The Financial Literacy and Micro-Enterprise (FLAME) programme is a hybrid Consumer Financial Education and Socio-Economic Development initiative by the ASISA Foundation, that is targeted at Black South African (African, Coloured, and Indian) micro-enterprise owners in township, peri-urban, and rural areas.

The programme aims to develop individuals’ personal and business financial literacy and business knowledge and skills in order to enable them to make effective and informed decisions in starting, managing, and growing their businesses; as well as improve their capacity to generate sustainable income and employment.

• To promote and bring awareness to the importance SMME financial and business (entrepreneurship) literacy in starting, running, and growing a business enterprise.
• To Transfer and develop SMME financial literacy and business (entrepreneurship) knowledge and skills.
• To Reinforce and develop positive attitudes and behaviours around SMME financial literacy and business (entrepreneurship) knowledge and skills in beneficiary’s business and personal lives.
• To Facilitate and support the practical application of learnt SMME financial literacy and business (entrepreneurship) knowledge and skills in beneficiary’s business and personal lives.
• To Facilitate and support the income and employment generating capacity and activities of beneficiaries and their businesses.

• Interactive training workshops to transfer and development knowledge and skills in and around SMME financial literacy and entrepreneurship. The programme has developed content that is aligned to global frameworks (OECD/INFE) and national standards (SAQA) for this intervention.
• The FLAME programme will, as a secondary objective, provide Business Development Services (BDS) in the form of one-on-one coaching and mentoring to participants and their businesses to improve their business performance, ability to access and satisfy markets, and sustainably compete with other businesses.
• Access to markets facilitation to link participants’ businesses to the local economy by providing them with knowledge of developments in the area and matching them to supply chain demands.

• you will learn how to start, establish, and grow your own business.
• you will be able to make good financial decisions to earn more for you and your business.
• you will have the confidence to market and sell your services and products better.
• you could even create jobs for others and improve your community.

A significant number of individuals in South Africa are financially illiterate and this financial illiteracy affects their ability to make informed and effective financial decisions, impacting their financial well-being, and capability negatively. Furthermore, individual’s financial illiteracy undermines their ability to generate their own income through entrepreneurial (business) activities, thus negatively impacting their ability to participate in the broader economy.