Three workers check the sewerage system at a collection basin for purified water

The Facility Investing for Employment
launches a regional Call for Proposals
in Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia

 © KfW-Bildarchiv / Bernhard Schurian

This call is closed

Questions and answers

IFE’s responses to your questions during the first webinar can be found in the 1. Q&A document, 2. Q&A document and 3. Q&A document.

Investing for Employment provides co-financing grants for investment projects with a high job creation impact. The Facility aims for an optimal allocation of available funding to projects with the highest plausibility of success and expected return in terms of the number and quality of new jobs created. The selection of projects is based on a competitive application process and gives priority to high-quality proposals that are mature and ready for execution. The Facility will only co-finance those projects that are rated best in terms of operational viability, financial sustainability, and job creation.

This Call for Proposals was launched on 21 November 2022. It seeks applications for projects in Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia. This Call is not limited to specific topics or economic sectors.

What does the Facility Investing for Employment fund?

This Call for Proposals is seeking applications for four types of investment projects:

  1. Not-for-profit Projects with job creation impact (no revenues):
    IFE covers up to 90 % of the investment costs.
  2. Not-for-profit Projects with job creation impact (generating revenues):
    IFE covers up to 75 % of the investment costs.
  3. For-profit Projects with broader job creation impact:
    IFE covers up to 35 % of the investment costs.
  4. For-profit Projects with job creation impact:
    IFE covers up to 25 % of the investment costs.

IFE grants range from 1 million to 10 million euros per project. 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 registered in the country of the proposed project: either Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal or Tunisia)
  • Consortia (two or more legal entities, with at least one entity registered in the country of the proposed project: either Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal or Tunisia)

Please read the Guidelines for Applicants in our Download Center to find out about additional eligibility criteria that apply to this Call for Proposals.

How does the application process work?

  • Submit a concept note online in SmartME (link to system below) by 22 December 2022 at 5 pm CET at the latest
  • In case of questions, please visit our FAQ-section. In case you cannot find the information you need, please send an email to cfp.regional@invest-for-jobs.com until 15 December 2022 at 5 pm CET

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 shortlisted based on both qualitative evaluation criteria and key performance indicators (KPIs), related to the number of good jobs created.

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, which may also involve an onsite visit. If IFE approves a project, it offers the applicant (individual entity or consortium) an agreement for a grant amount within the limits stated above.

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. Notably, an IFE grant does not replace but only supplements other options of funding available to the applicant.

A series of online meetings will be organised to present the objectives of the Facility, its conditions for submitting proposals, as well as the steps and modalities of participation. The webinars for this regional Call for Proposals will take place on the following days: 23 November, 7 December, and 14 December 2022 (in English), and 24 November, 8 December, and 15 December 2022 (in French). All webinars start at 11:00 CET.

To receive the link to the webinars, please send an email to: cfp.regional@invest-for-jobs.com

For more general information on the objectives of IFE, the eligibility criteria and project categories, please Download the Guidelines for Applicants.

IFE uses the online submission platform SmartME to receive and manage applications. Candidates are asked to develop their Concept Note directly in the system, by answering the application form and uploading documents. Please click here to access SmartME:

SUBMIT HERE 

(note: the link will direct you to a third-party web page)

Trainees at a technical vocational school during practical exercises on a machine
KfW-Bildarchiv / photothek.net

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". Operating under the brand Invest for Jobs, the Special Initiative aims to remove investment barriers and to create good jobs and training opportunities in its partner countries in Africa: Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

For more information about the Facility: Investing for Employment

General Introduction and Overview of the Application Process

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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