On March 7, 2019, the call for proposals for large skills development investment projects to be submitted by domestic training entities in partnership with companies in Tunisia under the SIFA project was launched in Tunis by the representative of the African Union Development Agency / New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA / NEPAD), Ms. Fati N'Zi-Hassane, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment, in the presence of the representative of HE the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany (Ms. Annette KAISER), and the representative of the German Development Bank KfW (Ms. Simone CREMER). This call for proposals is for grants under Funding Window 1 of the Skills Initiative For Africa (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.

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.