Skills Initiative For Africa Launches Financing Mechanism Window 1

The Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) has launched Financing Mechanism Window 1 and has called out for submission of proposals for large skills development investment projects proposed by training entities in partnership with companies in Cameroon.

 SIFA is an initiative undertaken by the African Union Commission (AUC) supported by the German Government which aims to enhance the employment prospects of young people, women and vulnerable people in Africa.

The SIFA financing mechanism is currently being implemented by AUDA / NEPAD, with funding from Germany through KfW. It has been designed to promote employment and entrepreneurship as it responds to common skills development challenges, by developing and / or disseminating local best practices and supporting innovative and sustainable approaches. South Africa, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Togo, and Tunisia are among the countries which are engaged in the SIFA Facility.

The projects selected under Funding Window 1 of the Skills Initiative For Africa (SIFA) Financing Facility will receive a grant of up to € 3 million. Winning bidders will be required to make a counterpart contribution of at least 10 percent of the total project cost. The duration of implementation of each project accepted by the SIFA will be 30 months.

The Funding Window 1 was launched in Yaoundé in the presence of Mr. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Mr. Hauke Brankamp, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mrs. Fati N’Zi- Hassane, the Representative of the African Union Development Agency / New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA/NEPAD), and Dr. Robert Mba, the Representative of the German Development Bank KfW.