Open Call: Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme (Phase II)

The Development Partnership with the Private Sector (DPP) is a matching grant facility under GPSCP II supporting small, medium enterprises (SMEs) and associations in the cashew and oil palm value chains to improve processing, markets linkages, business and product development, and skills development.

The Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Program II (GPSCP II) is a bilateral initiative between the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Ghana. The Program is being implemented jointly by NIRAS International Consulting and Proforest. The Program is based in Accra but reaches all oil palm and cashew processing regions of Ghana. GPSCP II aims at improving the enabling environment for the cashew and oil palm sectors as well as contributing to increased productivity and competitiveness in the private sector active in the two value-chains.

Funding Information

• Large SMEs (SME 1):
  • Grant size: max. GHS 3 million
  • Equipment own-contribution: 50% contribution to total project cost in cash.
  • Services Own-contribution: 30% contribution to be in cash (training facilities and logistics cost for participation of staff).
• Small/innovative SMEs (SME 2):
  • Grant size: max. GHS 500,000
  • Equipment own-contribution: 20% contribution to be in cash, 30% contribution to be in cash or in-kind.
  • Services Own-contribution: 10% contribution to be in cash, 20% contribution to be in cash or in-kind (training facilities and logistics cost for participation of staff).
• Associations:
  • Grant size: max. GHS 500,000
  • Equipment own-contribution: 50% contribution to be in-kind
  • Services Own-contribution: 30% contribution to be in-kind (training facilities and logistics cost – vehicles, fuel, meeting rooms and staff time).

Eligible Activities

• The grant support is provided/can cover for training, business development services, market access facilitation, capacity building, standardization and certification, product development and technology and efficiency enhancing equipment.

Eligibility Criteria

• To apply, applicants must be able to demonstrate the following:
  • Large SMEs:
    • Revenue: Min revenue (GHS 300,000)
    • No. of yrs in operation: 3
    • Formalized/Registration: National registration (RGD)
    • Latest Audited Accounts (Financial Statements): 2 years
  • Small/innovative SMEs:
    • Revenue: Min revenue (GHS 150,000)
    • No. of yrs in operation: 3
    • Formalized/Registration: National registration (RGD)
    • Latest Audited Accounts (Financial Statements): 2 years
  • Associations:
    • Revenue: Positive
    • No. of yrs in operation: 5
    • Formalized/Registration: Articles of Association, including name of elected or appointed executives
    • Latest Audited Accounts (Financial Statements): 2 years

For more information, visit GPSCP II.