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Find similar grantsNational Skills Fund (NSF) Project-Based Funding is sponsored by South African Department of Higher Education and Training. The NSF funds projects proposed by eligible institutions, aligned with national priorities such as youth employment, digital skills, and support for persons with disabilities.
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Department of Higher Education and Training - NSF Together Moving Post-School Education and Training Forward Planning, Policy & Strategy CAREER HELPLINE: 086 999 0123 CALL CENTRE: 0800 87 2222 National Skills Fund (NSF) Vision : A catalytic funder towards a highly skilled citizenry Mission: To provide funding for national skills development towards a capable South African citizenry, that contributes to improving economic participation and social development.
The National Skills Fund (NSF) was established in 1999 in terms of Section 27 of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA).
The NSF is a Schedule 3A public entity that provides funding for skills development initiatives that are identified by the National Skills Development Plan 2030 (NSDP) as national priorities, and/or are related to the achievement of the SDA, 1998 and/or considered to be an activity undertaken by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to achieve a standard of good practice in terms of skills development.
Between 1999 and 2009, the NSF, together with the sector education and training authorities (SETAs) and the National Skills Authority (NSA), reported to the Department of Labour (now called the Department of Employment and Labour). However, in 2009, the new Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) was formed through a presidential proclamation.
Simultaneously, the skills development system (SETAs, the NSF and the NSA) was transferred from the former Department of Labour to the newly formed Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). This change fundamentally aimed to bring the world of work closer to the world of education.
In order to achieve its mandate, the NSF's primary activities are focused on: education and training of learners; post-school education and training (PSET) system support and capacity-building which includes skills infrastructure; and skills development research, innovation and advocacy Key legislation, government policies, strategies and programmes The funding priorities of the NSF are guided by key South African legislation and policies while maintaining alignment with several strategies and plans of government.
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Skills Development Levies Act Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act Public Finance Management Act (NSF listed as a Schedule 3A public entity) Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act Workplace Based Learning Programme Agreement National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act National Growth Path Framework White Paper on Post-school Education and Training Jobs Summit Agreement Framework White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation National Skills Development Strategy or National Skills Development Plan 2030 Industrial Policy Action Plan Human Resource Development Strategy of South Africa National Development Plan National Infrastructure Plan (Strategic Infrastructure Projects) National Plan for Post-school Education and Training District Development Model Revised Medium-term Strategic Framework National Skills Development Plan Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Skills Strategy NSF's main revenue sources: 20 percent of the skills development levies as contemplated in the Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 (Act 9 of 1999) Interest earned on investments held at the Public Investment Corporation Uncommitted surpluses from the sector education and training authorities (SETAs) that are transferred to the NSF in terms of SETA grant regulation 3(12).
NSF is a Schedule 3A public entity On 12 October 2012, the Minister of Finance listed the NSF as a Schedule 3A public entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999) (PFMA), retrospectively effective from 1 April 2012 (Notice 821 in Government Gazette 35759). Prior to the listing as a public entity, the NSF operated as a programme under the DHET Skills Development Branch.
The listing of the NSF as a public entity does not determine the legal persona status of the NSF. The list prescribes the compliance framework that the NSF must adhere to in terms of the PFMA, 1999. The legal persona status is determined by the NSF’s founding legislation, namely the SDA, 1998.
Skills development funding applications The NSF periodically invites expressions of interest and skills development proposals in multiple sectors from qualifying applicants nationally or related to a specific region . Open call: In this process, the NSF publishes a request for proposal in the media and invites expressions of interest of skills development proposals from qualifying applicants.
Proposals are evaluated using a competitive process based on the evaluation criteria, strategic alignment of the application, availability of funds and equitable distribution of funds. Keep visiting tenders for the next open call for request for proposals and eligibility guidelines for applicants . Closed call: I n this process, the NSF targets specific partners or stakeholders and invites skills development proposals only from them.
Categories of targeted applicants may include, but are not limited to public institutions within the post-school education and training (PSET) system (i.e. community education and training (CET) colleges, technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, universities, quality councils and moderation bodies, bursary agencies, etc.), professional bodies, employer associations, disability skills development organisations, national departments, offices of the premiers, provincial departments, municipalities, state owned companies, non-profit organisations etc. Click here for National Skills Fund Resources Strategic Support: Mr Sizwe Mathebula Acting Chief Director: Strategy, Innovation and Organisational Performance Secretary: Ms Mbali Ndlovu Acting Chief Director: Skills Development Implementation Secretary: Ms Tebogo Matshe Email: TebogoM@nsf.
org. za Secretary: Ms Cilesta Ramarumo Email: Cilestar@nsf. org.
za Director: Legal, Risk and Compliance Secretary: Rakhumo Moacwiemang Email: Rakhumom@nsf. org. za Switchboard: 012 943 3101 How the NSF Provides Funding The National Skills Fund (NSF) does not fund individuals directly.
Instead, it funds institutions and organisations that offer training and skills development programmes. Payements are made to Skills Development Providers (SDPs), such as TVET colleges, training institutions, NGOs and private companies, based on formal agreements and clear perfomance milestones.
NSF Offers Four Types of Funding Support NSF funds projects proposed by eligible institutions, aligned with national priorities such as youth employment, digital skills, and support for persons NSF partners with TVET colleges, universities, SETAs and non-profit organisations to expand training in priority sectors like ICT, green energy and Sector and Infrastructure Support NSF funds infrastructure development at training facilities, including equipment and the establishment of new institutions in under-served areas.
National Skills Fund Revised Annual Performance Plan 2025/26 National Skills Fund Revised Annual Performance Plan 2024/25 NSF Annual Report 2022/2023 NSF Annual Report 2021/2022 NSF 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan NSF 2020/21 Annual Report National Skills Fund, NSF, Skills Development, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Bursaries, Scholarships, National Research Foundation, NRF, National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, Occupations in high demand, Critical Skills, Priority Occupations, Skills Development Levy, Skills Strategy, SMME and Cooperative Skills Development, Worker Education International Scholarships Council on Higher Education (CHE) Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDC) National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NHSS) National Skills Authority (NSA) National Skills Fund (NSF) National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Quality Council for Traders and Occupations (QCTO) Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) Career Development (Khetha) South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Staffing South Africa's Universities Framework (SSAUF) Universities South Africa
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Eligible institutions whose projects align with national skills development priorities in South Africa. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
National Skills Fund (NSF) Project-Based Funding is funded by South African Department of Higher Education and Training. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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