Foundation

Funding Criteria

On behalf of its donors, the Stichting ATMS is responsible for allocating grants to capacity building activities in Africa.

The African companies submitting a request for a grant are expected to financially contribute to the capacity building activities, as the Foundation grant will not exceed 33% of the total capacity building costs.

To be eligible for a grant, the African companies have to fulfil a number of criteria. Companies can apply through AMSCO for a Foundation grant. All applications for grants and other correspondence to the Foundation will be handled through AMSCO.

The main focus for AMSCO is the development of SME's in Africa. However, AMSCO may deal with large companies that offer a developmental perspective within the scope of the Foundation's aims.

General Eligibility Criteria for Foundation Funding:

Reasonable Business Environment

The Company must be located in a country with a Government that has endorsed UNDP's African Training & Management Services (ATMS) Project Document and seek to provide reasonable and conducive environment for business, as well as the appropriate legal protection to ensure acceptable commercial and managerial practice.

Conformity with National Policies

The activities of the Company must be in conformity with the economic priorities of the host nation and deemed to be strengthening national interests with economic benefits such as, but not limited to:

Priority should be given to African owned companies
Job creation and savings
Skills development and technology transfer
Foreign exchange generation
Promotion of private sector growth
Import substitution
Development of women (skills, general empowerment)
Conservation of the environment
Social development

Economic and Financial viability

The Company must be assessed viable and comply with the development and impact reporting requirements of AMSCO.

Capacity to pay - Liquidity

The Company must have the financial potential to pay for AMSCO services.

Health, Safety and Environmental Aspects

The Company must recognise the strategic importance of HSE and must conduct its activities in strict adherence to health and safety standards, while proper regard must be given to the conservation of the environment. The Company must be in compliance with national and local environmental and social laws and regulations, including those relating to child or forced labour.

Standing of Company

The potential client company must be of good standing and apply good corporate governance. The promoters and management must comply with the corporate governance principles of AMSCO.

Prohibited Products

The Company must not be involved in projects where the primary concern is production and/or distribution of prohibitive products like weapons and munitions, tobacco, gambling, prostitution, alcohol (excluding beer and wine), illegal wildlife and wildlife products, and any other product or activity deemed illegal under the country's laws and regulations or international conventions and agreements.

Re-badging

Re-badging is prohibited. Re-badging refers to a transfer of an existing contract between the Company and its expatriate manager to an AMSCO management contract in order to avail of the Stichting subsidies and other benefits under an AMSCO contract. Identification of a manager(s) by the Client may be allowed under the following conditions:

there is a clear need of such manager in the company as confirmed by the diagnostic review/study of AMSCO;
in all cases, a review supported by written confirmation has been obtained from AMSCO's Human Resource Unit on the suitability of the manager for the position.

Effective Date

New Policies, Guidelines and Criteria for Foundation subsidies takes effect on the effective date indicated. Except as indicated in section VI below, subsidies committed by AMSCO to clients prior to the effective date will not be affected by new Policies, Guidelines and Criteria. Such subsidies will continue to be honoured by the Foundation until the contract/agreement between AMSCO and the client is either completed, terminated or cancelled.

Escape Clause

All management and training agreements between the Foundation and client/recipient must include an "escape clause" provision, which holds the Foundation harmless, and allows it to terminate the agreement for non-availability of funds from donors.

Download the full Funding Criteria PDF Document