Overview
The Social Employment Fund (SEF) is one of South Africa’s most ambitious public employment programmes, designed to create meaningful, part-time work in service of the common good. By funding civil society organisations to deliver socially valuable services — from food relief and care work to education and greening — SEF is redefining how employment can uplift both people and communities.
Since 2022, Brownie Points has served as a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP), enabling SEF delivery across multiple provinces while also powering the digital systems that track outputs, support partners, and ensure transparency at scale.
The Project
Brownie Points managed a national SEF programme rollout involving:
- 13 nonprofit partners
- 7 provinces and 188 community worksites
- 3,755 participants
The Brownie Points platform supported every step — from onboarding and HR workflows, to biometric attendance, activity logging, and automated reporting. This infrastructure made it possible to operate with scale and precision, while also surfacing the human stories and community impact behind the numbers.
SEF’s unique model — employment in service of social and environmental needs — captured global attention. In 2023, it received international recognition through the Bay Awards.
Success
- Created work opportunities for 3,755 participants
- Activated 188 worksites across 7 provinces
- Partnered with 13 civil society organisations
- Enabled end-to-end delivery and reporting through Brownie Points’ tech platform
- Positioned South Africa as a pioneer in employment-for-impact models
The Social Employment Fund is more than a jobs programme — it’s a movement proving that meaningful work can heal, grow, and transform communities.