1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) Financing Facility for Skills Development is sponsored by African Union Commission (AUC) / KfW (managed by NIRAS). The Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) is an African Union Commission program supported by the German Government and implemented by AUDA-NEPAD, with NIRAS managing the financing facility.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “African Union Commission (AUC) / KfW (managed by NIRAS)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Financing facility funds skills development projects in eight African countries Financing facility funds skills development projects in eight African countries Projects must engage with the private sector, address the demands of the labour market and improve skills for employment.
Financing facility funds skills development projects in eight African countries Supported by the German Government, Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) is African Union Commission (AUC) programme that aims to strengthen the occupational prospects of young people across the African continent.
SECTORS: Development Consulting Grants: €250,000-3,000,000 As a continent, Africa has vast, untapped economic potential, but young people struggle to gain access to employment opportunities — 60% of the unemployed are younger than 25 — with women being the hardest hit.
Limited access to education and practical training needed to build skills perpetuate the cycle, and the economic prospects propel young Africans to seek a better life elsewhere. This in turn further damages the local economy as especially poorer nations are steadily being drained of their workforce.
Laying the foundation for increased employment In an effort to create local opportunities, in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the African Union launched the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA), providing young people with improved employment prospects through the provision of practically orientated education and training in close cooperation with the private sector.
This is done through capacity development as well as a Financing Facility for Skills Development ‒ a €120 million Challenge Fund that provides select projects grants via three funding windows. NIRAS has been managing the financing facility since 2018 on behalf of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the AU’s implementing agency.
In this profile, meet Carlton Aslett, Team Leader for SIFA: Upending traditional donor development models through empowerment and investment SIFA provides funding for skills development projects in eight countries, namely, Cameroon, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia. These projects must engage with the private sector, address the demands of the labour market and improve skills geared towards employment.
Grants are allocated on a competitive basis through three different funding windows, and selected projects can receive grants between €250,000 and €3 million.
The first funding window (FW1) supports large investment projects in the skills development area proposed by national training entities in partnership with the private sector and industry associations , allocating a grant amount of up to €3 million for each project with a 10% contribution requirement. A ccruing a total value of €45 million, 15 projects in this funding window have already begun implementation .
Among the grantees of FW1 is the Dire Diwa Polytechnic College in Ethiopia , who has , with the help of SIFA, already rolled out training courses for learners interested in hardware and networking services . Fo r this, they have developed a curriculum within the 60-month period of th e fundin g window.
The college has even seen a total of 359 students complete their studies so fa r from their long-term and short-term programmes, with 260 of these graduates being female. Another grant ee, the international school Ecol é Canadienne de Tunis (ECT) in Tunisia , aims to establ ish a regional information technology competence hub that will ultimately help with youth employment and mobility.
Following in the footsteps of Canadian education, the school has launched a SIFA-supported bridging programme — also known as “ passerelle ” — that will help students reach a level of education equal to that of Canadian college diploma holde rs in IT. For the second funding window (FW2), which runs up to 36 months, projects are proposed by international companies in partnership with domestic training entities. Grants are up to €1.
5M with a 30% contribution requirement. Two projects have, so far, been approved for implementation. Eligible projects for FW1 and 2 include procurement of training equipment; construction, rehabilitation or expansion of learning infrastructure; training of trainers; curriculum design; and learner scholarships.
A third funding window (FW3) is designed to support innovative skills ideas in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector. Projects are granted €250,000-450,000 to provide impetus to innovation in skills development as a basis for a transition to higher productivity and job promotion.
Download the project brief to learn more about this programme Responsible grant fund management at NIRAS Employment and Private Sector Development Expert Laying the physical and institutional foundations for a growing Somalian workforce Enhancing innovation networks and facilitating cross-border collaboration in Southern Africa 8 ways to strengthen your inclusive innovation training programme Upending traditional donor development models through empowerment and investment Training supports aspiring clean cooking entrepreneurs as they grow and scale up Training the trainers: Sustaining efforts to support small-scale farmers in Ethiopia
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Professional TVET entities from public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and organizations supporting skilling for enhanced employability, self-employment, and entrepreneurship in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, … Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates €250,000 - €3,000,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Internet Freedom Programs is sponsored by U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). DRL announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that support Internet Freedom. The goal is to protect the open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet by promoting fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online through integrated support to civil society for technology, digital safety, policy and advocacy, and applied research programs.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V) announces an open competition for up to four cooperative agreements to support the staff expenses and overhead costs of the FY 2026 International Visitor Leadership Program’s (IVLP) National Program Agencies (NPAs). Launched in 1940, the IVLP is the Department of State’s foundational professional exchange program. The IVLP advances U.S. national security priorities and builds long-term relationships between Americans and international leaders in government, business, academia, and other fields. Recipients design and implement customized short-term visits to the United States for current and emerging leaders from around the world. These visits support U.S. foreign policy goals and reflect the participants’ professional interests. Eligible recipients will have expertise in foreign policy, experience in professional exchange programming, and the ability to provide tailored projects for participants from all countries. Please see the full NOFO for additional information. Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017385. Assistance Listing: 19.402. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: O. Award Amount: $613K – $1.2M per award.