GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Each Applicant (consortium) must:

• Consist of legally registered entities according to the list of eligible entities for the respective Funding Window
• Be able to demonstrate financial capacity for the last three years
• Demonstrate their human capacity to implement the proposed project idea
• Demonstrate proof of counterpart funding

Each Applicant must provide the following evidence as proof of eligibility of the consortium:

• Copies of documentation of legal status / registration showing that the Lead and its Partners belong to the list of eligible entities
• Copies of accreditation documents of training providers
• Audited or certified financial statements of the Lead for the last three years
• Number and qualifications of relevant staff
• At least one reference of a project with a financial scope that is similar to the proposed project idea
• Commitment letter for counterpart funding, showing breakdown of estimated value of proposed complementary (in-kind) measures

CONCEPT NOTE - CHECKLIST

• The proposed project idea (outline of activities) must belong to one of the stated eligible project activities.
• For construction works and procurement of equipment, the application must include documentation for ownership or lease hold of buildings or lands.
• The application must address the skills and employment needs of women and youth (e.g. access, enrolment, job opportunities, etc.) in proposed project concept (outline of activities).
• The application must demonstrate private sector engagement in the proposed project activities

FULL PROPOSAL – CHECKLIST

The full proposal must include:

• A detailed implementation plan
• A detailed budget
• A proposal-specific results framework
• Draft technical designs and/or specifications for construction and equipment, including draft procurement plan
• Draft operational and maintenance plan, including financing
• A market assessment analysing the growth potential of the industrial sector under consideration within the specific country, and an assessment of the training needs against the skills currently available.

Applications will be considered NON-eligible if they do not demonstrate the above stated requirements.

For all three funding windows, premium will be placed on:

Employment-oriented skills development initiatives that are of high quality, relevant to priority growth sectors, financially viable and ready to implement. Innovativeness, involvement of the private sector, positive impact on growth-oriented employment opportunities for youth, women, the disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, sustainability of the initiative and prospects for regional replicability and upscaling are among the important factors that must be addressed.

Eligible PROJECTS for Window I

A combination of 5 technical and didactical interventions:

1. Procurement of training equipment
2. Construction, rehabilitation or expansion of learning infrastructure
3. Training of trainers*
4. Curriculum design*
5. Learner scholarships*

*The activities 3-5 can be funded only in combination with the core activities 1 and/or 2 and only up to 5 % of the total project cost.

Eligible APPLICANTS for Window I

Eligible Applicants will be experienced stakeholders in the field of skills development. One responsible Lead will always form a consortium with either one or two partners.

Lead

• Public TVET institutions supported by sector ministry
• Legally autonomous public TVET institution
• Accredited private training provider
• Registered domestic NGO or Foundation accredited to offer skills training
• National TVET Agency or TVET authority responsible for TVET provision

Primary Partner (mandatory) - The Lead must have one of the following as a Primary Partner:

• Domestic public or private company
• Domestic Chamber of Commerce or Industry and Employer Association that supports skills development
• Incubation centre or company involved in product development

Secondary Partner (optional) - In addition, the Lead can have one of the following as a Secondary Partner:

• Public TVET institutions supported by sector ministry
• Legally autonomous public TVET institutions
• Accredited private training provider
• Registered domestic NGO or Foundation involved in training provision
• Chambers of Commerce or Industry and Employer Associations that supports skills development
• International NGO or Foundation accredited to offer skills training
• National TVET Agency or TVET authority responsible for TVET provision

Counterpart (Applicant’s own) contribution
At least 10 % of total project cost

Project Implementation Period
Up to 30 months

Eligible PROJECTS for Window II

A combination of 5 technical and didactical interventions:

1. Procurement of training equipment
2. Construction, rehabilitation or expansion of learning infrastructure
3. Training of trainers*
4. Curriculum design*
5. Learner scholarships*

*The activities 3-5 can be funded only in combination with the core activities 1 and/or 2 and only up to 5 % of the total project cost.

Eligible APPLICANTS for Window II

Lead

• International Company with training activities

Primary Partner (mandatory) - The Lead must have one of the following as a Primary Partner:

• Public TVET institutions supported by sector ministry
• Legally autonomous public TVET institutions
  
• Accredited private training providers
• Registered domestic NGO or Foundation accredited to offer skills training
• Domestic Chamber of Commerce or Industry and Employer Association that supports skills development

Secondary Partner (optional) - In addition, the Lead can have one of the following as a Secondary Partner:

• Public TVET institutions supported by sector ministry
• Legally autonomous public TVET institutions
• Accredited private training provider
• Registered domestic NGO or foundation accredited to offer skills training
• Chambers of Commerce or Industry and Employer Association that supports skills development
• National TVET Agency or TVET authority responsible for TVET provision

Counterpart (Applicant’s own) contribution
At least 30 % of total project cost

Project Implementation Period
Up to 36 months

Eligible PROJECTS for Window III

• Image campaigns for promoting skills development
• ICT-based approaches to skills development
• Entrepreneurship/mentorships programs.
• Equipping of workshops, classrooms, alternative/innovative learning spaces
• Student or Learner Scholarships
• Curriculum design
• Training of Trainers Program (excluding recurrent costs)

Eligible APPLICANTS for Window III

Lead

Domestic public or private entity:

• Public TVET institution supported by sector ministry
• Legally autonomous public TVET institution
• Accredited private training provider
• Registered domestic NGO or Foundation accredited to offer skills training
• Chamber of Commerce or Industry and Employer Association that supports skills development
• National TVET Agency or TVET authority responsible TVET provision

Partner(s)

One or two partners to be selected from among the entities below. If the Lead is public then one of the partners needs to be private.

• Public TVET institutions supported by sector ministry
• Legally autonomous public TVET institutions
• Accredited private training provider
• Registered domestic NGO or Foundation accredited to offer skills training
• Chamber of Commerce or Industry and Employer Association that supports skills development
• Domestic public or private company
• International NGO or Foundation involved in training provision
• National TVET Agency or TVET authority responsible for TVET provision

Counterpart (Applicant’s own) contribution
At least 10 % of total project cost/investment

Project Implementation Period
Up to 24 months