How to apply for Catalytic Funding

About Africa Jobs Fund

The Africa Jobs Fund provides funding and support to ventures in export manufacturing and international labor mobility. Its goal is to increase incomes for Africans. It offers scoping investments from $0–$100k and scale-up investments from $100k–$1m, using debt and revenue-based financing at concessional rates.

About the role

This is an investment opportunity application for organizations creating income gains for Africans through export manufacturing or international labor mobility. The role involves securing funding to validate or scale your venture. It is impactful because it directly supports income growth for Africans.

A typical day

As this is an investment application, not a traditional job, a typical day involves preparing and submitting your application, gathering evidence of income impact, and possibly answering follow-up questions from the fund. If funded, you would focus on executing the scoping or scale-up plan to validate or grow your venture.

Who Africa Jobs Fund is looking for

• Operates an organization in labor mobility (placement agencies, language schools, training, financing) or export manufacturing (high value-add goods for export).
• Seeks scoping investment ($0–$100k) to validate a specific opportunity or scale-up investment ($100k–$1m) after a successful scoping phase.
• Is open to debt or revenue-based financing at concessional rates; equity or grants only in exceptional cases.
• Organization can be at any stage of development and may be for-profit or non-profit.

Tips for this application

• Clearly state whether you are applying for a scoping investment ($0–$100k) or a scale-up investment ($100k–$1m) and justify the amount.
• Explain how your organization creates income gains for Africans through either export manufacturing or international labor mobility, using specific examples or data.
• Specify your preferred financing type (debt or revenue-based) and show understanding of concessional rates; mention equity or grants only if truly exceptional.
• Describe your organization's stage of development and legal status (for-profit or non-profit) to show eligibility.
• If applying for scale-up, provide evidence of a successfully completed scoping phase or equivalent validation.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your organization's direct impact on income gains for Africans via export manufacturing or labor mobility.", 'The specific investment amount you seek and whether it is for scoping or scale-up.', 'Why debt or revenue-based financing at concessional rates fits your needs, and your ability to repay.', "Your organization's stage and legal structure, confirming eligibility."]

Research before applying

• Review the Africa Jobs Fund's website or materials to understand their investment thesis and any past investments.
• Find examples of organizations they have funded in export manufacturing or labor mobility to see what success looks like.
• Understand the difference between scoping and scale-up investments, and the typical terms for debt and revenue-based financing.
• Check if they have a portfolio or impact report to learn how they measure income gains.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How exactly does your organization increase incomes for Africans? Provide metrics or evidence.
• What specific opportunity will the scoping investment validate, and what are the milestones?
• For scale-up: what did you achieve in your scoping phase, and how will $100k–$1m accelerate income gains?
• How will you manage debt or revenue-based financing at concessional rates? What is your repayment plan?
• Why do you need this financing now, and what happens if you do not receive it?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without a clear link to income gains for Africans through export manufacturing or labor mobility.
• Requesting equity or grants without justifying why your case is exceptional.
• Proposing an investment amount outside the $0–$100k scoping or $100k–$1m scale-up ranges.