FAQS

General FAQs​

The NSF's frequently asked questions.

What is the National Skills Fund (NSF)?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) is a Schedule 3A public entity that provides funding for skills development initiatives that are identified by the National Skills Development Plan (NSDP) 2030 as national priorities, and/or are related to the achievement of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA), and/or considered to be an activity undertaken by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to achieve a standard of good practice in terms of skills development. The NSF is funded through the skills levy fund, with a specific focus on providing funding for bursaries and scholarships in scarce and priority skills, learnership and skills programmes, and workplace-based learning as well as supporting capacity-building, skills infrastructure, research and innovation towards realising an improved post-school, education and training (PSET) system. 

Is the NSF a public entity or a branch within the Department of Higher Education and Training?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) is a Schedule 3A public entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999) (PFMA). However, the listing of the NSF as a public entity does not determine the legal persona status of the NSF, but prescribes the compliance framework that the NSF must adhere to in terms of the PFMA, 1999, and which includes the legislated strategic planning and annual reporting process.

Between 1999 and 2009, the NSF, together with the sector education and training authorities (SETAs) and the National Skills Authority (NSA), reported to the Department of Labour (now called the Department of Employment and Labour). However, in 2009, the new Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) was formed through a presidential proclamation. Simultaneously, the skills development system (SETAs, the NSF and the NSA) was transferred from the former Department of Labour to the DHET. This change fundamentally aimed to bring the world of work closer to the world of education.

The legal persona status is determined by the NSF’s founding legislation, namely the SDA, 1998. The Director-General of Higher Education and Training is the vested accounting officer of the NSF, as prescribed by the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA).

The NSF is, therefore, not a branch within the DHET, but reports to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on the financial status of the entity, compliance with the PFMA, 1999 and Treasury Regulations, and performance information. The Director-General of Higher Education and Training is responsible for the control of the NSF and is ultimately accountable to the Minister Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and Parliament for the NSF’s performance, strategic direction and money spent by the fund.

How is the NSF funded?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) receives 20% of the skills development levy and interest earned on investments held at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).

The NSF may also receive revenue from:

  • Money appropriated by Parliament for the NSF
  • Donations to the NSF
  • Money received from any other source

What types of interventions does the NSF fund?

The NSF funds projects identified in the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) as national priorities or for such other projects related to the achievement of the purposes of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA) as determined by the Director-General of Higher Education and Training, who is the accounting officer of the NSF. The National Skills Development Plan (NSDP) 2030, the current skills strategy in the 2020–2025 strategic period, affirms the NSF’s scope to direct funding towards improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the skills system, while building on the NSDS III implemented from 2011 to 2019.

In the period up to 2025, the NSF’s funding focus is geared towards targeted skills development interventions:

Learners enrolled in occupational programmes at public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, bursary and scholarship recipients for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in scarce and critical skills, workplace-based learning, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives, and participants in constituency-based skills development initiatives and worker education initiatives.

Apprenticeship development interventions supported by the NSF include the Centres of Specialisation (CoS) Programme and the efforts of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to strengthen the institutional and policy frameworks to promote artisan training and initiatives to increase the enrolment of young people in artisan-related streams.

SMMEs and co-operatives development is a major government focus, which the NSF supports by the funding of SMME and co-operative skills development initiatives.

Community education and training (CET) colleges and community-based skills development initiatives are captive institutions for developing the skills of the most marginalised groups and will receive funding support in the 2020–2025 strategic period.

Worker education programmes spearheaded by worker federations, workers colleges and relevant worker research institutions are a key focus in the development of worker leadership and will continue to receive support.

Post-school education and training (PSET) system development projects will remain a major focus with the intent to build linkages within the skills system and support skills development capacity in public education and training institutions, specifically TVET and CET colleges.

Skills infrastructure development projects funded by the NSF include 10 TVET campuses being built by the DHET in rural and peri-urban areas in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, and the TVET College Connectivity Project (TCCP).

Skills development research, innovation and advocacy initiatives are largely funded through the National Skills Authority (NSA), Human Resources Development Council of South Africa (HRDC) and planning branch of the DHET.

What is the process for applying for funding?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) either issues a public open call requesting proposals or a closed call to targeted stakeholders.

An open call is issued through an advertisement in the national/provincial media and uploaded onto the website. This is followed by a compulsory or non-compulsory briefing and routine funding evaluation phases after the closing date, including administrative compliance, technical evaluation, due diligence, consideration by NSF governance structures and approval by the Director-General of Higher Education and Training, who is the accounting officer of the NSF.

A closed call is issued to a closed pool of stakeholders and the request for proposal (RFP) documents are not publicly available.

NSF funding application templates apply for both open and closed calls.

The NSF considers proactive or unsolicited skills development proposals that support innovative and creative responses to skills development.

Can I submit my funding application to any NSF regional office?

All funding applications are submitted at the National Skills Fund (NSF) head office, which is based in Pretoria. No funding applications are received and processed at any regional office.

Does the NSF have specific funding windows for target interventions in a certain period?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) has dedicated funding windows for target portfolios of skills development projects and programmes to initiate over a specific five-year strategic period.

In the 2020–2025 strategic period, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, who is the executive authority of the NSF approved the initiation and rollout of 11 programmatic interventions in key focus areas.

  1. Artisan development through state-owned or public companies and private skills development providers
  2. National government programmes – targeted public sector workplace-based learning interventions
  3. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college support including the TVET occupational programmes Phase III funding window, Centres of Specialisation (CoS) Programme management and TVET Connectivity Project
  4. Skills development research, innovation and advocacy – supporting annual initiatives funded through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Planning Branch, National Skills Authority (NSA) and Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDCSA)
  5. Bursaries and scholarships – annual funding towards bursaries administered through strategic partners, namely: the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Research Foundation (NRF), National Institute for Human and Social Sciences (NIHSS) and co-funding the DHET’s international scholarships
  6. Worker education – request for proposals towards worker education initiatives
  7. Constituency and community-based initiatives – targeting social partners including organised business and labour
  8. Disability – dedicated funding window aimed at people with disabilities not in employment, education or training (NEET), and preference on women and youth
  9. Community education and training (CET) colleges –funding window focused on capacity-building for CET colleges
  10. Work-integrated learning (WIL) – programme comprises vocational, professional or candidacy and graduate placement opportunities, designed to prepare students for the world of work
  11. Rural development, including the district development model (DDM) – call for projects that support and respond to the DDM. The funding is targeted at the provision of education and training and infrastructure to support small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) and co-operative development in the three districts.

Additionally, the NSF considers proposals that are not requested through an open or closed call (unsolicited proposals), but which have innovation and can address targets set in its strategic plan.

Does the NSF provide funding for bursaries and scholarships?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) bursaries and scholarships are administered through strategic partnerships with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Research Foundation (NRF), National Institute for Human and Social Sciences (NIHSS) and international scholarships unit of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The NSF commits funding towards bursaries and scholarships annually, which is then managed by the implementing partners from applications from students to disbursements.

What is the relationship or difference between the NSF and NSFAS?

The NSF and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are both public entities under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Although both are funds geared towards education and training, their founding legislations, which form the basis of their existence and operational focus areas, are two different prescripts.

The NSF was established in 1999 in terms of Section 27 of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA). The money of the NSF may be used for the primary objectives, as defined by the prescripts of the SDA, 1998, specifically to fund projects identified in the National Skills Development Strategy, as national priorities and fund projects related to the achievement of the purposes of the SDA, 1998, as determined by the Director-General of Higher Education and Training.

NSFAS was established in terms of the NSFAS Act, 1999 (Act 56 of 1999), as amended. In terms of the NSFAS Act, 1999, NSFAS is responsible for the allocation of student financial aid funds to the 26 public universities and 50 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and for the administration of loans and bursaries to students at these public institutions. In addition to managing funds granted by the DHET, NSFAS administers funding on behalf of the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Social Development, amongst other national and provincial government departments.

The NSF is one of the funding sources of the NSFAS. A principal-agent arrangement exists between the NSF and NSFAS related to the administration and payment of bursaries to students with regard to the respective bursary schemes funded by the NSF.

What is the relationship or difference between the NSF and sector education and training authorities (SETAs)?

The National Skills Fund (NSF) and sector education and training authorities (SETAs) were established by the same founding legislation, the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA).

Both the NSF and SETAs are funded through allocation from the skills development levy.

There are 21 SETAs, which are focussed on vocational skills training organisation, including managing and creating learnerships, internships, unit-based skills programmes and apprenticeships within the various sectors of the economy jurisdiction. Every industry and occupation in South Africa is covered by one of the 21 SETAs.

Though the NSF’s funding is also geared towards vocational skills training, it is also a catalytic fund that assists the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in creating increased access to post-school education and training (PSET) opportunities and improving the success and efficiency of the PSET system.

What types of partnerships does the NSF consider for the skills development interventions that it funds?

The formation of partnerships related to co-funding, donor funding, public-private partnerships and funding partners are considered during NSF strategic planning and initiation processes, as are partnerships with offices of the premiers that are focussed on the implementation and monitoring of provincial projects.

Beneficiaries and facilitators of NSF-funded skills development initiatives FAQs

What can I do if my workplace does not provide me with relevant training?

If you have exhausted all avenues within the project environment about the relevance of training, this can be escalated to NSF by email to info@nsf.org.za. This also applies workplace-based learning programmes, whereby you may have completed the theoretical training and are not getting the required practical training.

For ease of escalating the training/work placement query to the relevant business unit, include on the email: NSF beneficiary: full name of project (subject); and the body of the email should contain the location of the project, a brief description of the training issue and any correspondence/update you may have received from the project facilitator and all your contact information.

Who do I talk to if my tools of trade/PPE are incorrect or not supplied?

It is the responsibility of NSF-appointed providers to supply learners with relevant tools of trade including protective equipment (PPE) which may be required for specific programmes. Any issues with tools of trade/PPE should be reported to the project facilitator and may be escalated to NSF in writing to info@nsf.org.za.

For ease of escalating the tools of trade/PPE issue to the relevant business unit, include on the email: NSF beneficiary: full name of project (subject); and the body of the email should contain the location of the project, a brief description of the issue relating to the tools of trade/PPE and any correspondence/update you may have received from the project facilitator and all your contact information.

How often does NSF conduct site visits for project monitoring?

Quarterly site visits are part of the routine monitoring activities on all funded initiatives. Onsite verification of learning sites, funded learners and learning progress is pre-arranged.

My facilitator’s salary is not paid. Can I contact NSF if I do not get cooperation from the SDP?

If, as a facilitator, have exhausted all avenues within the project environment about delays regarding the payment of your salary, this can be escalated to NSF by email to info@nsf.org.za.

For ease of escalating your salary query to the relevant business unit, include on the email: NSF facilitator: full name of project (subject); and the body of the email should contain the location of the project, a brief description of the salary issue and any correspondence/update you may have received from the management of the provider and all your contact information.

Beneficiaries of NSF bursaries and scholarships

Can I apply for a bursary and scholarship directly with the NSF?

All bursary and scholarship applications and awards are administered by National Skills Fund (NSF) strategic and implementing partners, namely: National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Research Foundation (NRF), National Institute for Human and Social Sciences (NIHSS) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) international scholarships. The NSF Bursaries Unit manages, but does not receive or process bursary application directly from students.

What should I do if my registration/tuition hasn’t been paid despite receiving written confirmation of my approved bursary?

Challenges experienced after receiving approval for a bursary and scholarship should be directed to the relevant institution and can also be reported to the NSF bursaries unit on 012 943 3101 and at NSFBursaries@dhet.gov.za.

NSF funding applicants

Where does the NSF publish its requests for proposals (RFPs) for skills development funding applications?

All open calls for proposals are published in the national/provincial media and uploaded onto the website.

How long does it take for the NSF to contract successful service providers after the closing date of funding applications for specific interventions?

The period following the closure of skills development funding RFPs and the issuing of approval/regret letters to applicants is largely influenced by the volume of proposals. The evaluation of proposals ranges from six to 24 months depending on the volume of responses to the RFP, the complexity of programmatic interventions/innovative proposals and ensuring adherence to the following processes: 

  • Admin compliance 
  • Restriction check (may include reputational risk assessment)
  • Technical evaluation
  • Due diligence report and recommendations
  • Recommendations presented to the NSF Funding Recommendation Committee 
  • Recommendations presented to the NSF Funding Adjudication Committee
  • Approval by Executive and Accounting Authorities (including regret letters)
  • Drafting contractual agreements for successful applicants

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