WIDU Grant (Original WIDU Grant)

WIDU Grant (Original WIDU Grant) is sponsored by WIDU. africa (commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, co-financed by the European Union and the Gates Foundation). WIDU.

africa supports micro and small enterprises in participating African countries, including Kenya, by combining financial support and coaching.

Support A Small Business With the Original WIDU Grant Original WIDU Grant: Eleven Tips For Your Application Are you a diaspora member and do you sometimes/regularly send money to friends and family members in Africa? Do you know entrepreneurs in Africa who have great business ideas but difficulties finding means of financing (such as loans, grants) to kickstart them?

Are you interested in supporting small businesses and ready to transfer your remittances to an entrepreneur? Employee of a Kenyan entrepreneur - who was supported by a diaspora donor and WIDU - feeds fish in an aquaculture ⒸWIDU. africa Then our ORIGINAL WIDU GRANT is your opportunity to support your friends and relatives in Africa get extra funding and business coaching!

If you live in one of the 27 member states of the European Union, Switzerland or Norway , you can register on our website and invite an entrepreneur who lives in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Togo, The Gambia or Tunisia . Read our eleven tips to find out more: What is The Original WIDU Grant & Why Does WIDU Pay Out Grants to Entrepreneurs? Who Can Apply For The Original WIDU Grant?

How Exactly Does WIDU Support Entrepreneurs in Africa? Coaching & Funding First Steps to Take: Register to Get Funded Tips & Ressources on How to Complete WIDU Investment Plan Overview of Required Documents Need Help? Support & Ressources For WIDU Participants Other Useful Information For Your Participation in WIDU Further Develop Your Entrepreneurship Skills With atingi Register & Support an Entrepreneur 1.

What is the Original WIDU Grant & Why does WIDU Pay Out Grants to Entrepreneurs? The Original WIDU Grant is a funding program for micro or small African businesses in ten participating African countries. The aim is to support entrepreneurs develop their business ideas by providing professional business coaching and funding to them.

In the case of the Original WIDU Grant, funding consist of three different sources: A financial contribution by a diaspora donor , a private investment by an entrepreneur and a grant paid out by WIDU. africa. Why does WIDU.

africa pay out Grants to small businesses? WIDU. africa is a regional project co-financed by the European Union and the Gates Foundation, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

In collaboration with the African diaspora residing in Europe, WIDU applies an innovative approach that combines financial support and coaching in order to strengthen new and existing micro and small businesses in Africa, leading to the creation of new jobs. 2. Who Can Apply For The Original WIDU Grant?

To participate in WIDU. africa, two partners – consisting of a diaspora donor in Europe and an Africa-based entrepreneur – need to team up. To start the application process, the diaspora donor registers and invites the entrepreneur to also register on the platform.

What criteria must an African business meet in order to apply for a WIDU Grant? Original WIDU Grant at a glance New or existing businesses, max.

20 employees All sectors (e.g. small farms, garages, shops, hairdressers) Investment of the diaspora donor and entrepreneur (50%) Each diaspora donor in Europe can support up to 3 African entrepreneurs at the same time Up to 3 reapplications possible for successful projects Aweke Farmers, a business suported by WIDU. africa located in Kenya ⒸWIDU.

africa Other Eligibility Requirements In fact, the Diaspora donors in Europe must have a registered address in one of the 27 member states of the European Union state members, Switzerland or Norway , and be aged 18 or older, with a valid ID document, such as a European passport or a passport from a participating African country plus residence permit in a participating European country.

The Africa-based entrepreneurs must be age 18 or older and have a new or existing micro or small business based in a participating African country Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Togo, The Gambia or Tunisia ), with maximum 20 employees. The entrepreneur is expected to use the platform him/herself and therefore requires literacy in French or English as well as basic digital and business skills. 3.

How exactly does WIDU support entrepreneurs in Africa? Coaching & Funding Every entrepreneur supported by WIDU receives three individual coaching sessions that are tailored to their specific needs. Coaching sessions take place at the entrepreneur's business location and are being conducted by trained, local organisations.

The sessions help the entrepreneurs to plan and operate their business for the best possible results. Business Coaching for WIDU Entrepreneurs Funding: How much is the Grant? With the Original WIDU Grant , WIDU supports small businesses in Africa with up to €3,000 in the first round, and up to €5,000 for already supported entrepreneurs .

WIDU Funding consists of three different sources: A financial contribution by a person living in Europe (diaspora donor) A private investment by the entrepreneur How is the amount of the WIDU Grant calculated? In the first application round, t he amount of the WIDU Grant is calculated via a ratio of 1:1:2, meaning that the diaspora donor gives the same sum as the entrepreneur in Africa (up to 1,500 € per person).

On top of that, the entrepreneur then receives the Original WIDU Grant in the form of both sums added up (up to 3,000 €). Minimum amount that has to be contributed/invested by diaspora donors & entrepreneurs is 150 € per person. The maximum amount is 1,500 € per person.

For already supported entrepreneurs (second or third round of funding), the distribution ratio changes to 1:1:1, meaning that the diaspora donor, the entrepreneur, and WIDU each contribute equally to the total amount. In this round, the total amount of the upgraded Original WIDU Grant can go up to €5,000, with a minimum of €500 per person.

This means that if both the diaspora donor and the entrepreneur each contribute between €500 and €5,000, the Original WIDU Grant will match their contributions. 4. Process of Participation Find below overview of the entire WIDU process and a list of all steps donors and entrepreneurs must take so that the entrepreneur can get the WIDU Grant.

In the next chapter "First Steps to take" we are also providing a tutorial about how the process works, explained step by step. Original WIDU Grant process (for 1st round of support) Original WIDU Grant process (for already supported entrepreneurs) 5.

First Steps to Take: Register to Get Funded The registration process to apply for Original WIDU Grant is as follows: A member of the respective diaspora in Europe (donor) registers A link will be sent to the donor’s e-mail with which he/she can create an account Having created the account, the donor can invite an entrepreneur by sending an invitational e-mail. The entrepreneur clicks on the link and registers on WIDU.

Your project team is complete, and you can fill out your project information. If you would like to find out more about the WIDU process, watch our explanatory video PS: Consider that, we cannot accept a project without a donor. Also, WIDU does not match donors and entrepreneurs.

To learn more about what you need to do next, have a look at our tutorial: 2. First, Open Your Account The diaspora donor from Europe registers first and invites the entrepreneur in Africa to the platform – both create a profile! 3.

Then, Formulate Your Business Idea Convince us of what you are planning to do. After describing your business, set up your investment plan including all planned expenses. 4.

Your First Business Coaching After submitting your project application, a coach will contact you and visit your business on-site to provide personal business advice. 5. WIDU Reviews Your Project Application After the first Coaching, your project will be reviewed by us.

If approved, you can move forward with the next step. The diaspora donor must identify themselves before proceeding with their project. The donor will be requested to identify on our online verification service.

The diaspora donor transfers his/her contribution to the entrepreneur through a formal institution (bank, post, money transfer institution) and provides the receipt on the platform. 8. Now, It’s Time To Spend Your Private Investment And Document It The private investment includes the diaspora's donation and the entrepreneur's contribution.

All expenses must be documented on the platform by uploading invoices and receipts. 9. Your Second Business Coaching A coach evaluates the business progress and verifies the investments made.

Further on-demand business coaching is provided. The WIDU team reviews your grant application and decides whether the requirements for the grant are fulfilled. 11.

It’s Time For You To Receive Your Grant From WIDU After the project has been approved by WIDU, 90% of the WIDU grant is disbursed to the entrepreneur to cover the costs of the remaining items in the investment plan. 12. Document Your Grant Spendings After uploading invoices and receipts to document the last investments, the entrepreneur receive the 10% remaining of the WIDU grant.

13. Your Third Business Coaching A coach evaluates the business progress and verifies the grant investments made. Further on-demand business coaching is provided.

6. Tipps & Ressources on How to Complete WIDU Investment Plan WIDU funding is a Grant. This means that the amount entrepreneurs receive from WIDU does not have to be repaid.

Entrepreneurs, however, are required to document their expenses (items purchased from the Private Investment and the WIDU Grant investment) by providing receipts that proof their investments. This is done by filling in the WIDU Investment Plan, which is part of every project application. Explainer Video Investment Plan Update: New and expanded criteria for the WIDU investment plan 7.

Overview of Required Documents Remittance Slip (after successful first coaching visit) Receipts Private Investment (between first and second coaching) Receipts WIDU Grant Investment (between second and third coaching) 8. Need Help? Support & Ressources For WIDU Participants Are you stuck in the WIDU process and need help?

We are offering a number of ressources for diaspora donors & entrepreneurs who need help with their applications, are stuck in the process, have questions about WIDU or experience technical difficulties. Our Freqently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can WIDU help me to find a Diaspora donor or Entrepreneur? No, WIDU does not match donors and entrepreneurs.

I’m not in a participating country, how do I proceed? Unfortunately, applications are not yet open to other countries. However, a future extension of the project to other countries is possible so we advise to follow our activities on Facebook and LinkedIn.

How long will it take before I receive an answer to my application? Due to the high number of applications, we are receiving, it might take up to 4 Weeks for the assessment of your application by our jury before you get an answer. More Frequently Asked Questions 9.

Useful Information For Your Participation in WIDU. africa Update: New and expanded criteria for the WIDU investment plan Salaries, running costs, cash: Which expenses and purchases are eligible for WIDU project funding. How to fill out the WIDU Investment Plan?

On this page, we provide you with information on how to use it. WIDU Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Find answers to the most commonly asked questions from WIDU participants in the past Watch our explanatory videos, success stories and past live events on our YouTube Channel 10. Further Develop Your Entrepreneurship Skills - with atingi!

Do you want to support a friend who is still inexperienced with entrepreneurship? Are you an entrepreneur and interested in learning more about business start-up and project planning? Are you waiting for your next WIDU Business Coaching and meanwhile want to improve your knowledge?

Then recommend or visit the learning platform atingi , which offers free online courses on entrepreneurship and business management. Users can access high-quality digital learning content, improve their employment opportunities and obtain certificates. atingi is a project by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH .

In the next section, we recommend specific courses that may be particularly useful for WIDU participants . Beyond that, however, atingi offers more than 300 other online courses. It is therefore worth visiting the site and registering!

https://www. atingi. org/en/ 11.

Register & Support an Entrepreneur Register For the Original WIDU Grant Support friends & family members in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Togo, The Gambia or Tunisia to start or further develop their small businesses and help them reveice a Grant and free WIDU Business Coaching.

WIDU is always free of charge We do not ever ask diaspora donors or African entrepreneurs, nor their relatives or friends, to pay for our services. WIDU funding and coaching is and will always be provided for free. We do so to find out how we could enhance the functionality.

Would you be so kind to give us your consent to do so? You can revoke your consent any time here .