Ecosasa Developments is a broad based consultancy focusing on policy development and coaching in Women Economic Empowerment, Just Transition, and the Circular / Green Economy.
Women’s economic power is a crucial lever for achieving lasting societal change, and I am committed to making this a reality.
Combining coaching expertise with technical knowledge, I drive meaningful transformation and contribute to a just and equitable society.
My scientific background provides a deep understanding of the green economy, industrialisation and climate change, working within value chains to find opportunities for women and youth in the Just Energy Transition.
By integrating my skills, I offer comprehensive support to women and youth at various levels.
With over 20 years in the development sector, I help women build confidence, navigate biases, and challenge unequal power dynamics and patriarchal systems.
My experience in African rural areas, townships, and boardrooms equips me with a nuanced understanding of cultural norms and social dynamics that shape women’s lives. A significant challenge women face is accessing finance, often hindered by gender-biased lending practices.
My work in South African townships emphasised the need for transformative change and understanding the diverse needs of women and youth.
A notable example is the award-winning Ecocity project in Ivory Park/Tembisa, which I co-founded and managed.
I leveraged my excellent funding skills to source resources from South African government schemes and international funding to provide start-up capital for small businesses, many of which were at least 51% women-owned and included young entrepreneurs. The focus was on building a just and green economy through sustainable energy, agriculture, waste recycling, green building and waste recycling.
At the policy level, I craft recommendations for meaningful change. My networking skills help me assemble strong teams, ensuring my programs deliver excellent results. Ultimately, my work aims to build a just and equitable society that fosters positive female and youth role models who drive change and contribute to a fair economy.
Annie Sugrue, MSc (Trinity College Dublin), MSc (Wits).
“When women are financially independent, they are contributing positively to the economy, are less vulnerable to gender-based violence and can better support and protect their children.”
With a career built on leading multi-million rand organisations and developing them into front-runners in their sectors and where youth and women were profoundly empowered in their workspace, I bring rare, real-world insight and experience to the coaching space. In my career I have built and guided large teams, unlocking the potential in people who did not yet see it in themselves — and watched them go on to careers they once only dreamed of.
i have published extensively on Womens Economic Empowerment, the Circular Economy and Just Transition as well as Sustainability.
I am available for policy development and freelance writing and editing.