IFE 2024 04 09 Hero CfP May2024 image004

The Facility Investing for Employment launches
Calls for Proposals in Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda and Senegal

 © KfW-Bildarchiv/photothek.net

This call is closed

Investing for Employment provides co-financing grants for investment projects with a high job creation impact. The Facility only finances mature projects that have not yet started and that offer reasonable chances for being operationally and financially sustainable. Applicants are obliged to contribute own funds to complete the project finance. They must also prove that they cannot cover their funding needs from other sources.

These next Calls for Proposals were launched on 15 May 2024. They seek applications for projects in Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, and Senegal. The Calls are open to all sectors of the economy. It is essential that each proposed investment project contributes to sustainable job creation in the private sector and that the jobs give access to comprehensive social benefits. Projects that contribute to the promotion of women’s employment or to the socially just transition to a climate-friendly economy have a better chance of receiving a grant.

What does the Facility Investing for Employment fund?

The Calls for Proposals are seeking applications for four types of investment projects:

Four types of investment


The Facility awards grants to different types of projects, ranging from purely private sector projects to public infrastructure projects. The amount of the grant can vary from EUR 650,000 to EUR 5 million in Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal, and from EUR 850,000 to EUR 6 million in Morocco. An applicant (individual entity or consortium) must provide own financial contributions towards the overall project expenditure in the required proportion. The percentage of own contribution required is defined based on the project category. All jobs created as part of the projects must be in the private sector.

The grants are disbursed during the investment phase of the project and in accordance with achieved milestones.

Who is eligible?

  • Individual applicants (legal entities that are registered in the country of the proposed project, either Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, or Senegal, and that have been in operation for at least three years)
  • Consortia (two or more legal entities, with at least one entity that is registered in the country of the proposed project and that has been in operation for at least three years)

More information can be found in our Guidelines for Applicants that are available in our  Download Center.

How does the application process work?

Applicants must submit a concept note online in SmartME (link to system below) by 1 July 2024 at 17:00 CEST at the latest. 

The Facility IFE selects projects through a competitive, objective, and transparent two-stage application process.

Stage one: The Call for Proposal invites applicants to submit Concept Notes. After an eligibility verification, Concept Notes are scored and the most promising are ranked based on both qualitative evaluation criteria and key performance indicators (KPIs), related to the number of good jobs created, improvement of working conditions for existing employees, additional benefits offered by applicants regarding social protection aspects above statuary requirements etc.

Stage two: The shortlisted applicants are informed to submit a detailed Full Project Proposal. The received Full Project Proposals are subject to a detailed analysis (due diligence), which may also involve an on-site visit. If IFE approves a project, it offers the applicant (individual entity or consortium) an agreement for the grant amount determined during the due diligence.

The Additionality Condition: The requested IFE grant needs to be essential for the implementation of the project. Therefore, the applicant must demonstrate that he has tried but failed in securing the full finance need.

SUBMIT YOUR CONCEPT NOTE

Please use the online submission platform SmartME to start the application process and submit your Concept Note (note: the link will direct you to a third-party web page):

SUBMIT HERE

These four videos will introduce you to the application platform.

Need for more information?

Important documents, such as the Guidelines for Applicants, are available in our Download Center.

In case of questions, please visit our FAQ-section. If you cannot find the information you need, please send an email to cfp-ife.may2024@invest-for-jobs.com until 23 June 2024 at 17:00 CEST.

A series of online meetings will be organised to present the objectives of the Facility, its conditions for submitting proposals, as well as the modalities of participation and its application platform. The webinars will take place on the following days:

For Webinars in English: 28 May, 11 June and 18 June at 11:00 CEST
In order to participate to the English Webinar klick on this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84148822584

For Webinars in French: 29 May, 12 June and 19 June at 13:00 CEST
In order to participate to the French Webinar klick on this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87814464956

You can also send an email to: cfp-ife.may2024@invest-for-jobs.com and you will receive the link to the webinars.

Applicants can contact the Business Helpdesk from 15 May to 1 July 2024 to get advice on the modalities of participation and the application process:
helpdesk-ife@invest-for-jobs.com (English) and
assistance-ife@invest-for-jobs.com (French).

Please click for more information about the Facility Investing for Employment.

Technician at the photovoltaic power plant
KfW-Bildarchiv / Darin Meckel/OSTKTEUZ


The Facility Investing for Employment is an investment mechanism created by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as an integral part of the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition”. The Special Initiative operates under the brand Invest for Jobs. The development objective is to work together with companies to create up to 100,000 good jobs and to improve working conditions and social protection in its eight African partner countries.

General Introduction and Overview of the Application Process

Current calls

Call for Proposals in Rwanda
Deadline: 31.12.24

Call for Proposals in Rwanda

Adopting gender equality boosts employee productivity and company profits. Is your medium-sized enterprise in Rwanda ready to promote gender equality? Can you dedicate staff time to work with GES coaches for 6 months? Submit your expression of interest by December 31st for a chance to become GES-certified!

Apply now

Contact

We are looking forward to hearing from you

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 German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to work together with companies to create up to 100,000 good jobs and to improve working conditions and social protection in its African partner countries.

Partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

Find out more about our services for companies, universities, chambers and associations: https://invest-for-jobs.com/en/offers

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