A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis foundation's association programme

Nchachi, Lebo

A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis foundation's association programme

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised as a viable strategy for addressing persistent socio-economic challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality— particularly in developing countries where state resources are often insufficient to foster a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. In response, various initiatives have emerged to cultivate entrepreneurship through targeted education, training and support. This research presents a theory- and outcome-based evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation's Association Programme (AP), a South African initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial capacity among youth. The theory evaluation investigated the extent to which the AP's underlying programme theory is supported by empirical evidence, with the goal of refining its theoretical model. Concurrently, the outcome evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the programme in achieving its intended outcomes and in contributing to meaningful change among its participants. A qualitative research design was employed for both evaluations, with the Success Case Method (SCM) adapted and integrated into the outcome evaluation. For the theory evaluation, seven experienced entrepreneurs (each with over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience) were interviewed, and findings were triangulated with existing literature to assess theoretical alignment. The outcome evaluation involved in-depth interviews with sixteen programme fellows. According to the findings of the theory evaluation, participation in the Entrepreneurship Development Pathway along with capital support and networking skills lead to the establishment and scaling of socially responsible high impact businesses. The fellows that had engaged with the AP had started businesses and/or were practicing intrapreneurship, as per the findings of the outcome evaluation. Those who had started businesses were able to access funding through E-squared, the Foundation's impact investor partner, but were met with some challenges in obtaining the capital. Findings from both evaluations offer insights into the design, implementation, and impact of the AP, contributing to broader discussions on entrepreneurship development in resource-constrained contexts.

Keywords

Allan Gray Orbis foundation

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