Opportunities for SMEs
Opportunity for women entrepreneurs to Access free tailored technical skills and Business Development services
Taret Beneficiaries
- Women doing business
- Individual female entrepreneurs
-Group of women entrepreneurs with related skills/BDS needs
-Employees of female owned enterprises
How to Apply
Interested women enterpreneurs with skills gaps as reflected in the document attached are encouraged to apply using the link below
Application link: https://grow.psfuganda.org
This is an intervention to enable access to affordable financing and Business support with the aim of promoting sustainable growth of SMEs and build their resilience against business shocks.
Key feature
- SME Business
- Acceleration Facility
- SME Asset Financing Facility
- Expansion Facility
Duration
- Entity must be a Small or Medium Enterprise.
- Annual Turnover of up to UGX 100M for small enterprises and Medium up to UGX 360M
Background
The Government of Uganda - represented by the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Economic Development (MOFED) in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA) and other development partners including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden - is implementing the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) project which is being financed by the IDA and a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF)
More details on the project can be found at www.invite.go.ug
The Project comprises of four components and is being implemented jointly by Bank of Uganda (BoU) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). Among the four components is the Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms under which is the export firm support (EFS)
The EPS is being implemented by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and seeks to support existing and potential exporters to meet consumer demand through specialized technical assistance and capacity-building activities.
ESF Objective
To boost Ugandan firm exports in value-added manufactured products to regional and high-income markets by supporting firms to enter new export markets or expand their presence through upgrading firms' organizational and production capacities to deliver to the demand of foreign buyers.
Eligibility Criteria
The Export Firm Support (EPS) is open to ONLY formal private enterprises, legally established and operating in Uganda, with established business interests in the targeted manufacturing sector.
To obtain support, the enterprise must fulfill the following conditions:
1) Be formally registered and operating under the laws of Uganda.
2) Having been in operation for at least 1 year.
3) Employing more than 2 people
4) With some initial demonstrated capacity for exporting with room for additional growth
5) If Enterprise is currently not-exporting, it must at least have exported once in the last 3 years.
6) If Enterprise is currently exporting, it must demonstrate interest in increasing its market share or exporting new products.
7) Commodity exporters are not eligible.
Eligible activities
The EPS will among others support qualifying Enterprises to access specialized services envisaged to make a significant contribution towards targeted actions and fulfilling the sub-component objective. The eligible activities and services include but are not limited to the following
i) Export market identification and segmentation
ii) Product design and adaptation
ii) Product branding, packaging, and labelling
iv) Production.
v) Installation of standards.
vi) Target market required standards and certifications.
vii) Relevant training including market intelligence to target export market. vii) Regional and international exhibition/shows.
Financial Support
The EPS will provide financial support by reimbursing 80% of the cost of the activity in a range of US$4,000 and US$10,000 per activity depending on the exporting needs of the firm.
The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) now invites eligible enterprises to submit proposals requesting for funding support under the EFS Sub- component.
How to apply
- Visit the INVITE online platform on www.invite.go.ug and fill in the application form under the EFS.
- Only online applications are allowed.
Submission deadline:
Applications must be submitted not later than 5:00pm on Friday May 31, 2024.
Disqualification warning
Enterprises may be disqualified from the process if among others they are:
1) Non-compliant with the application guidelines
2) Found guilty of mis-representation of information
3) Involved in lobbying and influence peddling.
4) Involved in acts of fraud and corruption.
5) Non-compliant with environment and social practices.
Please note:
1 Eligible Enterprises can only apply for one activity per call.
2. EFS does not support entities involved in the alcohol, tobacco, weapons, and gambling sector.
For inquiries, please contact:
The Component Manager - EFS
Private Sector Foundation Uganda
Plot 43, Nakasero Road
P.O. Box 7683, Kampala – Uganda
Website: www.invite.go.ug
Telephone: 0312-26385081
Theme : BOOSTING TRADE & INVESTMENT
Sub-theme: “What can Uganda gain from the Global Gateway?”
The Uganda-EU Business Forum (UEUBF) is organised by the EU together with its Member States, in partnership with the GoU and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) under the Sustainable Business for Uganda (SB4U) Team Europe Initiative. The UEUBF is one of the largest business meetings in Uganda designed for mobilizing investments into Uganda and strengthening Ugandan exports, contributing to the partnership between Uganda and the EU. Through networking, participants learn about policy orientations, identify trade and investment opportunities, discuss challenges, develop business strategies, and establish durable business partnerships to promote sustainable and inclusive growth in Uganda. Over its last two editions, UEUBF has brought together policymakers, local entrepreneurs, international investors, business support organisations, financiers, industry experts, academics and civil society.
From : 5 March 2024
To : 7 March 2024
Venue: Speke Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda
For Registration
Rising Woman 2023 Business Expo, in collaboration with DFCU Bank, Monitor Publications Limited’s (MPL), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and Uganda Airlines, calls upon women in business to have the chance for their businesses to shine. Come and exhibit at the biggest women's expo in Uganda.
Duration: 24th – 25th November, 2023
Time: 7 am – 6 pm
Venue: KCCA Grounds, Lugogo
Entrance is Free
For Exhibitions;
Visit www.dfcugroup.com or call 0800222000, 0777530044, or 0776444391
Welcome to the 6th Edition of the Rising Woman Campaign held in collaboration with DFCU Bank, Monitor Publications Limited’s (MPL) renowned brand, Daily Monitor, Uganda Investment Authority-UIA, and Uganda Airlines. Running under the theme “Empowering Entrepreneurs to Succeed”, the 6th Edition of Rising Woman promises an array of enriching activities.
One of the highlights includes Regional Women in Business training and mentorship programs, designed to provide invaluable insights and guidance to women entrepreneurs across Uganda.
We’re thrilled to announce an exclusive, all-expenses-paid study trip outside of Uganda for the top 10 winners of the campaign. And that’s not all – a generous pool of cash prizes, totalling up to UGX 30 million, awaits the top 3 winners.
Eligibility Criteria
- Participants mube be female entrepreneurs who either solely or jointly own a business with at least 50% ownership.
- Business must be formally registered and based in Uganda
To Participate;
Visit www.dfcugroup.com and download the Proposal Forms.
To submit or for more information, email womeninbusiness@dfcugroup.com, pokwir@ug.nationmedia.com or visit www.dfcugroup.com or any DFCU Bank branch or Daily Monitor offices/Bureaus or Uganda Investment Authority or call 0800222000/ 0777530044/ 0703181983
Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL) and Stanbic Bank Uganda (SBU), in partnership with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), invite applications for grant financing and local support from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, and producer groups.
The aim is to help them improve their internal processes and capabilities so that they can fully meet the investment requirements of commercial investors.
Only privately-owned businesses that are registered and operating in Uganda can apply.
This program is intended to benefit MSMEs on the agriculture value chains (Farm to Market). Priority shall be given to women and youth owned MSMEs.
Award: US $40,000 to each of the selected winners.
To be considered for grant funding, the Applicant must demonstrate that:
- They have had basic functional management and financial controls for a minimum of 2 years.
- They have been using financial institutions for all their business transactions for the last 12 months. Mobile money transfer statements can be used to back up the bank statements.
- They have in the past applied for commercial investment and met some (if not most) of the financing requirements, but the application was denied due to weak internal systems/ processes, capability gaps, failure to present a compelling investment request, or related reasons.
- They have paid all taxes to the relevant authorities in a timely manner.
- They are legally registered and have fixed premises for the business operations.
- They have invested as much as US $20,000 in their business.
- For group-owned enterprises/cooperatives, the applicant must demonstrate that they have successfully worked together for a minimum of two years, have the capability to effectively use grants funds, and the membership is in agreement on the challenges to be addressed with the grant funding, and have a commitment to benefit their community.
- The enterprise is Africa-owned and managed.
- Applicant must not be an employee of government, or employee of an entity majority owned by government.
- Complete the standard USADF/SBIL application form.
- Have a clearly identified and well-defined problem that can be addressed with the grant funding to make the enterprise investment ready.
- Be able to identify a path for growth after the USADF/SBIL grant ends with a clear investment plan.
- Be able to provide proof that they have invested as much as US $20,000 in their business.
- Have a clearly defined market opportunity to grow revenues that can increase incomes.
USADF Application form
Fill & submit your application form together with all the required documentation to usadfsbi@usadf.gov by September 08, 2023. Incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not be considered. If you have not heard from us by October 31, 2023, please consider your application unsuccessful. For more details about USADF visit www.usadf.gov/apply/
