Deadline: 2 November 2017
The Skills Development Fund is inviting eligible Small and Medium Enterprises, trade associations and training institutions (both private and public) to apply for grant support. This is a challenge fund which addresses the skills needs of enterprises in the formal and informal sectors of Ghana.
The SDF is a challenge fund providing a demand-driven response to three critical challenges encountered by the productive sectors of Ghana:
- an adequately qualified labour force;
- the urgency of providing new entrants to the labour market with gainful, employable skills; and
- inadequate access to new technologies and innovations.
The Fund will support the following types of training needs and activities:
- Upgrading the skills of employees for productivity improvement and to enable employees adopt emerging new technologies
- Enabling current employees to earn higher technical and vocational skills qualifications and incomes
- Upgrading the skills of master crafts-persons and self-employed graduate apprentices.
Type of Windows & Funding Information
- Formal Sector Enterprises (GHS 400,000): The objective of this window is to promote collaborations between industry and training providers. Funding will be provided to co-operation projects between industry from the formal sector and training providers. The key focus areas for funding are agribusiness and renewable energy although others areas with good potential to improving productivity and competitiveness will be considered.
- Informal Sector/MSEs (GHS 80,000): Funding under this window will primarily be provided to increase the skills level of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the informal sector although formally registered MSEs are not excluded from support. The key focus areas for funding are agribusiness and renewable energy although others areas with good potential to improving productivity and competitiveness will be considered.
- Innovative Training (GHS 500,000): The objective of this window is to develop new innovative models for delivery of training and new training concepts. Funding will focus on innovative proposals from training providers that respond to economic demand, especially in the priority sectors of agriculture and renewable energy. Under this window, SDF may provide financing to training institutions such as public or private training institutes, higher education institutes, incubators, accelerators, technology centres, or business advisory centres – that may not have an explicit linkage with a firm – for expenditure on training innovations.
- Formal Sector Coaching of Management & Supervisory Staff (GHS 100,000): This window offers support for the training and coaching of management and supervisory staff of companies and associations on how to practice HRD and improve production efficiency. In order to qualify for support by the SDF, the enterprise must have a minimum of 20 staff and a well-established management structure. The grants for areas are agribusiness and renewable energy although others areas with good potential to improving productivity and competitiveness will be considered.
Eligibility Criteria
- Window 1: SDF will benefit employers and employees of priority economic sectors who gain additional skilled employment, higher earnings and improved productivity. The specific beneficiaries of the SDF include Ghanaian owned limited liability companies
- Window 2:
- Informal sector businesses (Associations, organisations and micro and small enterprises mainly belonging to Trade Associations)
- Farmer-Based Organisations
- Micro and small scale enterprises operating in the informal sector
- Window 3: Training institutions, both public and private
- Window 4: Priority will be given to mid-level management and supervisory staff of companies already supported by SDF (I and II). Also staff of companies with no previous relationship with SDF and senior management staff will be eligible for support. Priority is also given to female management and supervisory staff.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
Eligible Country: Ghana
For more information, please visit SDF.