

Speaking at the 15th Zanele Mbeki International Women’s Dialogue on Wednesday, WDB Trust chairperson Ria Phiyega reflected on the organisation’s history and the role women have played in building a movement focused on addressing poverty at the community level.

Phiyega paid tribute to the founders and early patrons who helped establish the initiative over three decades ago. Among those she acknowledged were Reeva Forman, who played a role in founding the organisation, and Zanele Mbeki, one of the trust’s early patrons and a long-time advocate for women’s empowerment.

“Thirty-five years ago, a group of visionary women decided to enter the war against poverty. Their courage laid the foundation for what has become one of the most impactful movements in the fight against poverty and inequality in South Africa,” Phiyega said.

The WDB Trust was established in the early 1990s, alongside the broader Women’s Development Bank. At the time, many women, particularly in rural areas, had little access to formal banking services. The institution was created to provide financial support to women who were largely excluded from the banking sector during the final years of apartheid.

Over time, the trust developed into a development organisation that focuses on sustainable poverty reduction in rural and underserved communities. Its work now includes a combination of financial support, training programmes and community development initiatives designed to help households build stable livelihoods.

Phiyega stated that the organisation’s approach has always been based on the understanding that poverty cannot be addressed solely through financial assistance.

“Poverty is not just about the absence of money. It is also about the absence of opportunity, access and voice,” she said.

For that reason, the WDB Trust has focused on long-term empowerment rather than short-term aid. Its programmes aim to equip individuals and communities with the tools needed to improve their economic prospects and participate more fully in the economy.

One of the organisation’s central interventions has been expanding access to financial services for women who remain outside the formal banking system.

Through its microfinance initiatives, the WDB Trust provides services such as small loans, savings mechanisms and financial support for low-income individuals and small informal businesses. These services are designed to help women start or expand small enterprises that can generate income for their households.

According to Phiyega, the broader goal is to ensure that people in marginalised communities have access to essential financial tools, including credit, savings and other services that support economic participation.

However, the organisation’s work does not stop at financial access. Recognising that sustainable economic participation requires skills and education, the WDB Trust also established a training academy that provides development programmes for both young people and adults.

The academy places particular emphasis on digital literacy and technology skills, especially among young people in rural communities. Participants are introduced to basic computer training and digital tools that can improve their employment prospects and prepare them for an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Training also focuses on leadership and confidence building, encouraging young people to use technology as a platform for innovation and problem-solving within their communities.

For adults, the academy provides literacy and numeracy training using digital tools. These programmes aim to strengthen basic skills while also enabling participants to engage more effectively in economic and community activities.

The training initiatives often have wider family and community benefits. Parents and caregivers who take part in the programmes can become role models for younger generations by demonstrating the value of continuous learning and skills development.

Another part of the academy’s work focuses on health education for women living in rural areas.

Through these programmes, women receive training on the management of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. These illnesses remain common health challenges in many communities, particularly where access to healthcare services is limited.

The training emphasises preventive healthcare, early detection and lifestyle changes that can reduce health risks and improve overall wellbeing. According to the organisation, combining health education with economic and digital empowerment helps strengthen women’s ability to lead productive and independent lives.

One of the most significant community development initiatives run by the organisation is the Zenzele Psychosocial Development Programme. The name “Zenzele” translates roughly to “stand up and do it for yourself,” reflecting the programme’s emphasis on self-reliance and community-driven development.

The initiative works with households in under-resourced rural areas, helping them strengthen resilience and connect with development services offered by the government and other partners.

Rather than providing permanent support, the programme focuses on building capacity within communities so that families can eventually manage their own economic and social challenges.

Once communities demonstrate the ability to sustain progress independently, the WDB Trust gradually withdraws from those areas, leaving behind local networks and systems that can continue supporting development.

To monitor the effectiveness of these programmes, the organisation uses the Greenlight Methodology, a poverty-tracking system that allows participants to measure their progress across multiple indicators.

Households evaluate their situation based on factors such as income levels, food security, housing conditions and access to education. Each indicator is classified using a colour system, where red represents serious challenges and green indicates satisfactory conditions.

Progress is measured by the extent to which indicators shift from red to green over time. The methodology has been used in several municipalities within the iLembe District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. According to data presented during the address, participants recorded an overall improvement of 39% between the initial baseline assessment and the third Greenlight poverty survey.

Households directly involved in the core programme recorded a 45% improvement, while group-based participants showed an improvement of 35%.

Results across municipalities were broadly consistent. KwaDukuza recorded an improvement of 40%, Maphumulo showed a 39% increase and Ndwedwe recorded a 37% improvement.

Phiyega said these figures reflect real changes in the lives of participating households.

“These numbers are not just statistics. They represent households that now have food security, women who run small enterprises and communities that are organising themselves to face the future with confidence,” she said.

karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za