IFE has launched Calls for Proposals in seven countries

Private companies as well as public and non-profit organisations can submit project proposals. 

The Calls for Proposals by the Facility Investing for Employment (IFE) are open from 1 June to 7 July 2023 in Egypt, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia. A special application category “Climate” is available in three countries.  

Two-stage application procedure 

From 1 June to 7 July 2023, companies as well as public and non-profit organisations can submit investment proposals. Applications can be submitted in four categories. They range from purely private sector investments to public infrastructure projects. The projects are selected in a two-step process. It is essential that each project contributes to the creation of good jobs in the private sector of the partner country. The Facility only finances mature projects that have not yet started and that offer reasonable chances for being operationally and financially sustainable. The Calls for Proposals are open to all sectors of the economy.

The Calls for Proposals in the seven countries are seeking applications for four types of investment projects: 

Candidates can apply individually or in a consortium with other candidates, provided they are based in African countries or in the EU/EFTA. The Facility Investing for Employment supports projects with grants ranging from 1 million to 10 million euros per project. 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.

Special application category “Climate” in three countries

Applicants from Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia can choose to submit their project proposals in the special application category "Climate". Projects in this category must belong to one of the following thematic areas:

1. Installations to produce renewable energy for the benefit of the applicant or third parties 
2. Manufacture of products and materials to improve energy efficiency or generate renewable energy
3. Installation of equipment to produce renewable energy or to improve energy efficiency as part of an investment project
4. Training programmes in the fields of renewable energy or energy efficiency
5. Organic agriculture
6. Circular economy
7. Sustainable mobility

Application under this category will get certain special conditions like:

• For category 4 applications: increase of the grant rate to 30% (from the usual 25%)
• For category 3 applications: increase of the grant rate to 50% (from the usual 35%)

Further information and webinars

Important documents, such as the Guidelines for Applicants and information on the application process, can be found in our Download Center.

The Download Center also contains the eligibility criteria for the special application category "Climate" that is available in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia.

In case of questions, please visit our FAQ-section. If you cannot find the information you need, please send an email to cfp-ife.june2023@invest-for-jobs.com until 30 June 2023 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 steps and modalities of participation. The webinars will take place on the following days: 6, 13 and 20 June 2023 at 11:00 CEST (in English), and 8, 15 and 22 June 2023 at 12:00 CEST (in French). To receive the link to the webinars, please send an email to: cfp-ife.june2023@invest-for-jobs.com.

The application process takes place on an online platform. You can access it here.

Applicants from Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal can contact the Helpdesk to get advice on the application process: helpdesk-ife@invest-for-jobs.com (English) and assistance-ife@invest-for-jobs.com (French). 

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, which also operates under the brand Invest for Jobs, aims to team up with companies to create good jobs in the eight African partner countries, and to improve local working conditions.

You can visit our website for more information about the Facility Investing for Employment.