Resources for partner businesses: Donor agency one-stop portals, partnership funds and facilities

This page offers a directory of one-stop online portals for the private sector offered by donor agencies, as well as major donor-funded programmes that invite proposals from businesses (and other stakeholders) toaward financial, technical and/or other support on a competitive basis to facilitate inclusive business operations and investments in developing countries.

Links to donor agency one-stop online portals on their offer to businesses 

 

Mapping of individual donor-funded partnership funds and facilities 

 Funder(s) Programme name Eligible applicants Financial support Advisory support and technical assistance Linkages, local knowledge and networks
Australia DFAT, Denmark, DFID, IFAD, Netherlands Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund Companies from anywhere in the world investing in Africa Financial support (loans, matching grants) to project implementation
DFID,  Canada, IDB Compete Caribbean – Enterprise Innovation Challenge Fund for the Caribbean Caribbean companies Financial support (matching grants) for project implementation
Australia DFAT, DFID, Omidyar Network, Sida, USAID Global Innovation Fund Companies and other organisations from anywhere in the world Financial support (grants) for feasibility studies/ project testing;

Financial support (grants, loans, equity or hybrid capital) for project implementation and scaling

 Technical assistance Brokering links w/ other innovators, funders or experts
Austria (ADA) Business Partnerships Programme Austrian and European businesses Financial support (matching grants; up to 50% of cost) for feasibility studies, project implementation  

Advisory support to project planning and implementation
Australia (DFAT) Business Partnerships Platform  Australian and international businesses and other organisations Financial support (matching grants) for project implementation Advisory support on the political and regulatory environment in target countries Brokering links w/ implementing partners and other stakeholders;

Providing information on the local business environment;

Support to policy reform in target countries
Canada (GAC) Canadian Int. Innovation Program
 Canadian SMEs Financial support (grants) for support the development, adoption, and/or adaptation of technologies Brokering linkages with potential partners;

Providing local market information
Denmark (Min. of Foreign Affairs) Market Development Partnerships

 

 Consortia of at least one business and one non-commercial partner  

Financial support (matching grants, up to 75% of cost) for project testing and implementation

 Advisory support Local networks and knowledge of the business environment
Finland (Min. of Foreign Affairs)

 Finnpartnership Finnish companies Financial support (matching grants, 30%-85% of cost depending on the target country) for feasibility studies and business plan development or project implementation  

Technical assistance/ advice during project implementation

 Brokering links between companies
BEAM

 

 Finnish companies Financial support (grants, up to 5-% of cost; loans) for innovation
Germany (BMZ)


 DeveloPPP German and European businesses Financial support (grants, up to 50% of costs) to project implementation Technical assistance (cost-shared by partner companies) Brokering links with other stakeholders
PPP Fund for the Mano River Union Companies based in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone Technical assistance (cost-shared by partner companies) Facilitating policy dialogue in target countries
Japan (JICA) Proposal-based support Japanese businesses Financial support (grants) for feasibility studies
LuxDev Business Partnership Facility European businesses Financial support (grants, up to 50% of costs)



Netherlands (MFA)

 Fund against Child Labour Dutch businesses in partnership with local parties, NGOs, and businesses in the same sector Subsidy of up to €475,000 (up to 70% of project costs)
Fund for Responsible Business Consortia of at least two Dutch companies, one civil society organisation (NGO or trade union) and – if possible – one local business in the target country Subsidy of up to €475,000 (up to 70% of project costs)
SDGP Partnership  Companies and other organisations from around the world Subsidy of at least €500,000 and at most €3 million per project. Local training and networking meetings
Challenge Fund for Youth Employment Companies and other organisations from around the world Financial support amounting to 1/3 of the project cost on average
SIB Matchmaking Facility Dutch start-up companies interested in investing in developing countries Facilitating links with business partners, funders etc
Dutch Good Growth Fund Dutch companies Financial support (loans, equity, guarantees)
Norway (Norad) Enterprise Development for Jobs Scheme Companies from any country Financial support (grants, up to 50% of costs)for  feasibility studies, project implementation Facilitating business partner search
Sweden (Sida)

 Innovations against Poverty Local companies, or foreign companies partnering with a local company, in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia Financial support (grants, up to 48% of costs) to project implementation Advisory support
Public-Private Development Partnerships Companies from any country Financial support (grant, up to 50% of costs) to project implementation by a third party (e.g. NGO) Brokering links with other stakeholders
Switzerland (SDC and SECO)
REPIC Platform		 Swiss businesses or other organisations Financial support (grants, up to 50% of costs) to project implementation Brokering links with other project partners
UK (DFID) Listing of funds open to companies (30 funds) See individual funds for more details Financial suppport  Advisory support 
US (USAID)


 Global Innovation Ventures Companies (and other organisations) from any country Financial support (grants)  
Global Development Alliance  Companies or funds together with non-profit implementing partners from any country Financial support (matching grants) to project implementation via a third party (NGO)  
Businesses in Southern Africa Co-investment (with awards to businesses ranging from $250,000 -$1,000,000)

 

  

 

Photo credits

Image credit: Catkuro, www.flaticon.com

Related content

Private sector engagement - main page

Partnership funds and facilities are only one approach through which donors seek to engage the private sector. For more information on private sector engagement - including overview documents, information on different formats of engagement and 'how to' resources - go back to the main DCED knowledge page on the theme.

Click here