German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa

What German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa does

German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa is a regional project office of Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation e.V., a German non-profit association funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Established in Zambia in 2012 and formalized as a regional office covering Zambia, Malawi, and Namibia, the organization delivers financial education, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience programming through a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) cascade model, reaching smallholder farmers, microentrepreneurs, MSMEs, youth, and microfinance institution managers.

The core product portfolio centers on the proprietary Business Games methodology — five interactive, haptic and computer-based simulations (Micro Business Game, Farmers Business Game, Savings Business Game, MFI Management Game, and Managing Climate Resilience). The organization also operates the MENTORpreneur psychology-based mentorship program (launched in Zambia in 2024) and two tools for financial institutions — Sustainable Finance Compass and ESG Risk Radar — extending the offering into ESG and climate advisory for banks and MFIs. Training is delivered in partnership with central banks, government ministries, universities (notably LUANAR in Malawi), and a dense network of implementing NGOs.

The business model is non-commercial: programs are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, with operations funded by German development cooperation grants channeled through the Bonn headquarters and supplemented by in-kind contributions and co-funding from institutional partners. The organization reports impact metrics including 10,192 microentrepreneurs trained through 449 Micro Business Game sessions since 2012, 5,967 farmers trained across Zambia's 10 provinces, and active programs in all three focus countries. The current project phase runs 2023-2026, succeeding the prior 2021-2023 phase that itself expanded scope from pure financial literacy to small-scale entrepreneurship promotion.

Name

German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa

Legal name

Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation e.V.

Website

https://sparkassenstiftung-southernafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa is a non-profit regional office, funded by German development cooperation, that delivers interactive Business Games simulations and mentorship programs for financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience to smallholder farmers, microentrepreneurs, and MSMEs across Zambia, Malawi, and Namibia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Simulation, Scenario & Serious Games Design (EDAGAKAH), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Finance Risk (EDABAJAO), Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG)

Keywords

• Financial literacy training
• Business simulation games
• MSME development
• Entrepreneurship education
• Microfinance capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Cooperation Funding: Funded by German development cooperation (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) through Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation e.V. headquarters in Bonn. Regional office operates as part of the global Sparkassenstiftung network.
2. Partnership-based Program Delivery: Programs delivered through partnerships with governments, central banks, universities, and NGOs who co-fund or provide in-kind support for training activities in Southern Africa.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa delivers interactive Business Game simulations, MSME mentorship programs, and capacity-building tools for financial institutions across Zambia, Malawi, and Namibia. Core offerings include five Business Game simulations (Micro, Farmers, Climate Resilience, Savings, MFI Management), the MENTORpreneur mentorship programme, and the Sustainable Finance Compass and ESG Risk Radar tools for financial institutions. Programs are funded by German development cooperation and delivered free to beneficiaries through Trainer-of-Trainers cascade partnerships with central banks, ministries, universities, and NGOs.

Product overview

German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa offers a portfolio of interactive training simulations called Business Games, mentorship programmes, and professional tools for financial institutions. The core offerings include five Business Game simulations (Micro Business Game, Farmers Business Game, Managing Climate Resilience, Savings Business Game, and MFI Management Game) that use haptic and computer-based simulations for experiential learning. The organization also provides the MENTORpreneur mentorship programme for MSME development, and two tools for financial institutions (Sustainable Finance Compass and ESG Risk Radar) focused on climate resilience and ESG risk management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Games: Interactive training simulations including Micro Business Game, Farmers Business Game, Savings Game, MFI Management Game, and Managing Climate Resilience Business Game
• MENTORpreneur
• Sustainable Finance Compass
• ESG Risk Radar

Products and services

• Micro Business Game Highly interactive training simulation for microentrepreneurs and aspiring business owners to learn how to improve the success and sustainability of start-ups and small businesses through practical exercises.
• Farmers Business Game Highly interactive training simulation for smallholder farmers, emerging farmers, and agricultural entrepreneurs seeking to improve skills for successful and sustainable farm management.
• Managing Climate Resilience Business Game Highly interactive training simulation for smallholder farmers, emerging farmers, and agricultural entrepreneurs experiencing climate change, designed to increase the resilience of their businesses through climate adaptation measures.
• Savings Business Game Highly interactive training tool for private households, young people, and small family businesses that wish to learn efficient family budget management and savings mobilisation.
• MFI Management Game
• MENTORpreneur Zambia Holistic mentorship programme designed to help entrepreneurs build or develop their businesses through a psychology-based intervention that provides guidance, support, networking, and experience sharing to create sustainable and resilient MSMEs.
• Sustainable Finance Compass
• ESG Risk Radar

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,967 farmers trained through 276 Farmers Business Game sessions in Zambia
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Bank of Zambia (BoZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing MoU since 2012 for 'Promotion of Small-Scale Entrepreneurship in Zambia' to strengthen and promote small-scale enterprises including farmers. Partners on National Strategy on Financial Education implementation, Financial Literacy Week activities, and World Savings Day celebrations. First MoU signed 2012 with collaboration continuing through current project phase (2023-2026).
• Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed in 2022 for Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Scaling Project (FINeS). Partnership supports RBM's efforts in fostering financial inclusion. DSIK supported the launch of Malawi's National Financial Literacy and Capability Strategy (NFLCS) 2024-2030. Reserve Bank trains Financial Literacy Educators.
• Ministry of Industrialization and Trade Namibia (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed June 2022 to establish relationship for providing business skills training to medium-sized firms. DSIK and MIT conducted 66 trainings with 1,344 participants (May-December 2023). DSIK assisted MIT in creating a Monitoring and Evaluation Policy.
• Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed November 2019 through Agribusiness Management Department. Collaboration includes developing Bachelor Studies in Business, Training of Trainers, and Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agriculture Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (TACE). LUANAR serves as key implementing partner for business games training.
• Malawi Microfinance Network (MAMN)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for MFIs in Malawi. Partnership supports capacity-building of MFI staff and contribution to National Financial Literacy and Capability Strategy implementation. DSIK facilitated partnership between LUANAR and MAMN for tailored short courses.
• Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI)keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on Namibia's National Financial Education Policy and Action Plan development. Hosted productive workshop with key stakeholders for empowering Namibians through financial education.
• Development Bank of Namibia (DBN)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for providing fundamental education to various students and training participants registered with DBN under the new project phase (2023-2026).
• Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for training delivery in Namibia. 27 trainers trained through combined MBG ToT with WVTC participation. Ongoing implementing partner under current project phase.
• Kongalend Financial ServicessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMicrofinance organization through which DSIK entered Namibia between 2019-2020 for Strengthening of Namibia's Microfinance Sector.
• New Apostolic Church Relief Organization (NACRO)keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner ensuring practical application of project objectives, particularly within farming communities in Malawi. NACRO and LUANAR implement Farmer Business Game training programs targeting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, project beneficiaries and farmer clubs.
• Women's Entrepreneurship Access Centre (WEAC)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMENTORpreneur Zambia cohort launched in September 2024 in collaboration with DSIK. WEAC provides holistic mentorship ecosystem for MSMEs in Zambia.
• MentorMe AfricasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MSME Mentorship Pilot 2022 (MENTORpreneur) for promoting small-scale entrepreneurship in Zambia with holistic mentorship program.
• AGS Business AcceleratorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MSME Mentorship Pilot 2022 (MENTORpreneur) for promoting small-scale entrepreneurship in Zambia.
• Liwonde Community Development Training Centre (LCDTC)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner working on the ground to ensure economic participation is inclusive, particularly for marginalized groups in Malawi. Hosted first Trainer Workshop in July 2024.
• Youth for Inclusive and Sustainable Development (YFIASD)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Managing Climate Resilience Business Game implementation targeting MSMEs and farmer groups in Malawi.
• Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking MoU signed June 2024 to bridge the critical gap in access to finance for MSMEs in Zambia.
• Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed July 2024 to bolster growth and development of MSMEs across Zambia. Significant milestone in collective journey to support small businesses.
• Zambia Federation of Associations of Women in Business (ZFAWIB)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for Micro Business Game training reaching 666 women marketeers. Jointly developed radio show for women marketeers translated into 3 local languages.
• Youth Alive Zambia (YAZ)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Micro Business Game training. Collaborated on Financial Literacy Week 2024 activities in Kasama.
• USAID Local Impact Governance ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing Constituency Development Fund (CDF) financial literacy training material to assist beneficiaries in managing funds effectively.
• German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Rigorous Impact Evaluation of Business Game starting August 2024, committed to thorough evaluation process for meaningful improvements and innovations.
• Plan InternationalkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LUANAR-TACE and DSIK for Mentorpreneur Malawi launch and Farmers Business Game Training of Trainers. 2024 FBG trainers qualified in partnership with Plan International and Ministry of Agriculture.
• Copperbelt University Africa Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Mining (CBU-ACESM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for implementing project activities in Zambia.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BRAC International: Large international development organization with significant programs in financial inclusion, microfinance, and small enterprise training across Africa and Asia. Operates comparable MSME skills development and livelihoods programs in Southern Africa.
• Microfinance Opportunities: Non-profit specializing in financial education for low-income households across developing countries. Closely comparable product line: financial literacy training, savings promotion, and behavior-change curriculum for underserved populations.
• Grameen Foundation: Global non-profit focused on microfinance and financial inclusion for the poor, with active programs across Africa. Directly comparable mission around financial literacy, microfinance institution capacity building, and digital financial services for underserved populations.
• Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (Head Office, Bonn): Parent organization of German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa. Operates the global Sparkassenstiftung network implementing savings bank model promotion and financial education worldwide; directly comparable as the same brand and methodology family across other regions.
• Plan International: Global development organization with financial literacy and youth entrepreneurship programs in Southern Africa. Already a partner of DSIK on the Mentorpreneur Malawi launch and Farmers Business Game, and highly comparable as a multi-country NGO delivering financial education and MSME support.

Broad incumbents

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's primary federal development agency with a global mandate. Highly comparable as a German government-funded entity delivering capacity building, financial sector development, and vocational training across developing countries, although operating at much larger scale and broader scope than Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa.
• KfW Development Bank: German state-owned development bank financing development cooperation projects including financial sector development in Africa. Comparable as a German government-backed institution channeling capacity building and financial inclusion initiatives through partner institutions.
• CARE International - Financial Inclusion Programs: Major international humanitarian organization with extensive financial inclusion and MSME development programming across Africa. Comparable as a multi-country NGO working on financial literacy, savings groups, and small enterprise support for low-income populations.
• African Development Bank (AfDB) - Africa Capacity Development Unit: Multilateral development institution funding capacity building for financial institutions across Africa. Comparable as a large-scale funder and capacity-building partner for African financial sector development, including institutional support to MFIs and central banks.
• World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI): Global association of savings and retail banks promoting the savings bank model internationally. Directly comparable through shared institutional DNA with the German Sparkassen model and similar capacity-building partnerships with savings banks in emerging markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Sparkassenstiftung
• Facebookfacebook.com/www.sparkassenstiftung.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/german-sparkassenstiftung-southern-africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about German Sparkassenstiftung Southern Africa