Grant Programme for MSME Financing and Enterprise Growth (Burundi)

Deadline: 01-Jul-2026

This funding opportunity supports initiatives that improve access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs while promoting inclusive and green economic growth. With a total budget of EUR 16 million, the program aims to strengthen partnerships between financial institutions and business support organizations, improve financial literacy, and help MSMEs access financing tailored to their growth stage and business needs.

Program Overview

The grant program is designed to address financial barriers that limit the growth of MSMEs and entrepreneurs, particularly in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. The initiative promotes sustainable access to finance, enterprise development, job creation, and stronger collaboration between financial institutions, incubators, and project stakeholders.

The program seeks to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem by improving financial inclusion, supporting women-led enterprises, strengthening governance mechanisms, and generating knowledge that can improve future financing interventions.

Funding Information

• Total program budget: EUR 16,000,000
• Minimum grant amount: EUR 820,000
• Maximum grant amount: EUR 870,000
• Funding objective: Improve MSME access to adapted financing and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems
• Geographic focus: Great Lakes Region in Africa

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

• Improve access to financing for MSMEs and entrepreneurs.
• Promote inclusive and green economic growth.
• Support women-led enterprises and underserved businesses.
• Strengthen relationships between MSMEs and financial institutions.
• Facilitate sustainable business growth and job creation.
• Improve financial literacy among entrepreneurs.
• Build long-term partnerships between incubators, banks, and microfinance institutions.
• Strengthen inclusive governance mechanisms.
• Generate evidence, knowledge, and lessons learned from financing interventions.

Key Focus Areas

Eligible projects should address one or more of the following areas:

• Inclusive economic growth
• Green and sustainable business development
• MSME financing and credit access
• Women-led enterprise support
• Financial inclusion initiatives
• Microfinance and banking partnerships
• Entrepreneur support services
• Enterprise development programs
• Job creation initiatives
• Financial literacy training
• Business incubation and acceleration
• Knowledge management and dissemination
• Governance and stakeholder engagement
• Sustainable financing mechanisms

Expected Results

The program expects funded projects to deliver measurable outcomes that improve access to finance and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Improved Access to Financing

Expected outcomes include:

• Increased access to financing for MSMEs.
• Better alignment between financing products and business needs.
• Improved credit readiness among entrepreneurs.
• Stronger relationships between MSMEs and financial institutions.
• Increased business expansion opportunities.

Stronger Institutional Partnerships

Projects should contribute to:

• Sustainable collaboration between microfinance institutions and incubators.
• Improved financing application preparation.
• Better coordination among ecosystem stakeholders.
• Enhanced support services for entrepreneurs.

Enhanced Financial Literacy

The program aims to:

• Improve financial management skills.
• Strengthen understanding of credit and financing products.
• Increase financial decision-making capacity among entrepreneurs.
• Support long-term business sustainability.

Knowledge Generation and Learning

Projects are expected to:

• Document lessons learned.
• Analyze financing models and outcomes.
• Share best practices.
• Contribute to future MSME financing strategies.

Why This Program Matters

Limited access to finance remains one of the biggest obstacles facing MSMEs in developing economies. Many businesses struggle to secure funding due to limited financial literacy, inadequate credit histories, or weak connections with financial institutions.

This program addresses these challenges by:

• Expanding access to affordable financing.
• Supporting business growth and employment.
• Encouraging inclusive participation in economic development.
• Strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Improving opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
• Promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible business growth.

By connecting entrepreneurs with financial institutions and business support organizations, the initiative helps create a stronger foundation for long-term economic development.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible lead applicants may include:

• Non-profit private organizations
• Foundations
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• International organizations
• Private legal entities that do not prioritize profit maximization

Applicants must:

• Be legally established entities.
• Be directly responsible for project preparation and implementation.
• Have objectives aligned with the goals of the funding opportunity.
• Serve as the sole lead applicant for the proposed project.

Only one lead applicant is permitted under this call.

Experience Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate substantial experience in MSME support and financial inclusion initiatives.

General Experience

Applicants must have:

• At least seven years of experience supporting MSMEs.
• Experience delivering financial and/or non-financial business support services.

Specific Experience

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Direct management of grant funds or financing mechanisms for MSMEs.
• At least one relevant MSME financing assignment completed within the last six years.
• Experience working within the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Great Lakes Region.
• At least one mission or intervention in the entrepreneurial sector within the region.

Financial Capacity

Applicants must have:

• Directly managed a budget of at least EUR 400,000.
• Sufficient operational and financial capacity to implement the proposed action.

Eligible Project Activities

Projects may include activities such as:

• MSME financing support programs.
• Credit readiness and loan preparation services.
• Financial literacy training.
• Women entrepreneur empowerment initiatives.
• Incubator and accelerator partnerships.
• Capacity-building for financial institutions.
• Business development services.
• Stakeholder coordination mechanisms.
• Governance and partnership development.
• Monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Research, documentation, and learning activities.
• Knowledge-sharing and dissemination events.

How the Program Works

The program supports organizations that can establish effective financing ecosystems for entrepreneurs and MSMEs.

The process generally involves:

1. Assessing MSME financing barriers and opportunities.
2. Establishing partnerships with financial institutions.
3. Connecting entrepreneurs with financing providers.
4. Delivering business development and financial literacy support.
5. Strengthening governance and stakeholder collaboration.
6. Monitoring financing outcomes and business growth.
7. Documenting and sharing lessons learned.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Review all eligibility requirements, organizational qualifications, and experience criteria.

Step 2: Assess Organizational Capacity

Ensure your organization can demonstrate:

• Required years of experience.
• Relevant MSME financing expertise.
• Financial management capacity.
• Regional knowledge and experience.

Step 3: Develop the Project Design

Clearly define:

• Target MSMEs and entrepreneurs.
• Financing support mechanisms.
• Expected outcomes and impact.
• Partnership structure.
• Monitoring and evaluation framework.

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Documentation

Compile evidence of:

• Legal registration.
• Relevant project experience.
• Budget management capacity.
• Previous assignments.
• Organizational expertise.

Step 5: Submit the Proposal

Submit a complete application before the deadline, ensuring all required information and supporting documents are included.

Tips for Applicants

• Demonstrate strong experience in MSME financing.
• Highlight successful grant management history.
• Show deep understanding of the Great Lakes entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Include clear partnership strategies with financial institutions.
• Present measurable outcomes and impact indicators.
• Emphasize sustainability beyond the grant period.
• Include strong monitoring and knowledge-sharing plans.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to demonstrate required experience.
• Providing insufficient evidence of financial management capacity.
• Submitting unclear partnership structures.
• Weak monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Limited understanding of local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Overly broad project objectives without measurable outcomes.
• Incomplete documentation or eligibility information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the total budget available under this call?

The total budget allocated to the program is EUR 16 million.

What is the minimum grant amount that can be requested?

Applicants may request a minimum of EUR 820,000.

What is the maximum grant amount available?

The maximum grant amount is EUR 870,000.

Who can apply for funding?

Eligible applicants include NGOs, foundations, non-profit private organizations, international organizations, and private legal entities that do not prioritize profit maximization.

How much experience is required?

Applicants must demonstrate at least seven years of experience supporting MSMEs through financial or non-financial services.

Is regional experience required?

Yes. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Great Lakes Region and provide evidence of relevant sector experience.

Can multiple lead applicants submit a joint proposal?

No. Only one lead applicant is permitted under this call for proposals.

Conclusion

This grant opportunity provides significant funding to organizations working to improve financial inclusion, strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, and expand access to finance for MSMEs in the Great Lakes Region. By supporting sustainable partnerships, financial literacy, inclusive governance, and innovative financing mechanisms, the program aims to create long-term economic growth, business expansion, and job creation while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of MSMEs across the region.

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