Call for Proposals: Partner with UIF Labour Activation Programme (South Africa)

Deadline: 27-Sep-2026

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Labour Activation Programme (LAP) is inviting compliant employers and eligible entities in South Africa to submit proposals for high-impact projects that create employment and help reintegrate UIF beneficiaries and unemployed people into the labour market. The programme prioritises initiatives that provide tangible employment opportunities beyond training and encourages partners to contribute their own funding or co-funding.

About the Labour Activation Programme

The Labour Activation Programme is an initiative of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) designed to support job creation and employment reintegration in South Africa.

The programme aims to:

- Create new employment opportunities. - Reintegrate UIF beneficiaries and unemployed individuals into employment. - Preserve existing jobs. - Support practical pathways from training to employment. - Promote sustainable employment outcomes. Projects must demonstrate clear and tangible employment commitments rather than focusing solely on training. What Does the Programme Support? The LAP supports a range of employment and skills development interventions, provided they contribute directly to employment outcomes.

Eligible interventions include:

- Work integrated learning. - Internship programmes. - Work readiness initiatives. - Apprenticeships. - Learnerships. - Skills programmes. - Enterprise development. - Direct employment placements. - Income-generating initiatives. - Targeted employment programmes for youth. - Employment initiatives for women. - Programmes supporting people with disabilities. Training-focused projects can be considered where the training is clearly linked to post-training employment absorption. Direct Employment Creation Is a Priority The programme gives priority to projects that create direct employment opportunities. Applicants should therefore demonstrate how their proposed project will move beneficiaries into actual employment rather than simply provide training or short-term skills development.

Proposals should clearly explain:

- The number of employment opportunities to be created. - How beneficiaries will transition into employment. - The type of employment available. - How employment will be sustained. - How the project will contribute to broader labour market outcomes. Employment Retention Requirement A key requirement of the programme is that beneficiaries must be retained in employment for at least 24 months after the funding period. Applicants should therefore demonstrate that they have a credible plan for sustaining employment beyond the initial funding period. This requirement reinforces the programme’s focus on long-term employment outcomes rather than temporary placement. Co-Funding and Financial Contribution Partners that provide their own financial contribution or co-funding will have an added advantage. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their commitment to the proposed project through financial participation or other resources that can strengthen implementation and sustainability. Co-funding can also help demonstrate that the project has broader institutional commitment beyond UIF support. Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

- Private sector companies. - State-owned entities. - Non-profit organisations. - Credible training institutions. Applicants must be fully compliant with relevant UIF and SARS legislation. Organisations should ensure that their compliance status is in order before submitting a proposal. Requirements for Eligible Projects

Proposed projects should demonstrate:

- A clear employment creation objective. - Tangible commitments to employment. - A pathway from training to employment where training is involved. - The capacity to implement the proposed project. - Sustainable employment outcomes. - Retention of beneficiaries for at least 24 months after the funding period. - Compliance with UIF and SARS requirements. Projects that focus solely on training without a clear employment absorption pathway are less aligned with the programme’s priorities. Support for Targeted Groups The Labour Activation Programme can support targeted initiatives for groups that face employment barriers.

These include programmes focused on:

- Youth. - Women. - People with disabilities. - UIF beneficiaries. - Unemployed individuals. Projects should demonstrate how their interventions will lead to meaningful employment opportunities for the intended beneficiaries. Previous LAP Performance Previous performance in Labour Activation Programme projects will be considered for returning partners. Applicants with previous experience under the programme should therefore demonstrate their performance and ability to deliver employment outcomes effectively. A strong record of implementation can be relevant when proposals are assessed. How to Develop a Strong Proposal Applicants should ensure that their proposal clearly connects the planned intervention with employment outcomes.

A strong proposal should explain:

- The labour market challenge being addressed. - The target beneficiaries. - The number and type of jobs expected to be created. - The role of training, if applicable. - How beneficiaries will be absorbed into employment. - How jobs will be retained for at least 24 months. - The organisation’s implementation capacity. - Any financial contribution or co-funding. - Previous experience delivering similar employment projects. Key Details at a Glance

- Programme: Labour Activation Programme

- Fund: Unemployment Insurance Fund

- Country: South Africa

- Main focus: Job creation and employment reintegration

- Eligible applicants: Private companies, state-owned entities, non-profit organisations, and credible training institutions

- Compliance: UIF and SARS compliance required

- Priority: Direct employment creation

- Training: Supported where it leads to post-training employment absorption

- Target groups: UIF beneficiaries, unemployed people, youth, wome