Businesses & Enterprises
SMEs, companies, start-ups and social enterprises.
Africa-focused · Proposed programme
Capital that creates employment and builds economic resilience.
The International Resilience & Economic Opportunity Fund (IREOF) is a proposed financing initiative designed to expand economic opportunity, strengthen enterprises and support organizations contributing to employment creation and sustainable economic activity across Africa.
- US$10,000 – US$1,000,000 indicative support
- Enterprises, community & non-profit organizations
Proposed fund sizeUS$20M
Regional focusAfrica
US$0M
Proposed fund size
US$10K–US$1M
Indicative individual support
Africa
Regional focus
What we aim to achieve
Turning capital into productive economic activity.
The Fund aims to help organizations expand, employ and grow — strengthening enterprises and the communities around them.
- Expand an existing business or organization
- Create or sustain employment
- Purchase equipment and productive assets
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop new markets
- Support women and youth-led economic activity
- Strengthen community enterprises
- Expand inclusive economic participation
- Develop sustainable livelihoods
- Introduce technology and innovation
- Strengthen local supply chains and economic activity
Building stronger businesses, stronger communities and greater economic resilience across Africa.
Eligibility & requirements
Who can apply — and what we look at.
Five categories of organizations may be supported. All support would be subject to assessment, due diligence and the final programme framework.
Community Organizations
Self-help groups, cooperatives, SACCOs and community organizations.
Non-Profit Organizations
NGOs, NPOs, foundations and other eligible non-profit institutions.
Inclusive Organizations
Women-led groups, youth organizations and organizations supporting persons with disabilities.
Education & Faith-Based Institutions
Eligible schools, educational organizations and faith-based organizations undertaking qualifying economic or community-development activities.
What we assess
Support would be subject to eligibility assessment, due diligence, financial review and project evaluation.
- Nature and purpose of the proposed activity
- Scale, feasibility and delivery requirements
- Expected economic impact and employment effect
- Organizational capacity and governance
- Financial and reporting arrangements
Have this ready
Typical information requested in an application. Final requirements would be confirmed in the programme framework.
- Organization registration and legal details
- A short description of the proposed activity
- Indicative funding amount required
- Contact, leadership and governance information
- Basic financial information for review
Ready to begin your application?
You'll be guided through 8 short sections. Takes about 10 minutes.
Proposed fund size
US$20MILLION
The proposed initial capitalization target is US$20 million, with funding intended to support a portfolio of eligible initiatives across participating African countries.
Indicative individual support
US$10,000 – US$1,000,000
US$10KUS$1M
The amount available to an applicant would depend on the nature, scale, feasibility, economic impact and requirements of the proposed activity.
Funding arrangements remain subject to the final programme framework.
Funding priorities
Where support is intended to focus.
These are priority areas — not separate funding products. They describe the kinds of activity the proposed programme aims to support.
SME growth
Business expansion, equipment, production and market development.
Employment creation
Projects capable of creating or sustaining meaningful employment.
Women & youth enterprise
Economic participation, entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
Community economic development
Cooperatives, self-help organizations and community enterprises.
Inclusive enterprise
Economic opportunities for persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
Innovation & technology
Digital businesses, technology-enabled services and innovative economic solutions.
Sustainable livelihoods
Agriculture, manufacturing, services, trade and other productive sectors.
The economic resilience approach
Economic opportunity as a foundation for community resilience.
The programme is based on the principle that economic opportunity can contribute to community resilience.
Rather than treating economic development and prevention as separate areas, the proposed initiative connects them by supporting legitimate enterprises, employment, livelihoods and community economic activity.
1
Investment
2
Enterprise activity
3
Employment & livelihoods
4
Stronger communities
5
Greater economic resilience
The partnership
A multi-partner approach to economic resilience.
The proposed programme is based on a multi-partner UN and development model, bringing together complementary expertise rather than placing responsibility on a single institution.
United Nations Special Fund
Providing the financing framework, governance and programme oversight for the initiative.
International Labour Organization
Supporting employment, enterprise development and decent-work objectives.
UN Global Compact / relevant UN SDG mechanisms
Connecting responsible businesses and sustainable development objectives with the wider programme framework.
World Bank Group
Potential development-finance, economic-development and private-sector expertise, subject to formal participation and financing arrangements.
African Governments & Institutions
Supporting national priorities, implementation frameworks and local economic development.
Financial & Development Partners
Potential co-financing, financial intermediation and implementation support.
Participating institutions, financing arrangements and programme governance would be subject to formal agreements and approvals.
Accountability
Clear assessment. Careful oversight.
Funding would be subject to eligibility assessment, organizational due diligence, financial review and project evaluation. Successful recipients would be required to use approved funds for the purposes set out in their funding agreement and provide appropriate financial and programme reporting.
Eligibility
Confirmation that the applicant and proposed activity fall within the programme's scope.
Due diligence
Organizational, governance and financial review of the applicant.
Project assessment
Evaluation of feasibility, scale and expected economic impact.
Monitoring & reporting
Ongoing programme and financial reporting against the funding agreement.
- Jobs created
- Businesses strengthened
- People reached
- Enterprises expanded
- Economic activity generated
FAQ
Common questions.
Is the Fund currently accepting applications?
Yes, the Fund is currently accepting applications from eligible organizations and businesses seeking financial support for qualifying projects. Applicants are encouraged to complete the application form with accurate organizational, project, budget, and beneficiary information. Applications will be reviewed based on the Fund’s eligibility requirements, project objectives, expected impact, and available funding.
How much can an organization receive?
Indicative individual support is in the range of US$10,000 to US$1,000,000. The amount available to an applicant would depend on the nature, scale, feasibility, economic impact and requirements of the proposed activity.
Who can apply?
Eligible categories may include businesses and enterprises, community organizations, non-profit organizations, inclusive organizations and eligible education or faith-based institutions undertaking qualifying activities.
What happens after I apply?
Applications would go through eligibility assessment, organizational due diligence, project assessment and, if approved, monitoring and reporting against a funding agreement.
How do I submit my completed application?
Complete the application, download the generated PDF, attach your supporting documents, and email everything to funding@un-sf.org, addressed to the Grants Board.