Funding Window I: Call for Proposals opens 17 April 2019

Press Release

Large skills development investment projects proposed by South African national training entities in partnership with companies to benefit off of € 3 Million EUR grants by the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA).

This call for proposals is for grants under Funding Window I of the SIFA Financing Facility. Successful projects under this Window will receive a grant of up to EUR 3 million. Grantees will be required to make a counterpart contribution of at least 10% of the total project cost.

PRETORIA - On April 8, The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD in partnership with the German Government and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training launched a call for proposals for large skills development investment projects proposed by domestic training entities in partnership with companies under the Skills Initiative for Africa (SkillsAfrica.org).

The event seeks to launch Funding Window I of SIFA Financing Facility and to announce the selected candidate for Funding Window II in South Africa.

The Financing Facility for Skills Development is implemented through three funding windows; Window I for Large skills development investment projects proposed by national training entities in partnership with companies, Window II for skills development investment projects proposed by International private sector entities in collaboration with national skills training entities and Window III Innovative skills promotion pilot projects proposed by national training entities in partnership with public or private companies.

About SIFA - Skills Initiative for Africa

The Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) is an initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC) supported by the German Government to strengthen occupational prospects of young people, women and vulnerable groups in Africa. SIFA responds in part to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 that calls for a paradigm shift towards transformative education and training systems to meet the knowledge, competencies, skills, research, innovation and creativity required to nurture the future. To unleash the potential of skills development and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), the African Union has developed a “Continental TVET Strategy” that provides a comprehensive framework for skills development and youth employment.

SIFA’s Financing Facility for Skills Development has been established and is implemented by the AUDA-NEPAD, with financing from Germany through KfW. The Financing Facility is designed to coherently address the common challenges of skills development in Africa by upscaling and/or disseminating local best practices and supporting innovative and sustainable approaches and thereby foster the employment and entrepreneurship of youth, women and vulnerable groups. Current participating pilot countries are Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia.

Convening Partners

African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)

AUDA-NEPAD is the development agency of the African Union, coordinating and executing priority regional and continental development projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realisation of Agenda 2063 – Africa’s vision and action plan. It’s mandated to strengthen capacity of Member States and regional bodies.

South African Department of Higher Education and Training(DoHT)

The Department of Higher Education & Training provides integrated post-school strategic direction in the development of an effective higher education system and manage the government responsibilities for the regulation of the higher education system.

The German Development Bank (The KfW)

The KfW is a German government-owned development bank. It finances and supports programmes and projects that mainly involve public sector players in developing countries and emerging economies – from their conception and execution to monitoring their success. Its goal is to help their partner countries fight poverty, maintain peace, protect both the environment and shape globalisation in an appropriate way.

Contact:

Teko Nhlapo, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD Communication & Advocacy Officer, tekoh@nepad.