AUDA-NEPAD announces Calls for Proposals as part of the Skills Initiative for Africa Financial Cooperation’s Funding Window II in Ethiopia, Ghana and Togo
The Skills Initiative for Africa Financial Cooperation (SIFA FC) is a Programme financed by the German Government and the European Union through KfW Development Bank, providing grants for selected projects in eight African countries. Projects must sustainably benefit the TVET sector in line with national development strategies (e.g., economic development strategies, youth unemployment alleviation strategies, poverty alleviation strategies). Importantly, projects must demonstrate that they are providing youth with vocational skill sets to actively participate in economic growth and development to improve economic prospects for young people.
Calls for Proposals will open on January 24, 2023. These Calls under SIFA FC’s Funding Window II will seek applications for employment-oriented skills development projects led by international companies in collaboration with training providers in Ethiopia, Ghana and Togo.
Eligible projects under Funding Window II must be based on a partnership of a lead applicant and primary/secondary partners. The lead applicant must be an international company with demonstrable partnerships with local TVET institutions that is present or plans to be in one of the three SIFA FC target countries with its own business operations. Other eligible international entities are international chambers of commerce, international industry organisations/associations, or foundations of international companies. National industry organisations/associations are also eligible if they can demonstrate a significant/active number of international member companies. Primary partners should be national public or accredited private TVET institutions or providers. Secondary partners could be regulatory agencies, chambers of commerce or industry/employer associations.
The Programme will award grants of up to 1.5 million euros per project through a competitive application process. The applicant is obligated to contribute a minimum of 30% of its own funds to complete the project finance.
How to Apply
- The Guide for Applicants will be available when the Call opens on January 24, 2023.
- International companies, national training providers, and other interested organisations must be publicly accredited and/or be legally registered formal entities to apply. International NGOs and CSOs are not eligible.
- All submissions will be made online via SIFA’s application system SmartME on the SIFA website, with the same submission deadline for all countries.
- SIFA will begin the evaluation process by checking the eligibility of proposals, and then a technical evaluation will be conducted by independent TVET experts. The most promising partnerships will be invited to present their proposals to an evaluation panel.
If you have any questions, please visit our FAQs section. If you are still looking for the information you need, please send us a message through our contact form.
Skills Initiative for Africa is an African Union Commission intervention implemented by the African Union Development Agency with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union. SIFA’s Financial Component is financed by Germany and the European Union through KfW Development Bank. The Programme’s Technical Component is supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the International Labour Organization, and the European Training Foundation.
