EU SIFA Innovation Funding Window III call for Proposals

Deadline: 22nd October 2023 | EU SIFA Innovation Funding Window III Call for Proposals

With funding from the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) is implementing the Skills Initiative for Africa Financial Cooperation (SIFA FC) and seeking to support creative TVET solutions that will increase African youth productivity, employability, and job advancement.

FOR TIMELY UPDATES JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL AND TELEGRAM 1 , TELEGRAM 2 CHANNELS

Thematic Subjects

• The first theme is “Digital Tools and Skills,” which focuses on supporting improved TVET delivery through digital technologies and applications to improve employability in the post-COVID-19 era.
• Enhanced TVET delivery through digital technologies and applications is the goal in order to improve employability in post-disruptive crises like COVID-19.
• Potential Applicants: The award recipients (applicants) will be formally recognised entities that have either public recognition or legal registration. Applications are invited from academic institutions and research organisations that have a history of enhancing the planning, execution, and assessment of cutting-edge TVET initiatives.
• Project Case Studies The following subjects may be included in proposed projects, but are not limited to them: mobile and online training; digital training applications; multimedia learning platforms; audio and video learning toolkits; digital learning applications; virtual labs and simulation devices; home-schooling lesson applications; and orientation of current or creation of new content for teachers on how to adapt to the digital learning environment.

• The second theme is supporting female entrepreneurs’ employability and business formation among women, young people, and disadvantaged groups in TVET.
• The goal is to increase the employability and business creation of women, young people, and disadvantaged groups in TVET.
• Potential Applicants: TVET advocates as well as innovation support organisations (incubators, accelerators, hubs, labs, and tech transfer offices) that house and offer assistance to early-stage businesses, such as start-ups and growth companies (established for less than three years), on their premises. To share and learn best practises, cross-border collaboration at the intermediary level is encouraged. Likewise, network proposals are encouraged.
• Project Case Studies These underprivileged groups’ empowerment, training along production supply chains with applications and digital tools, and the creation of new or enhanced goods, services, and procedures to support such training are only a few examples of the proposed initiatives.

• The third theme is supporting innovative TVET to provide training and skills to vulnerable communities and the informal sector.
• Goal: Develop innovative TVET to provide training and skills to underserved people and the informal economy.
• Potential Applicants: TVET organisations are well-positioned to encourage the use of open ways for the delivery of services to and with communities where learners are still excluded for reasons related to gender, as well as for economic and social factors. TVET organisations could form partnerships with innovation support organisations (incubators, research/academia, and NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs)) that host and/or train social entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs with social goals to create innovations that positively affect marginalised communities in the marketplace.
• Project Case Studies The proposed projects may, but are not limited to, retraining traditional craftsmen along the production supply chains using software and other online tools, creative methods of completing apprenticeships and internships, such as flipping classrooms, and preparation for the switch from informal to formal sector qualifications and certification.

Financial Details

• The first theme is “Digital Tools and Skills,” The second theme is employability and female entrepreneurship.
• The desired sum must be within the range of EUR 200,000 to EUR 400,000, inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT). The SIFA FC requested sum plus the 10% matching funding make up the project’s overall cost. 10% of SIFA FC’s desired sum must be met as the minimum in matching funds. The donation of matching funds may be made in kind.
• From the day the agreement is signed, the grant and the funded Project are anticipated to last for 18 months.
• Third Theme: Innovation in Training for Informal Sectors
• The required amount must be within the range of EUR 150,000 to EUR 300,000 inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT). The SIFA FC requested sum plus the 10% matching funding make up the project’s overall cost. 10% of SIFA FC’s desired sum must be met as the minimum in matching funds. An in-kind donation can be made in the amount of the entire matching grant.
• From the day the agreement is signed, the grant’s and the supported Project’s durations are anticipated to be between 14 and 18 months.

Location

• Eight nations have been chosen to serve as pilot nations to start with: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia.

eligibility

• Partnerships like TVET organisations combining resources with role-players including innovation hubs and labs, research/academic institutions, the corporate sector, public entities, and NGOs hosting and supporting young entrepreneurship and start-ups are potential applicants for the FW3 project. Applications from partnerships with the private sector are invited.
• Organisations promoting entrepreneurship in the labour market, academic institutions, civil society, and professional TVET providers from the public and commercial sectors.

Requirements

• It must be composed by a minimum of two independent, legally recognised organisations from each of the SIFA FC’s participating nations (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia). The Lead Partner is a requirement.
• A registered legal entity from a nation that is a partner of SIFA FC must be the project lead partner (grantee).
• Project activities must be carried out in at least one SIFA FC partner nation.
• Participation from a nation other than a SIFA FC partner nation: When it is in both parties’ best interests and promotes interoperability of goods, services, and applications, SIFA FC FW3 permits participation in projects by organisations from nations other than the eight SIFA FC partner countries.

For more information, visit the African Union Development Agency.