What is the process for applying for funding?

The NSF uses a combination of approaches to invite applications for skills development from eligible applicants in terms of approved grant criteria. Those overall approaches are the following: 

• Proactive / Interventionist Approach- enables creative and innovative approaches towards skills development.
• Reactive Approach – follows either the solicited or unsolicited funding process either through Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) or Request For Proposal (RFP)
• Solicited- use either REOI or RFP and requires that all accredited SDP are eligible to apply for funding to implement skills development interventions. 
• Open Call- the NSF publishes an REOI or RFP publicly in the media (e.g. advertisement in newspapers) and invites expressions of interests.
• Closed Call- the NSF targets specific partners or stakeholders and invites skills development proposals only from them. e.g. CCBA, HRDCSA, TVET Colleges, Universities, Quality Councils.
• National- interventions or programmes which support national priorities. e.g. Government departments & State-Owned Entities- EPWP, CWP, Working for Water Programmes, etc
• Regional- interventions are informed by the needs in the region (Provincial Growth & Development Strategy
• Expression of Interest (EOI) Approach- the NSF issues a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) and allows for the skills development community to submit; &
• Programmatic Funding Approach – with additional funding being awarded to SDPs who have open ended programmatic contracts with the NSF.

Who is eligible  to apply for the NSF Funding?

• Provincial governments
• National governments
• SETAs
• Accredited Skills Development Providers (SDPs)
• Professional Bodies – to support WIL projects
• State-Owned Entities/ Companies

Ineligible Applicants

• Individual/person
• Non-accredited Skills Development Providers.

In order to qualify proposals must demonstrate the following: 

• Support for implementation of Provincial government growth & development strategies  and National priorities.
• Relate to more distinct NSF Funding Windows plans.
• Appropriate implementation experience and capacity.
• Robust governance, monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Consideration to meet NSDS, NSDP, ERRP, NDP targets
• Where relevant, demonstrate support and endorsement by relevant stakeholders (National government departments, SETAs, QCTO, Stakeholder community, beneficiary community, etc).
• The NSF may also use its own discretion in terms of other designated groups that may be proposed.   
• NB: All applications submitted to the NSF to request funding are subjected to the NSF funding criteria and evaluation processes as per the funding window plans.

All Enquiries can be addressed to:

Info@nsf.org.za