Shared Interest has announced a new phase of its work in South Africa aimed at closing the gender financing gap by unlocking capital for women-led businesses in the housing and agriculture space. The initiative is being rolled out in partnership with the DG Murray Trust (DGMT) and the uMaStandi, a property financing company that supports township property entrepreneurs.
Across South Africa, women are building businesses that address urgent community needs, from housing to food security, and reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families. Yet, despite this critical role, a staggering $42 billion gender financing gap persists across Africa. In South Africa alone, women own nearly 40% of small businesses but receive less than 10% of formal financing. This initiative is designed to change that.
“Affordable housing is one of South Africa’s greatest needs, and women entrepreneurs are already leading solutions,” said Dorcas Onyango, Global Program Director at Shared Interest.
Targeted partnership interventions
uMaStandi (TUHF Group): Shared Interest will channel capital into affordable housing finance for micro-developers, especially women-led businesses, in township. The initiative will support female landlords to develop and manage income-generating rental units, even without traditional collateral. Specifically, the partnership aims to unlock USD 8 million in loans for women affordable housing entrepreneurs, enabling uMaStandi to expand beyond its initial Soweto focus into other areas around the country, further tapping township development potential.
The collaboration will build on TUHF’s comprehensive Entrepreneurial Support model, which combines access to finance, mentorship programs such as the TUHF Programme for Property Entrepreneurship, and technical training throughout the development process. This will stimulate local economies, create jobs, strengthen small businesses, and contribute to urban regeneration and densification in townships.
DG Murray Trust (DGMT): With one of their focus areas in opening opportunities for smallholder and medium farmers in agriculture, through this partnership, Shared Interest and DGMT will de-risk lending for young black agripreneurs, while also providing business and financial management training. This approach ensures that women farmers not only access the financing they need today but also strengthen their ability to qualify for new loans from local banks as their enterprises grow.
“Our partnership with Shared Interest makes it possible for farmers to leverage financing they would ordinarily be excluded from,” said Busisiwe Kabane-Bailey, Innovation Director at DGMT. It will help them strengthen their agribusiness and build a track record for sustainable access to mainstream finance in the future.”
About Shared Interest
Shared Interest is a U.S.-based nonprofit social investment fund that unlocks local capital for high-impact enterprises in Southern Africa using partial credit guarantees. With a 30-year track record, it supports underserved entrepreneurs—particularly women and youth—in sectors such as affordable housing, agriculture, climate resilience, and social enterprise. In 2024, founder Donna Katzin was honored with a National Order by President Cyril Ramaphosa for her work in ethical investment and post-apartheid economic justice.