This page provides information about the purpose of the National Skills Fund (NSF) website, a description of the content available on the website, additional help for accessing information on the website and a list of acronyms used on the website.

The purpose of the NSF website is to:

• provide the target audience with easily accessible information about the NSF’s skills development funding initiatives
• build and maintain a repository of NSF information and skill levy system material which fall within the mandate of the NSF and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
• provide a vehicle for interaction between the NSF and the public
• promote the NSF and the government’s image
• establish a platform to access the NSF intranet, Smarthet and other systems.

The main target audiences for the NSF website are the following:

• The broad public
• The media
• The national, provincial and local government and its institutions
• The international community

Content available on the website

“About us” provides information about the NSF, including its vision, mission and key strategic outcomes and outputs, its structure, functions and key legislation, policies and programmes of government, which inform its funding priorities. In “About us”, you can find information on the executive and accounting authorities of the fund and senior management and regional offices of the NSF as well as strategic and implementing partners. You can access employment and procurement information in “Work with us”. You can also find information about the type of skills development initiatives funded by the NSF in “Funding solutions”.

Resources such as annual reports, strategic plans, published research, newsletters and multimedia products can be found in “Media and resources”. This is where access is provided to the lists of occupations in high demand, critical skills and priority skills produced by the labour market initiative, which is funded by the NSF.

The NSF media statements and speeches by the executive and accounting authorities or delegated spokespersons are posted in “Presentations and speeches” as soon as they are made public. Newsworthy events that the NSF is involved in are also announced and you can subscribe to the NSF newsletter to receive regular updates from the NSF.

To help you find information, the site provides the following:

• A search function from any page on the site
• A sitemap showing a visual representation of the website
• A page presenting frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the NSF

List of abbreviations/acronyms used on this site:

• ARPL – Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning
• CET – Community education and training
• CoS – Centre of Specialisation
• CSD – Central Supplier Database
• DDM – District Development Model
• DHET – Department of Higher Education and Training
• EC – Eastern Cape Province
• FS – Free State Province
• GP – Gauteng Province
• HRDCSA – Human Resource Development Council of South Africa
• KZN – KwaZulu-Natal Province
• LGBTQ – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
• LMI – Labour Market Intelligence
• LP – Limpopo Province
• NDP – National Development Plan
• NEET – Not in employment, education or training
• NIHSS – National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences
• NRF – National Research Foundation
• NSA – National Skills Authority
• NSDP – National Skills Development Plan 2030
• NSDS – National Skills Development Strategy
• NSF – National Skills Fund
• NSFAS – National Student Financial Aid Scheme
• NW – North West Province
• OIHD – Occupations in high demand
• OP – Occupational programme
• PFMA – Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999)
• PPE – Personal protective equipment
• PSET – Post-school education and training
• RFI – Request for information
• RFP – Request for proposal
• RFQ – Request for quotation
• SA – South Africa
• SDA – Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998)
• SDI – Skills Development Implementation (NSF business unit)
• SDL – Skills development levy
• SDLA – Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 (Act 9 of 1999)
• SDP – Skills development provider
• SETA – Sector education and training authority
• SLA – Service level agreement
• SMME – Small, medium and micro enterprise
• SOC – State-owned company
• TVET – Technical and vocational education and training
• UCT – University of Cape Town
• UWC – University of Western Cape
• WC – Western Cape Province
• WIL – Work-integrated learning