Who can be enrolled or apply?

Pilot Period (2025)

• GIZ QEP supporting entrepreneurship centers at several TVT colleges and
• The Federal Technical Vocational and Training Institute (FTVTI) which has been supporting entrepreneurs.

From 2025 onwards

• Incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurship centers seeking funding to support cohorts of entrepreneurs/ start-ups. TVT institutions and entrepreneurship centres
• Intermediary organisations such as incubators, hubs, labs, and accelerators
• Private sector and public entities, and NGOs hosting and supporting entrepreneurship and business start-ups.

What minimum requirement should applicant comply with?

• All applicants must be able to demonstrate how their proposed project will benefit refugees and host communities (mainly refugees with registration and work permit testimonial).
• The applicant should have a legal entity enabling to sign a grant agreement with MoLS should it be successful in applying for a grant.
• The applicant must have a legal document that substantiate its overall operations are legally or juristically recognised.
• It must have specific physical address in Addis Ababa City Administration
• It must have licence and/or a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or any related documents recognised by a government.
• It must have a dedicated business bank account in order to receive the grant.

What size of grant can I apply for?

• Size of grants: Between 10,000 EURO and 20,000 EURO (BIRR Equivalent)
• The size of grant to be applied for should be in commensurate to the number of start-ups to be incubated or assisted.
• Value for money is a key consideration for the Fund and costs should not be inflated.
• The size of grant to be applied for should be in commensurate to the number of start-ups to be incubated or assisted.

What type of cost can be covered by the grant?

• For the incubation/Entrepreneurship Centre (Max 10% of the total grant)
  • Improving basic infrastructure,
  • Upgrading equipment and facilities,
  • Developing curriculum and teaching materials, and
  • Enhancing the overall quality of programs assisting aspiring entrepreneurs.

• For the direct beneficiaries i.e. entrepreneur or incubated refugees and host communities (at least 90% of the total grant)
  • Fixed assets
    • Equipment
    • Small-scale infrastructure, and
    • Other acquisitions
  • Non-capital items
    • Payroll for refugees and non-refugees,
    • Training technical assistance other than delivered by the centre.
    • Rent
    • Raw materials/inputs
    • Travel & accommodations (including per-dimes)
    • Other relevant costs

What type of cost cannot be covered by the grant?

• Purchase of land or buildings
• Purchase of vehicles
• Entertainment and hospitality costs
• Items already funded through other programs or institutions
• Finance costs or repayment of debts

Does the applicant need to share any costs?

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are able to commit resources in cash or in kind of at least 10% of the total project costs themselves.

In cash

• Cash from applicant and/or beneficiary.

In kind (Non-cash Contributions)

• Property made available (e.g. prepaid rent) or availing shed, workshop, working premises etc.
• Raw material/input available by the applicant/beneficiary
• Others: resources to be contributed by the project

What length of grant can I apply for?

• The grant period is a maximum of 12 to 18 months covering the implementation of the project.
• Grant monies must be spent and reported on within the agreed max time period.

What length of grant can I apply for?

• Currently the focus of the Fund is restricted only to target groups operating in Addis Ababa regional administration. Applicants must be able to evidence this..