Innovation Fund for Female Employee Development

The Innovation Fund is a demand-driven response to two critical challenges;

a) workplace solutions for female employees (physical environment), and

b) skill training towards enhancing technical competence of female employees for increased productivity and practical innovations. The Fund is expected to contribute to enhanced access to decent work for women, and ultimately, improved economic empowerment, well-being, and inclusive economic growth for women in Ghana.

Fund Windows

The fund is open to employment development projects within two windows as outlined below:

I. Workplace solutions for female employees (physical environment)
Funding will be available to companies that would like to renovate or expand infrastructure that creates a conducive work setting for female employees. Such as:
changing rooms for women
separate washrooms (toilet and/or bathrooms) for males and females with female washrooms having the needed sanitary essentials
daycare center at the workplace for employees
related physical environments that create conducive work settings for female employees

Maximum INVEST contribution: GHS 101,000
INVEST ceiling contribution: 50% of the total cost
Project Duration: 4-9 months

Skills training

Funding will be provided to companies that want to roll-out short term, skills-upgrading initiatives aiming to increase the knowledge and competency-based skills of female employees.

Maximum INVEST contribution: GHS 30,000
INVEST ceiling contribution: 60% of the total cost
Project Duration: 3-6 months

Eligibility Criteria

The fund will be eligible to companies in INVEST focus sectors, i.e. construction, electronics, extractives, energy, automation, engineering and ICT. Specifically, the firm:
– Should be registered with the Registrar General’s Department
– Should have a Tax Identification Number (TIN)
– Must operate in Accra and Tema (Greater Accra in general), Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis
– Must have not less than 5 female employees (casual and/or permanent) or over 30% of employees must be females
– Should have financial statements covering at least the last three (3) years – audited statements, preferred
– Should have a business operating permit from the district assembly and any Competent Authority as applicable
– Must prove or demonstrate a willingness to hire and retain women at the workplace
– Must demonstrate financial capacity to co-finance (in cash) the initiative proposed. In rare cases, in-kind contributions from applying companies will be accepted but not beyond an agreed percentage of the total project cost.

The interventions designed for the Innovation Fund are intended to support private sector employers to initiate innovative workplace solutions and skills training that enhances the experience of female employees at the workplace