About IPROSA
Building the institutions, professions and productive capabilities of Africa's Indigenous economy.
Indigenous Professions of Southern Africa (IPROSA) is an African Indigenous institution advancing economic development through Indigenous knowledge, professional expertise, research, innovation and institutional partnerships.
We strengthen the capacity of Indigenous communities, practitioners and enterprises to govern their knowledge and resources, develop productive capabilities, participate in economic opportunities and build lasting prosperity.
Our work connects Indigenous authority and knowledge with the institutions, skills, technologies and partnerships required to advance self-determined development.
Our Purpose
Enabling Indigenous people, knowledge and territories to govern, produce, own, trade and reinvest.
We advance the institutional and economic conditions that enable Indigenous communities to develop their capabilities, exercise authority over their resources and participate equitably in the economies they help create.
Our Mandate
To strengthen the institutional, professional and economic systems that enable Indigenous communities, practitioners and enterprises to govern, research, innovate, manufacture, finance, own, trade and reinvest.
Our Vision
An Africa with thriving, self-determined Indigenous economies, where communities govern their knowledge and resources, own productive enterprises, shape competitive industries and generate lasting wellbeing and intergenerational prosperity.
Our Programme Themes
Our work is organised around four connected themes: Indigenous knowledge systems, institutional capability, innovation and community prosperity.
Knowledge
Advancing Indigenous Knowledge Systems
We support the protection, documentation, transmission and development of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, strengthening their role in research, policy, education, innovation and economic development while respecting the authority and rights of knowledge holders.
Knowledge protected, advanced and applied for Indigenous development.
Our Values
Values demonstrated through decisions, partnerships and conduct.
Purpose and Intergenerational Stewardship
We advance Indigenous economies that sustain wellbeing, productive capability and prosperity across generations, respecting the knowledge, institutions, territories and resources entrusted to Indigenous communities.
Dignity and Community Authority
We recognise Indigenous communities and knowledge holders as authorities and economic partners with the right to determine the terms of their participation through legitimate mandates, informed consent and equitable agreements.
Responsibility and Self-Reliance
We promote accountable leadership, institutional responsibility and the capabilities required for Indigenous communities and enterprises to organise, negotiate, produce and build sustainable economic futures.
Who We Serve
Indigenous communities, knowledge holders, practitioners and enterprises.
We serve participating Indigenous peoples and territories, knowledge holders, practitioners, professionals, producers, workers and enterprises building stronger institutions, capabilities and economic opportunities.
Our partnerships are locally authorised. They respect each community's identity, customary institutions, governance and decision-making authority.
We represent members on agreed institutional matters and act for communities only under a documented mandate.
Indigenous communities are partners in determining their economic futures, not simply beneficiaries of development.
Institutional Governance
Clear authority. Accountable leadership. Responsible delivery.
Our proposed governance separates community authority, institutional oversight and operational responsibility, supporting transparent decisions and accountable delivery.
eMbo General Assembly
Provides member accountability, institutional priority-setting and representative selection under agreed constitutional rules.
Sovereign Circle
Provides guidance on Indigenous knowledge and cultural governance, consent standards, customary protocols and mandate assurance.
Board of Directors
Oversees institutional strategy, budgets, executive appointments, financial accountability, risk management and organisational performance.
Executive Management
Coordinates institutional operations, partnerships, resources and programme delivery within approved mandates and delegations.
Technical Committees
Provide specialised expertise and advice on defined institutional, professional, research and economic development priorities.
Our Strategy & Ecosystem
Building the systems that enable Indigenous economic participation.
We connect community priorities with professional development, research, enterprise, infrastructure, markets and investment.
Our Strategy & Ecosystem sets out the pathway, priority sectors, project types and delivery mechanisms behind Indigenous economic participation and ownership.
Our continental economic platform
Indigenomics Africa™
One Health. One Economy. Africa's Indigenous Wellbeing Future.
We steward Indigenomics Africa, a pan-African platform developed with the Indigenomics Institute. It connects Indigenous communities, institutions, practitioners, enterprises, governments and investors to advance Africa's Indigenous economy.
The platform mobilises partnerships, knowledge, innovation, productive capabilities, markets and investment to strengthen Indigenous economic participation, community ownership and intergenerational prosperity.
Through continental collaboration and place-based initiatives, Indigenomics Africa connects economic priorities with opportunities for practical implementation.
Proposed flagship | Community-led research and innovation
eMbo CoLab Hub
A living laboratory for Indigenous innovation and economic development.
The proposed eMbo CoLab Hub is envisioned as a living laboratory connecting Indigenous knowledge, applied research, professional skills, technology and enterprise development.
Beginning with invited and participating communities in the O.R. Tambo District and Wild Coast, the initiative aims to demonstrate practical approaches to Indigenous-led innovation, productive capability and community economic development.
Partner with IPROSA
Build Africa's Indigenous Economy With Us
We welcome Indigenous communities, knowledge holders, practitioners, research institutions, governments, industry and development partners committed to equitable Indigenous economic development.
Participate
Communities, knowledge holders and practitioners
Talk to us about community priorities, professional development, knowledge governance and economic participation.
Discuss ParticipationCollaborate
Researchers, institutions and enterprise partners
Explore institutional partnerships, research collaboration, innovation, skills development and enterprise opportunities.
Propose a CollaborationTrade and Invest
Buyers, funders and investors
Explore opportunities to support Indigenous enterprises, value chains, market development and community-centred investment initiatives.
Explore Opportunities