Call for applications 2026

With the Micro-project scheme, the German Missions seeks to support NGOs / NPOs and other civil society actors which support marginalised and impoverished communities or communities in transition.

The deadline for the 2026 funding is November 30, 2025. Applications that reach us after that date cannot be taken into consideration.
Please direct your application for funding and all subsequent documents by 30 November 2025 to microprojects@pret.diplo.de or ez-s@kaps.diplo.de for applications from the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape.

Programme

The micro-project scheme is part of Germany's overall development co-operation that contributes to poverty alleviation and improvement of living standards and that covers the basic needs of the poorest social classes, especially in rural areas. Each year, the German missions receive special funding to finance short-term micro-projects for income-generating and poverty-reducing measures not exceeding 25.000 Euro.

The micro-project scheme is aimed at providing quick and efficient support where no funds from government institutions, other co-operating partners or civil society organizations are available. All projects need to be carried out, funded, and completed within the calendar year in which the grant agreement was concluded. Funds CANNOT be carried over to the following year.

Priority sectors and regions

The focus of the support is on the following topics:

• Measures supporting the Just Energy Transition
• Local economic development/alternative livelihoods, especially in communities with phased-out revenues from fossil fuels, small-scale farming
• Women’s rights, access to equal education and health care, women’s resources and representation
• Anti-discrimination of any kind, gender equality, anti-discrimination of sexual orientation and physical disabilities

Applications from the priority target regions of Mpumalanga and Limpopo will be given enhanced consideration.

Projects in Eastern-, Northern- and Western Cape are coordinated by the Consulate General in Cape Town. If you are an organization from the Cape Regions or if the project is to be implemented in one of the Cape Regions, please submit applications and documents directly to the Consulate General in Cape Town: ez-s@kaps.diplo.de

Who can apply?

The applicant must be a registered civic organization, conducting projects that cannot be financed by the responsible body itself, such as e.g: community based, non-governmental, non-profit or faith based organizations or foundations registered in South Africa, Eswatini or Lesotho

What kind of projects are eligible?

• Projects that constitute self-contained measures, i. e. they do not entail recurring obligations for the German mission (e.g. ongoing requirement to pay salaries or for consumer goods such as animal feed, medicines, substances/agents, paints, etc.)
• Project examples to be funded: projects that contribute to a just energy transition, projects supporting women’s rights and anti-discrimination of any kind, , bore holes, garden projects, shelters for vulnerable children, construction/renovation of school classroom, income generating articles (i.e. sewing machines, tools/machines for a joinery or a locksmith's trade, etc.) See 2024 project examples
• Examples of projects not eligible for funding: Vehicles, private business start-ups, administrative costs and costs related to project management, travel expenses, stipends, any running costs, Air time, Data, banking fees, consumer goods such as food and medicine, land acquisition, ongoing rental and/or bond payments,
• Projects supporting Government agencies, business people or other individuals in order to establish or improve their services or private businesses do not qualify. Projects that have already started cannot be funded.

Please consider the following aspects before applying:

• Per project, a maximum amount of EUR 25,000.00 can be approved (the conversion rates into the local currency may vary). The applicant organization has to contribute financially or by labour (self-help).
• Personnel costs necessary for implementation generally cannot exceed one quarter of the total costs
• The payment of funds needs to be split into several smaller payments. The full amount can only be paid out as a lump sum under special conditions; whether those conditions apply will be determined by the German mission.
• The applicant organization must agree on the publication of data about the organization and the project on social media platforms.

What are the applications documents?

The following documents/information should be submitted to microprojects@pret.diplo.de (the subject of the email should state “MPF 2025: name of the implementing organization”):

• An official application form, dated and signed by two persons responsible for the project, stating the project title and the amount of funds applied for, and containing the following information:
  • Complete address
  • Telephone number
  • E-mail address
    

The following detailed information of the project must be provided:

• The exact location/address of where the project will take place provided the project will take place at a different address to the one already provided above about the NPO
• A detailed statement about the current situation/problems the project wishes to address
• Information of efforts that have been undertaken so far to realise the project
• A detailed description of the development policy objective
• Detailed information of measures that are to be taken in order to improve the described problem/situation
• Own contributions, in money or by manpower
• Estimated project time frame (project needs to be finished within the same year)
• Declaration of possible follow-up costs/running costs (to be covered by beneficiary) once the project has been completed successfully, if any

Further documentation to be handed in:

• Detailed financing / budget plan containing all costs (Appendix A - Fiance Plan)
• Three independent quotations for each material and services needed to complete the described
  project
• Completed excel sheet concerning total costs according to the most cost-effective quotation (Document “Compared quotes”)
• Example instalment (Document “Example instalment”)
• Documentation of the registration / copy of the document proving the applicant's legal status
• Financial statements of the organization
• Tax clearance certification
• Certificate of Registration of Non-profit organization
• A copy of valid Passports or any other form of official identification of the two persons signing the form as the responsible persons for the project. Three independent quotations for each material and services needed to complete the described project
• Proof of ownership/ Title deed or a rental agreement for more than 5 years of the land to be used to fulfil the project objectives describe in the application form
• Should you plan a project which involves children, you are required to provide us with a current/valid Form 30 for every person in contact with the children

Site Visit

Before the application can be approved, the site of the project has to be visited by a representative of the German Diplomatic Mission. Before any funds can be released (paid into the beneficiary’s bank account), a contract has to be signed by the German mission and the two representatives, who have signed the application form.

After completion of the given project

After completion of the project, a “Proof of Employment of Funds” with a written report has to be presented to the German Diplomatic Mission together with a list of the expenses and the valid original invoices. Unused, misused funds and expenses without original invoices have to be refunded to the German Diplomatic Mission. After completion of the project, a representative of the German Diplomatic Mission will visit the project again to assess its success and to ensure proper use of funds.