Call for Expressions of Interest

Grant Facility for the Recovery and Business Continuity of Ethiopian growth-oriented

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) affected by conflict and crises

(SME Grant Facility)

Call for Expressions of Interest

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with the implementation of the “Private Sector Development in Ethiopia” (PSD-E) project. PSD-E aims to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and small growth-oriented companies from improved growth opportunities and this shall be achieved through five Outputs.

sequa gGmBH will implement Output 5 of the PSD-E project which focuses on providing direct support (SME Grant Facility) to SMEs and entrepreneurs affected by conflict and other crises. Through the scheme, the project targets to support 25 SMEs in Amhara Regional State, Oromia Regional State and Addis Ababa City Administration.  Chosen SMEs must pass a vetting process with an analysis of the company’s business model and ability to grow the business.

A specific focus will be provided on women-owned SMEs, job creation, and employability training for women. The Grant Scheme is open for interested private sector SMEs that are operational for more than two years and have one million Birr turnover in the last fiscal year. Eligible SMEs must present a business opportunity/proposal that can create a minimum of 10 jobs/year for the next two years.

The project focuses on specific sectors which are affected by internal conflicts, Covid-19, the Ukraine conflict or climate and environmental related risks with an aim to achieve below objectives:

• Basic Foods: To secure and improve food security by supporting producers of basic foods such as bread, water, injera, milk, vegetables, fruits etc.
• WASH: To secure and improve the supply of products and services to the target population in the areas of health care, water supply and management, waste management, sanitation, hygiene, sustainable building materials, social services, etc.
• Logistics, Transport, ICT: To secure and improve access to necessary goods and services for the affected regions by supporting transport and logistics as well as ICT companies.

In addition, the following eligibility criteria for applicants must be proved/justified by official, statutory, and/or institutional documents.

• Be a legal person (not a natural person considered as a human being),
• Be a national of Ethiopia,
• Be at least legally 2 years on business,
• Be a privately owned SME (not a state-owned SME),
• Registered under the Trade Registration and Licensing Act of Ethiopia,
• Employs at least ten(10) and a maximum of hundred (100) employees before the intervention.