The Jobs Fund (13th funding round) is sponsored by National Treasury of South Africa. This funding round is open to organizations with innovative ideas to create jobs and stimulate economic growth across South Africa, including in the agricultural sector.

Institutional capacity building Current call for proposals Application stages & process Institutional capacity building New Funding Round – Catalysing Demand-Led Growth in the Green and Informal Economy The Jobs Fund is pleased to announce the launch of its 13th Funding Round. Opening date: 18 May 2026 Closing date: 30 June 2026, 15:00 The 12th Funding Round in now closed!

--> The Jobs Fund invites bold, implementable proposals from experienced sector intermediaries across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors to stimulate new labour demand in South Africa’s economy.

This funding round focuses on unlocking job creation potential by addressing structural and market barriers that constrain enterprise growth and employment absorption, particularly in: micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) The Jobs Fund remains open to proposals from other labour-absorptive sectors with strong employment potential, such as tourism.

Successful proposals must be innovative, scalable and demand-led, with a clear pathway to creating sustainable jobs beyond the grant funding period. Projects must be implemented within a three-year period and require matched funding, reflecting shared risk and strong partner commitment. The minimum grant allocation for successful applicants is R5 million.

All applications must be submitted online through the Jobs Fund Grant Management System (GMS), accessible via the Jobs Fund website. The funding round will be implemented using challenge-fund principles, meaning the Fund will deploy a portfolio approach in evaluating funding proposals. South Africa continues to face persistently high unemployment and widening inequality.

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), the national unemployment rate stood at 32. 7% in Q1 2026, with youth and women facing the greatest barriers to labour market participation. Of South Africa’s 42.

2 million working-age population, 21 million are aged 15-34. Yet labour market outcomes for youth remain deeply concerning: 4. 7 million young people were unemployed in Q1 2026 Youth unemployment for those aged 15–24 reached 60.

9% More than four in ten young people aged 15–34 were Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) Young women continue to bear a disproportionate burden, with 39. 2% of women aged 15–24 classified as NEET in Q1 2026. At the same time, sectors such as the green economy, MSMEs and the informal economy present significant untapped opportunities for labour absorption and inclusive growth.

The informal economy alone employs more than 5. 7 million people, yet remains underdeveloped relative to other emerging markets. Both the green and informal economies continue to face barriers, including limited access to finance, skills shortages, weak market access, technological constraints and regulatory challenges.

The future of South Africa’s economy depends on unlocking labour-intensive growth opportunities that can absorb large numbers of work seekers while supporting long-term economic sustainability.

The Jobs Fund aims to catalyse demand-led growth by partnering with intermediaries that can: unlock new or expanded markets strengthen value chains and ecosystems crowd in private and non-state investment create durable employment outcomes for women, youth and economically marginalised communities The green economy refers to economic activities that reduce environmental harm, promote sustainability and support inclusive growth.

Areas of intervention include renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management and recycling, circular-economy activities, sustainable agriculture, green construction, water management, and sustainable transport. MSMEs and the informal economy MSMEs refer to micro, small, and medium enterprises, including growth-oriented microenterprises.

The informal economy includes enterprises and workers operating outside formal regulatory arrangements but providing livelihoods, services and employment at scale. Sectors include street vending, small retail, care services, informal transport, artisanal work, repair services, small-scale agriculture and market trading.

The Jobs Fund recognises MSMEs and informal enterprises as critical drivers of labour absorption, particularly when supported through ecosystem-based and market-linked interventions. The Jobs Fund also welcomes strong proposals from other labour-absorptive sectors, such as tourism, and others that demonstrate significant employment creation potential and alignment with the Fund’s objectives.

The Term- Sheet contains the full details of the funding round and can be accessed here. Further guidance and information are contained in the links below: 13th Funding Round Brochure 9 Key Learnings from Declined Projects During The Jobs Fund's 12th Funding Round JF13 Application Briefing Session Presentation If you meet the eligibility criteria, click here to apply. All applications must be submitted by 15:00 on 30 June 2026.

If you have any queries, please contact: jobsfund@treasury. gov.za The Jobs Fund will be hosting a briefing session on the 13th Funding Round and invites potential applicants to attend. This briefing session aims to provide interested parties with further information on the Funding Round, the eligibility and impact criteria, and the overall application process.

Please register for the event by clicking here . Once you have registered, a calendar invite will automatically be sent to your inbox. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are struggling to get into the briefing session on the day, it is likely due to over-subscription. We will, however, post the recording and the presentation on the website and our YouTube page after the briefing session.

Should your organisation not qualify for Jobs Fund grant funding, there are a number of other funding instruments available at national and provincial levels which promote economic growth and facilitate job creation.

Please click on the links below for more information: Development Agencies & DFIs National Government Departments Provincial Government Departments Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency National Empowerment Fund Please take note that the Training Session is at full capacity. The presentation and recording will be uploaded to our website once the session has concluded.

Should you have any queries, please contact jobsfund@treasury. gov.za Please register for the event by clicking here . Once you have registered, a calendar invite will automatically be sent to your inbox.

Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are struggling to get into the briefing session on the day, it is likely due to over-subscription. We will, however, post the recording and the presentation on the website after the training session.

Activity Based Costing Project Implementation Monitoring Plan (ABC PIMP) Master Class Session Following the training session held on 13 May 2025 the Jobs Fund will be hosting an ABC PIMP Master Class session for eligible applicants. The aim is to provide in-depth assistance on the completion of the ABC PIMP (mandatory tool to be uploaded as part of your application).

This training session on 15 May 2025 will cover the following: This session has concluded, click the links below to access the presentation and recording: Training Session - 12th Funding Round - Presentation Training Session - 12th Funding Round - Session Recording Briefing Session - 12th Funding Round - Presentation Briefing Session - 12th Funding Round - Session Recording Following the briefing session held on 08 May 2025 the Jobs Fund will be hosting a training session for eligible applicants .

The aim is to provide in-depth assistance on the application process, funding requirements and contractual arrangements. This training session on the 13 May 2025 will cover the following: Activity-Based Costing Project Implementation Monitoring Plan (ABC PIMP) – Its functionality and how to complete it. Grant Management System (GMS) Application Form – How to navigate the GMS and the requirements for each application section.

Grant Agreement Standard Clauses, Contracting Process and Due Diligence. Post-training support offered by the Jobs Fund Team.

This session has concluded, click the links below to access the presentation and recording: Training Session - 12th Funding Round - Presentation Training Session - 12th Funding Round - Session Recording Supporting South Africa’s Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery - This funding round is now closed Our country finds itself confronted with an unprecedented level of unemployment.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa recorded the deepest and most persistent unemployment challenge globally. The 2021 Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) reported that in the third quarter the unemployment rate was 34. 9%.

If discouraged work seekers are included, the unemployment rate rises to 46. 6%. Youth are disproportionately affected, youth aged 15-24 years and 25-34 years recorded the highest unemployment rates of 66.

5% and 43. 8%, respectively. Beyond the devastating health impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and sustained economic impact domestically and abroad.

The hard lockdown resulted in output levels for 2020 dropping to levels last seen in 2013. According to Stats SA, roughly 409,000 fewer people were employed in the third quarter of 2021 than the previous year's third quarter. On the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President had proposed an Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan for South Africa.

In his State of the Nation Address on 10 February 2022, the President re-emphasised the importance of putting South Africa to work and provided further direction on the key enablers for economic growth. Achieving these objectives requires a whole of society approach; the Public, Private and Non-State sectors must work better together and find innovative solutions to scale economic and social impact.

Through its current partnerships and by bringing on board new partnerships, the Jobs Fund seeks to contribute to the call to action - Putting South Africa to Work using a proven implementation approach and team to drive change, innovation and scaling solutions for employment creation. The Jobs Fund invites applications that will implement a systems approach to: Accelerate the growth of entrepreneurs/ business owners.

Better address problems at the local level and drive systems change (local economic development). Build human and institutional capacity and contribute to transitions from dependency to sustainability. Develop economic sectors with growth and high labour absorption potential (a focus on youth and women will be an advantage).

Build eco-systems of support for the informal sector. Develop appropriate financial instruments, value chain development, and market access that will unlock the trapped potential in economic sectors that can contribute to the acceleration of employment creation. Address both labour demand and supply barriers.

Scaling Social Impact with a specific emphasis on employment creation. Applicants must clearly demonstrate the path to sustainability and the breakthrough solution for employment creation i.e., key success factors for a competitive application include jobs created and scaling impact.

Furthermore, applicants must articulate how the intervention will ensure success in the current Covid-19 context and contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery.

The Jobs Fund has pre-determined eligibility criteria to ensure that each project that proceeds to the business case application stage has the minimum operating experience, infrastructure, administrative capacity to successfully implement the proposed project and demonstrate value for money for the Jobs Fund. The assessment process commences with a strict appraisal of the project and its compliance with the eligibility criteria.

Further detail on the funding round and eligibility criteria is contained in the links below: 10 CFP Application User Guide Email: jobsfund@treasury. gov.za The Jobs Fund will be hosting a virtual briefing session on its new funding round, Supporting South Africa’s Post-pandemic Economic Recovery, and invites potential applicants to attend.

This briefing session aims to provide interested parties with further information on the Funding Round, the eligibility and impact criteria, and the overall application process. Please register for the event by clicking here. Once you have registered, a calendar invite will automatically be sent to your inbox.

Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are struggling to get into the briefing session on the day, it is likely due to over-subscription as space on the platform is limited. We will post the recording and the presentation on the website so all have access to the content.

In addition, if you have questions, please send them to jobsfund@treasury. gov.za . 10th CFP Briefing Session Presentation (PDF) 10th CFP Briefing Session Audio your browser does not support the audio element.

Following the virtual briefing session held on 1 March 2022, the Jobs Fund will be hosting a training session for potential applicants. The aim is to provide in-depth assistance on the application process, qualification criteria and funding requirements. This training session will cover the following: Activity-Based Costing Project Implementation Monitoring Plan (ABC PIMP) – Its functionality and how to complete it.

Grant Management System (GMS) Application Form – How to navigate the GMS and the requirements for each application section. Grant Agreement Standard Clauses, Contracting Process and Due Diligence. Post-training support offered by the Jobs Fund Team.

All eligible applicants are encouraged to attend. Should you be unable to join the session, the recording will be available for download from the Jobs Fund website. Please register for the event by clicking here.

Once you have registered, a calendar invite will automatically be sent to your inbox. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are struggling to get into the briefing session on the day, it is likely due to over-subscription as space on the platform is limited.

We will post the recording and the presentation on the website so all have access to the content. In addition, if you have questions, please send them to jobsfund@treasury. gov.za .

Part A to E Training Session: 10th Funding Round on 8 Mar 2022 10CFP Virtual Applicant Training Session (Videos)