UK-South Africa Skills for Work programme

Closed: The British High Commission in Pretoria invited expressions of interest by 8 December 2023. Your proposal must demonstrate how you will support skills development, employment and job creation for disadvantaged groups.

The first stage of this opportunity closed on 8 December 2023. Selected bidders have been contacted and invited to submit a comprehensive grant proposal by 17 January 2024.

We have amended our approach to this call for proposals to enable greater flexibility, support multiple organisations and to allow for a more focused approach in awarding the grant. Read Skills for Work Programme: amended process for bidders, 28 November 2023.

Overview

The UK-South Africa Skills for Work programme provides £4 million in funding for just over 3 years, until March 2027. The programme will fund:

  • skills development and employment interventions in priority growth sectors, particularly if these support the Just Energy Transition
  • skill and job creation initiatives that aim to increase employment of marginalised groups (particularly women and girls) and those participating in township economies

What the fund will achieve

The selected organisation or consortium will deliver the Skills for Work programme. This programme will:

  • strengthen South Africa’s skills system
  • improve the transition between education and employment
  • help create jobs in high-growth, sustainable and productive sectors

The programme will prioritise support for marginalised communities.

How to apply

This call for bids closed on 8 December 2023.

Review these documents before submitting your proposal:

You must complete and submit these documents by email:

Background information on the fund

UK-South Africa Skills for Work is a UK Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded programme. Led by the British High Commission in Pretoria, it aims to fund activity up to the value of £4 million for just over 3 years (2023 to 2027).

The programme will support a more productive and equitable vocational skills system in South Africa, increasing employment and improving livelihoods of disadvantaged groups. The programme activities will contribute to other UK government goals in South Africa including:

  • supporting the Just Energy Transition
  • driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth
  • promoting women’s economic empowerment
Published 8 November 2023
Last updated 28 November 2023 + show all updates
  1. The process for this call proposals has been amended in response to high interest. You should read the updated guidance and email an expression of interest by 12 noon (South Africa Standard Time) on 8 December 2023.

  2. First published.