Deadline: Monday, July 10, 2023
Background
1.0 To interested Ghanaian Textile and Apparel Manufacturers
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to implement the Special Initiative ‘Decent Work for Just Transition’ under the Invest for Jobs brand in Ghana. The development objective is to team up with companies to create good jobs and improve working conditions in Ghana and seven other African partner countries.
Invest for Jobs has been active in Ghana’s textile and apparel (T&A) sector since 2021, notably through its Africa Fashion and Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN). Through Africa FAN, Invest for Jobs has supported the development of the capacities of some local T&A companies to meet varied sourcing requirements of international apparel buyers/retailers/brands/sourcing agents (buyers). Additionally, Invest for Jobs has facilitated market access for local garment producers by organizing international buyers to visit local factories to assess sourcing opportunities, as well as by supporting the participation of local garment producers in international fairs.
After two years of implementation of the Africa FAN Project, the UNSEAL project comes as an intervention aimed at increasing the job creation capacity of local T&A companies. UNSEAL will provide small grants to the latter for the acquisition of machinery (limited size and quantities) needed to respond to concrete international buyers’ requests/orders. This scheme thus leverages the technical support and market access opportunities (being) provided via Africa FAN to accelerate the job creation capacities of local textile and garment companies. It will also comprise a ‘Green Component’ meant to increase energy efficiency within local T&A factories.
2.0 Opportunity
The selected beneficiaries will obtain the following:
- Invest for Jobs will offer grants of up to Fifteen Thousand Euros (15,000.00 €) per beneficiary towards the acquisition of equipment or machinery required by the beneficiary (flexibility to offer up to 20,000.00€ in an exceptional case) to respond to concrete international buyer orders. Beneficiaries will contribute 30% of the cost of the equipment.
- Through the ‘Green Component’, beneficiaries will receive expert support to improve energy efficiency within their factories as follows: o Energy Audit: to assign opportunities for energy savings and associated investment requirements. o Implementation of an Energy Management System: to monitor, control and optimize the performance of energy systems.
- Technical support from an expert towards the production of the orders in question.
3.0 Selection Criteria
- Registered company in Ghana
- Mid/large-sized company in textiles and apparel sector
- Export-ready/exporting experience that can be demonstrated through past export sales in the relevant products
- Currently preparing to produce export orders or has export orders or in concrete discussions with potential buyers for production for export
- Products/services meeting international quality standards
- Logistical and production capacity to meet current and/or pending international orders
- Commitment and compliance with the terms and conditions of participation in this scheme
- Proof of interest from buyer: this could be a purchasing order or any official email correspondence showing similar buyer request or buyer’s plan to source from the applicant.
Please note:
- The grants will not be accessible to local companies for the purchase of fabric needed for any factory production. These are expected to be financed by the companies’ Working Capital.
- The ‘Green Component’ of the scheme shall be a mandatory activity which goes hand in hand with the offer.
- Invest for Jobs will procure and hand over the equipment or machinery to the beneficiaries.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this opportunity, kindly Click here to read more about the application process and apply.