© KfW-BildarchivWhat does Invest for Jobs do?
In order to create sustainable jobs, apprenticeships and good working conditions, we bring together the private sector, academia and public administration. The Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation works together with companies and investors as well as with universities and vocational schools, chambers of commerce, associations and civil society.
The two largest organisations implementing Invest for Jobs are Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and KfW Development Bank (KfW).
Other important partners are:
- the development organisation sequa,
- the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD),
- Engagement Global
- and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).
What is Invest for Jobs?
Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support your investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation - the official title - offers you comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers.
Our developmental objective is to create jobs and apprenticeships and to improve working conditions in our partner countries. The Special Initiative thus is assisting with the implementation of the G20 investment partnership Compact with Africa and the Marshall Plan with Africa.
Our basic principle: creating win-win situations
Many African markets are dynamic and vibrant: a young population, the growing availability of labour and skilled workers as well as the integration into global value chains offer attractive opportunities for companies. If you want to invest and are confronted with obstacles, we can assist you with advice, contacts and financial support.
Good things happen when the public and private sector pull together. Assuming fair play, we invest when you invest. And: the project must be beneficial to your company as well as to other companies and interested parties in the partner countries. Current partner countries are Egypt (in preparation), Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.
© KfW-BildarchivWhat does Invest for Jobs focus on?
Business and Invest
Overcoming investment barriers
If there are barriers to investment or trade – for example a local shortage of skilled labour, insufficient performance of the local supply industry or poor infrastructure – we examine how these can be dismantled to pave the way for investments. For this purpose, we for example conduct project development workshops with companies in Germany and in our partner countries as part of our Business & Invest Lab.
African Mittelstand
Promoting small and medium-sized companies
Small and medium-sized are a driver of job creation on the African continent. In order to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in Africa, we support them in reducing obstacles to investment and in tapping into new markets. At the same time, we promote cooperation between European (particularly German) and African SMEs, for example to strengthen cooperation and supply structures and to internationalise value chains.
Cluster Focus
Investing in up-and-coming clusters and industries
We specifically promote attractive business locations and growth industries that promise long-term success in the partner countries, including industrial estates and business parks. These include the automotive and aviation sector in Tunisia, the textiles industry and the agricultural sector in Ethiopia, and the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in Senegal, although our support is not limited to these industries.
News
Webinar series on the new EU-organic regulation for companies in Africa
20.10.2021 - Coming into force by 1st January 2022, the new EU-organic regulation will entail substantial changes for producers in African countries. Affected companies and those who are generally interested in organic certification are invited to participate in a webinar series hosted by the GfRS between 25th of October and 12th of November 2021. Registration is open until Friday 22nd October. Read more.
Bootcamp for promising start-ups from Ghana and Rwanda
12.10.2021 - After a first edition in 2020, a second batch of start-ups from Ghana and Rwanda have been selected by the African European Digital Venture Program (AEDV) of UnternehmerTUM, center for innovation at the Technical University of Munich. The teams will pitch their ideas in front of the Munich ecosystem during an online event on 19.11. Read more.
Promoting African Start-ups for the Continent’s Urban Future
17.09.2021 - 31 start-ups adressing Cleantech & Smart Housing, Smart Mobility and Fintech for Affordability were selected to participate in the Smart Cities Innovation Programme. They will now receive training and tailor-made support to scale up their ideas and make Africa’s urban future more socially inclusive and green. Read more.