New from Brenthurst The Tswalu Protocol This Protocol articulates a consensus derived from the experience of a select group of civilian and military professionals, academics, individual organisations, concerned government departments and heads of state who have been at the epicentre of peacekeeping and peace-building missions. »» Click here for more ««

About the Brenthurst Foundation

The Brenthurst Foundation has its origins in The Brenthurst Initiative of August 2003, which instigated a debate in South Africa around policy strategies for higher rates of economic expansion.

Established in April 2005 by the Oppenheimer family, the Brenthurst Foundation is on the frontier of knowledge in contributing to a debate around strategies and policies for strengthening Africa's economic performance. It is aimed at the creation of an environment conducive to positive economic change.

The Foundation's focus is thus to create policy platforms from which economic development can be built, in five strategic and inter-related areas:

• Wealth creation and competitiveness.
• Poverty alleviation and economic inclusion.
• Institutional structuring and innovation.
• Sustainable development.
• Social policy prioritisation.

Their investment in this enterprise reflects the Oppenheimer family's commitment to Africa and to the spirit of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

It also recognises the need for close public-private partnerships in formulating catalytic strategies for economic growth in Africa generally, and South Africa in particular. Such collaborations are especially important in Africa both because investors have often lacked confidence in the overall business environment and private sector initiative, energy and finance are critical to positive growth trajectories.