Private companies as well as public and non-profit organisations can submit project proposals.
The Calls for Proposals by the Facility Investing for Employment are open from 15 May to 1 July 2024 in Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, and Senegal. All projects must create jobs that give access to social protection systems.
Two-stage application procedure
15 May to 1 July 2024, 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 proposed investment project contributes to sustainable job creation in the private sector and that the jobs give access to social protection systems. The Facility only finances mature projects that have not yet started and that offer reasonable chances for being operationally and financially sustainable. The Calls are open to all sectors of the economy.
The Calls for Proposals seek 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 awards co-financing grants ranging from EUR 650,000 to EUR 5 million per project in Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal and from EUR 850,000 to EUR 6 million per project in Morocco. 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.
Social Protection and Bonus Criteria
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, like health insurance, maternity leave, pension schemes or accident assurance. As a basic condition, all jobs created as part of a co-financed project must fulfil the legal requirements for social protection in the respective country. However, IFE is particularly looking for projects that create jobs whose social benefits go beyond the statutory minimum. Furthermore, 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 being selected.
Further Information and Webinars
The Guidelines for Applicants are available in our Download Center.
This is also where you can find the full list of bonus criteria.
In case of questions on these competition rounds, 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 the application platform. The webinars will take place on the following days: 28 May, 11 June, and 18 June at 11:00 CEST (in English), and 29 May, 12 June, and 19 June at 13:00 CEST (in French). To receive the link to the webinars, please send an email to cfp-ife.may2024@invest-for-jobs.com or visit the website: https://invest-for-jobs.com/en/call-for-proposals-may-2024. This is also where you can find the link to access the application platform.
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).
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.
You can visit our website for more information about the Facility Investing for Employment.
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