| In Ghana while gender equality and the rights of women and men in all their diversity have been embedded in the country’s transformation agendas, gender gaps and challenges remain. Relative to men, women are disproportionately more self-employed than employers with their enterprises more likely to be smaller and informal. They operate mostly micro-enterprises mainly in agriculture and traditional sectors, where expansion opportunities are limited. They face limitations in infrastructure with lower productivity and are also concentrated in certain labour-intensive and low-technology sectors. Furthermore, vulnerable groups especially women are one of the hardest hits by the lockdowns, restrictions in economic activities and cost-of living crises. Women are also at greater risk of domestic violence as reported in the UN Women’ study (April 2020) stating that violence against women and girls since the outbreak of COVID-19 due to home lockdowns and loss of income by partners has increased. Consequently, women’s economic empowerment is seen as among the highest priorities and opportunities for job creation to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable growth in Ghana. In this endeavour of job creation, young people are uniquely positioned to stimulate innovation and create social capital, especially in key sectors such as agribusiness, green and circular economy. Consequently, women and youth economic empowerment is seen as among the highest priorities to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable growth in the framework of the 2030 Agenda. The youth must be empowered to participate in shaping a shared future and economy working closely in partnership with the private sector, local authorities, CSOs and the public sector to tap into the immediate and long-term opportunities created by the green and the circular economy. Agroforestry has proven suitable to mitigate the consequences of climate change and can provide livelihood opportunities for youth in the Northern Savannah region. Enhanced support for agroforestry can represent additional incentives for youth to stay in rural areas and engage in activities promoting sustainable use of natural resources. The project actions will ensure environmental sustainability, to develop green and circular socioeconomic sectors adapted to climate change and to promote economic effectiveness and efficiency of ‘green growth’ policies. Activities to promote women and youth entrepreneurship in the green and circular economies will include capacity building for women and young people in the green and circular enterprises, specific funding for women led businesses to enhance entrepreneurship. The absence of enabling conditions, lack of research and relevant social and economic support often constrains civil society groups and their ability to address and respond to challenges faced by many women and young people. Objectives of the programme and priority issues The overall objective of the action is therefore to advance women and young people economic empowerment and to maximise their contribution to growth and poverty reduction in the Northern Savannah regions. Specifically,women and youth would be supported in the agro-forestry and green value chains and a conducive environment created through reforms to promote entrepreneurship, sustainable development and improved prosperity for the most vulnerable and marginalised women in local communities across the region. The action will further enhance the capacities of private sector civil society organisations in the Northern Savannah regions targeting youth and women organizations for job creation in the green and circular economy. It will further strengthen the capacity and engagement of civil society on the inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable women (victims of abuse, sexual violence, kayayoos, etc) fostering their ability to participate in and benefit from wealth and job creation through skills training in green and circular sectors leading to entrepreneurship, decent work, sustainable livelihoods, income generation opportunities and social inclusiveness. Secondly the action would also promote peer-to-peer exchanges, visiting tours, dialogue amongst Local Authorities in the Northern Savannah regions to share knowledge and best practices on economic empowerment and delivery of social services for women and young entrepreneurs. It also brings together a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder consortium including local authorities, political representatives from the District Assemblies, financiers, traditional authorities, entrepreneurs and civil society to cross-fertilize ideas through dialogue and knowledge transfer in enhancing the role of women and young people in sustainable job creation in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions. The action would further use a Rights-based Approach (RBA) to support the development of green and circular enterprises developing the skills of the most vulnerable groups of women, girls and the Youth for poverty reduction, prosperity and innovation. In addition, the action would promote cooperation between CSOs and Local Authorities in the 5 Regions to implement cooperation programmes and projects through exchanges of knowledge and technical know-how enhancing skills of women and Youth in the Northern Savannah regions in the green and circular economies. It would further build capacity of local women in the Northern Savannah Regions. Grant proposals will promote women and youth entrepreneurship in green and circular enterprises in the targeted Districts where stakeholders and enterprises were engaged during the project filed study in Yr1 of the Project. This aims to support sustainable economic growth and social development of these local communities by enhancing the Capacities of existing businesses. Financial support will be targeted at a number of businesses (both enterprises and cooperatives) including weavers, shea-nut butter producers, hairdressers, and small organic agriculture farmers etc. The aim is to support these local entities and amplify the project’s impact, foster stakeholder engagement, and promote ownership at the local level. By empowering these small enterprises private sector actors, this initiative will institutionalize a bottom-up planning culture, driving positive change for women- and youth-owned enterprises. The funding of local projects will increase relevance, outreach, and impact, allowing for the development of tailored solutions that address specific community needs. This approach will also enable the involvement of more stakeholders, including local businesses, organizations, and individuals, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By supporting women and youth entrepreneurship in the green and circular sectors, this initiative will help create new opportunities, jobs, and economic prospects, while promoting environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Activities related to this priority may include but are not limited to: 1. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Initiatives that support sustainable agriculture practices, reduce waste, and promote eco-friendly organic food production and distribution. 2. Waste Management and Recycling: Projects that focus on reducing waste, increasing recycling rates, and promoting the use of recycled materials. 3. Circular Economy and Sustainable Production: Projects that support local businesses in adopting circular economy practices, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns including the textile weaving and sheanut industry. 4. Eco-Tourism and Sustainable Tourism: Initiatives that promote eco-tourism and sustainable tourism practices, supporting local communities and reducing the environmental impact of tourism. |
| The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is GHC637,978.00. The contracting authority GNCCI reserves the right not to award all available funds. Size of grants Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts: Minimum amount: GHC5,000.00 Maximum amount: GHC65,000.00 Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the action: Minimum percentage: 100 % of the total eligible costs of the action. Maximum percentage: 100 % of the total eligible costs of the action. The grant will cover the entire eligible costs of the action essential to carry it out. |
| 3.1 Eligibility of applicants: In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicant must: i. be a legal person and ii. registered profit-making entity, social enterprise and/or iii. be a civil society organization, including non-governmental non-profit organisations and independent political foundations, community-based organisations, and private-sector non-profit agencies, cooperatives, vocational institutions and organisations and networks thereof at local, and national level and iv. be effectively established in Ghana; v. be able to demonstrate operational capacity within the last 1 year in a related field to the action being requested in the grant. 3.2 Eligible actions: actions for which an application may be made 3.2.1 Sectors or themes Actions must fall under at least one of the four priorities listed at Section 1.1 above. 3.2.2 Duration The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 6 months and a maximum of 12months. 3.2.3 Location Actions must take place in Upper West, Upper East or Northern Region of Ghana. |
| Applicants should download the Application Guidelines, Form, and Budget Sample from the Presbyterian University Ghana Green Growth Project Grant webpage. 4.1 Applications Applications must be submitted in accordance with the instructions in this grant information form. 4.2 Where and how to send Full Application All Applications should be sent by email to: Attention: Rev (Dr) Christina Amarchey Greengrowth Ghana Project Presbyterian University Ghana P.O. Box 59 Abetifi- Ghana Email: eu-grants@presbyuniversity.edu.gh 4.3 Further information about Full Application and Assistance with Proposals Information session on this call for proposals will be held online on 31/10/2025 at 10.00am (GMT) each day via Zoom Meeting ID: 838 4277 6919 Passcode: EUGRANT 4.4 Deadline for submission of Full Application The deadline for the submission of Full Application is 29/11/2025 at 23:00 (GMT). |
| Applications will be examined and evaluated by the contracting authority with the possible assistance of assessors. Evaluation Steps: 5.1 Administrative Check i. Is the application completed and signed? ii. Was it submitted on time? iii. Does it meet the eligibility criteria as defined in the Guidelines in 3 If any of the requested information is missing or is incorrect, the application may be rejected on that sole basis and the application will not be evaluated further. The Applications that pass this check will be evaluated on the scoring of the proposed action. 5.2 Scoring Evaluate the proposal based on the following criteria: i. Financial and operational capacity (20 points) ii. Relevance of the action (20 points) iii. Design of the action (15 points) iv. Implementation approach (15 points) v. Sustainability of the action (15 points) vi. Budget and cost-effectiveness (15 points) 5.3 Minimum Requirements: i. The proposal must score at least 12 points in the financial and operational capacity section. ii. If any subsection scores 5, the proposal will be rejected. 5.4 Selection Process: i. Rank proposals based on their total score. ii. Select the highest-scoring proposals until the available budget is exhausted. iii. Create a reserve list of proposals that can be selected if funding becomes available. |
| The evaluation committee will make a final recommendation to the contracting authority, which will decide on the award of grants. The award decision shall indicate the successful applicants, the names of the applicants rejected, and a reserve list (if any). |
| The applicants will be informed in writing of the contracting authority’s decision concerning their application. |
| ITEM | DATE | TIME |
| 1.Information meeting | 31/10/2025 | 10:00 a.m. GMT |
| 2. Deadline for submission of Applications | 29/11/2025 | 23:00 |
| 3. Notification of Awards | 15/12/2025 | – |
| 4. Contract signature | 20/12/2025 | – |