Call for Applications: Micro-Projects Scheme

Deadline: 31-Mar-2025

The German Embassy Pretoria is now accepting applications for its Micro-Projects to support NGOs/NPOs and other civil society actors which support marginalised and impoverished communities or communities in transition.

The micro-project scheme is part of Germany’s overall development co-operation that contributes to poverty alleviation and improvement of living standards to cover the basic needs of the poorest social classes, especially in rural areas.

Categories

• Implementing the German Feminist Foreign Policy and the Just Energy Transition, the focus of the support is on the following sectors in South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho:
  • Women’s rights, access to equal education and health care, women’s resources and representation
  • Anti-discrimination of any kind, gender equality, anti-discrimination of sexual orientation and physical disabilities
  • Measures supporting the Just Energy Transition
  • Local economic development/alternative livelihoods, especially in communities with phased-out revenues from fossil fuels, small-scale farming

Funding Information

• A maximum amount of EUR 25,000.00 can be approved per project

Eligible Projects

• Projects supporting women’s rights and anti-discrimination of any kind.
• Projects that contribute to a just energy transition, bore holes, garden projects, shelters for vulnerable children, construction/renovation of school classrooms, income generating articles (sewing machines, tools/machines for a joinery or a locksmith’s trade) etc.

Ineligible Projects

• Vehicles, private business start-ups, administrative costs, travel expenditure, stipends, any running costs, Air time, Data, banking fees etc.
• Projects supporting Government agencies, business people or other individuals in order to establish or improve their services or private businesses do not qualify.

Ineligible Costs

• Please keep in mind that, among others, the following costs cannot be funded:
  • Salaries of your organization’s employees
  • Administration and travel expenses
  • Operational and recurring costs in general
  • Acquisition of land or allocation of loans etc.

Eligibility Criteria

• Projects, which cannot be financed by the responsible body itself (e.g. community based, nongovernmental and faith based organizations registered in South Africa, Eswatini or Lesotho) can be supported.
• The applicant organization has to contribute financially or by labour (self-help).
• The payment of funds needs to be split in several smaller payments. The full amount can only be paid out at once under special conditions; whether those conditions apply will be determined by the Embassy.
• The implementer must be eligible to sign a contract with the German Embassy Pretoria that establishes jurisdiction of German laws and courts.
• The implementer must consent that the Embassy shall use project information and information on the applicant for the Embassy’s press and public relations work.

Application Requirements

• An official application form (available on the embassy website or upon request from the relevant e-mail address provided on the website), dated and signed by two persons responsible for the project, stating the project title and the amount of funds applied for.
• Valid Passports or any other form of official identification of the two persons signing the form as the responsible personnel for the project.
• Detailed information of the applying institution with the following:
  • Complete address
  • Telephone number
  • E-mail address
  • Documentation of the registration/copy of the document proving the applicant’s legal status
  • Tax clearance certification
  • The constitution
• The following detailed information of the project must be provided:
  • The exact location/address of where the project is planned to take place (if other than the address provided above about the NPO)
  • A detailed statement about the current situation/problems the project wishes to address
  • Information of efforts that have been undertaken so far to realise the project
  • A detailed description of the anticipated development objective
  • Detailed information of measures that are to be taken in order to improve the described problem/situation
  • Own contributions, in money or by manpower
  • Estimated project time frame (project needs to be finished within the same year)
  • Declaration of possible follow-up costs/running costs (to be covered by beneficiary) once the project has been completed successfully, if any
• Further documentation to be handed in:
  • Three independent quotations for each material and services needed to complete the described project
  • Completed excel sheet (provided by the Embassy) concerning total costs according to the most cost-effective quotation
  • Proof of ownership/Title deed or a rental agreement for more than 5 years of the land to be used to fulfil the project objectives described in the application form
  • Should you plan a project which involves children, you are required to provide them with a current/valid Form 30 for every person in contact with the children

For more information, visit German Embassy Pretoria.