As South Africa continues to grapple with persistently high unemployment and widening inequality, the National Treasury's Jobs Fund has opened its 13th Funding Round, calling for solutions that can unlock scalable, sustainable employment.
Under the theme Catalysing Demand-Led Growth in the Green and Informal Economy, the new funding round has been open from Monday, 18 May and will be open until Tuesday, 30 June. The Fund seeks to partner with experienced intermediaries across the private, public, and non-profit sectors to accelerate job creation in high-potential areas of the economy, with a strong focus on the green and informal sectors, says the Fund.
South Africa's labour market remains under significant strain. As of Q1 2026, the Quarterly Labour Force Surveyshowed the unemployment rate stood at 32.7%. Youth and women continue to face the highest barriers to entry, reinforcing the urgent need for targeted, scalable interventions that can absorb labour and stimulate inclusive growth. The Jobs Fund's 13th Funding Round is a catalytic response to these challenges. By leveraging the match-funding model, the Fund aims to crowd in private and non-profit sector investment, de-risk innovation, and support solutions that can deliver measurable employment outcomes at scale.
Since its inception in 2011, the Jobs Fund has committed R7.7-billion in public funding, leveraging an additional R15.7-billion in matched contributions from partners. This collaborative approach has supported over 180 projects across 12 funding rounds, resulting in more than 343 000 jobs and internships created, and over 418 000 work-seekers and entrepreneurs trained. Notably, 66% of programme participants have been youth and 58% women, with 98% from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, says the Fund.
The 13th Funding Round builds on this track record by targeting sectors with strong labour absorption potential and long-term sustainability. In particular, the green economy presents a significant opportunity to drive job creation while advancing South Africa's transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon future. At the same time, the informal economy, which employs over 5.7-million people, remains underdeveloped relative to other emerging markets, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to unlock its full potential, adds the Fund.
Despite these opportunities, both sectors face structural barriers, including limited access to finance, skills shortages, regulatory constraints and market access challenges. The Jobs Fund is therefore seeking proposals that directly address these constraints through innovative, scalable and implementable solutions, says the Fund.
"The scale of South Africa's unemployment challenge requires a fundamentally different approach, one that moves beyond traditional interventions and actively catalyses new markets, new industries and new ways of working. Through the 13th Funding Round, we are looking to partner with organisations that are responding to today's employment challenges and are actively shaping the future of work in South Africa. This is about unlocking investment, enabling innovation, and delivering sustainable impact at scale," says Najwah Allie-Edries, Head of the Jobs Fund.
Applications for the 13th Funding Round are open to sector intermediaries with a proven track record of implementation and the ability to deliver measurable results within a three-year period. All proposals must demonstrate innovation, financial sustainability and a clear pathway to job creation, with a requirement for matched funding to ensure shared commitment and impact. The minimum grant to be allocated for successful applicants is R5-million.
The funding round will operate on a competitive basis, with only the most impactful and feasible proposals selected for support. While there is a strong focus on the green and informal economies, the Jobs Fund remains open to high-quality proposals from other sectors that demonstrate significant job creation potential, says the Fund.
Applications close on Tuesday, 30 June at 15:00.
As South Africa looks to accelerate economic recovery and build a more inclusive future, the 13th Funding Round represents a critical opportunity to harness innovation, mobilise investment and create meaningful employment at scale, concludes the Fund.
For more information, visit www.jobsfund.org.za.
*Image courtesy of www.jobsfund.org.za