LIMA is a South African NGO that designs and implements rural development programmes, including agricultural support, youth & enterprise development, environmental restoration and community infrastructure.
About Us
ย We support the simultaneous development of people andย livelihoods in resource-scarce contexts, particularly in rural areas. Through well-integrated, field-based
interventions, Lima leverages local economic development activities and the establishment of appropriate
institutions to help alleviate poverty and build human capacity.
What We Do
We design and implement development programmes that create sustainable livelihoods. Our services include:
- Programme design and feasibility studies
- Community facilitation and participatory planning
- Implementation of donor and government programmes
- Agricultural extension and farmer support
- Enterprise development and training
- Infrastructure construction and project management
- Early childhood development
Our Footprint
40,000+
Farmers supported
3,950
Infrastructural developments
101,550
Careers impacted
110,500
Youths empowered
Latest News
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Lima Rural Development Foundation
(opens in a new tab)A non-governmental and non-profit organisation.
A lot can happen in 10 months. Hereโs what Round 4 of the Social Employment Fund (SEF) made possible!From October 2025 to July 2026, Lima worked alongside communities to support health and social services, food security, smallholder farmers, enterprise development, early childhood development and education, and gender-based violence awarenessSome of the highlights:๐ฑ,๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ณ household gardens established๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ณ community gardens established๐ฒ๐ญ,๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฏ visits to vulnerable households๐ฐ๐ฏ,๐ณ๐ฏ๐ญ vulnerability surveys completed๐ฑ,๐ฒ๐ต๐ฎ beneficiaries reached through maternal and child health services๐ญ๐ฌ,๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ณ beneficiaries supported through health and social services๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ด participants trained through enterprise development programmes๐ฎ๐ณ๐ญ ECD facilities supported๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ GBV group discussions heldSeveral targets were exceeded, bringing practical support, knowledge and opportunities directly into communities.Beyond the numbers, SEF created opportunities for young people to build skills while making a meaningful contribution in their own communities, supporting families, strengthening food security, promoting early learning and connecting people to essential services.Thank you to our partners, participants and community members who helped make this possible.And now, we look forward to SEF Round 5, continuing the work and building on what we have achieved together!#sef #SocialEmploymentFund #workforthecommongood #EmpoweringLives
Molemi Greens- North West FarmerAt 78 years old, Josias Molemi continues to farm with passion and determination.A backyard farmer from Sepeding section in Sandfontein, Moses Kotane Municipality, Mr Molemi previously struggled to produce healthy, harvestable cabbage, with pests damaging his crops.Through the Township Economy Programme (TEP), funded by Tshikululu Social Investments Trust and made possible by Valterra Platinum, Lima provided infrastructure, production inputs and ongoing agricultural support to strengthen his farming operation.Support included a borehole and pump, JoJo tanks, generator, drip-line irrigation, seedlings, fertiliser, agrochemicals and a knapsack sprayer.But the support went beyond inputs. Through regular farm visits and practical demonstrations, Lima facilitator Marvin Matseke and Agriculturalist Mida Serothoane have helped Mr Molemi develop his skills in pest scouting, crop protection, spraying and fertilisation.Today, his backyard is planted with healthy spinach and cabbage, and he is preparing additional land to expand his farm.By combining the right resources with knowledge and technical support, farmers can build the confidence and skills to improve production and grow their enterprises.Mr Molemi summed up the impact during a recent visit, โI was never going to plant cabbage again if Lima and Valterra did not come forward to rescue me.โ
In celebration of International Literacy Day, our Lima Social Employment Fund (SEF) team visited a local Early Learning Centre in Sheila Village, Ditsobotla Local Municipality, North West, for a special book-reading session with the children.The session was led by the ELC principal, who read The Best Thing Ever and beautifully translated the story into Setswana as she read.This helped the children connect with the story in their mother tongue, while also introducing them to English vocabulary and encouraging confidence in using both languages.It was a joyful and meaningful day that highlighted the importance of early literacy, mother-tongue learning, and fostering a love for reading from a young age.#sef #SocialEmploymentFund #workforthecommongood #EmpoweringLives
Social Employment Fund (SEF) Participant Spotlight: Crucial Thandolwethu MabilaI am Crucial Thandolwethu Mabila from KamaQhekeza in Nkomazi. After completing my matric at Mehlobovu Secondary School, I studied Advanced Animal Science/Animal Production at the University of Mpumalanga, graduating in 2023.In 2024, I ventured into entrepreneurship by starting my own sneaker-washing business. I also registered on the Lima database and participated in training sessions facilitated by Snqobile Zondo, focusing on financial literacy, gender-based violence, labour law and organic farming.In October 2025, I was fortunate to participate in the Lima/SEF Programme as a supervisor in the agricultural component under Nkomazi Municipality. My primary focus is on food security, overseeing community and household gardens to grow food for vulnerable communities, including households, ECD centres, the elderly and individuals with disabilities.Despite starting with no experience in crop farming, the training and mentorship I received from Snqobile Zondo were invaluable. Through my hard work as a team leader, my efforts were recognised by a government official from the Department of Social Development, who supported me in establishing my own garden/farm.On 3 August 2026, I received essential equipment which will enable me to kickstart my garden/farm, aimed at producing food for my family, generating income and creating job opportunities for young people in my community.My goal is to leverage my education, experience and resources to develop a successful agricultural project that will benefit my community. I am deeply grateful to Lima for enabling me to work on the SEF Programme; without them, I might not have gained such recognition.
What a fantastic Sunday! Our Lima ladies stepped out, got active and enjoyed a great day together at the SPAR KZN Women's 10/5km Race RaceIt was all about celebrating women, supporting one another and having fun along the way! Well done and thank you to everyone who came out to walk, cheer and support๐ธ