What Invest for Jobs does

Invest for Jobs is the public brand of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's (BMZ) Special Initiative 'Decent Work for a Just Transition' (Sonderinitiative 'Gute Beschäftigung für sozial gerechten Wandel'). It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and KfW Development Bank, with additional implementing partners including sequa gGmbH, DAAD, and PTB. The initiative bundles three categories of support for German, European, and African companies seeking employment-creating investments in eight African partner countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia): (1) advisory services to identify and remove investment barriers; (2) introductions to local partners, government bodies (e.g., Rwanda Development Board, CEPICI), and business networks including German Chambers of Commerce Abroad; and (3) co-financing grant instruments, principally the Investing for Employment (IFE/IFB) Facility and the develoPPP programme.

Its core offerings are programs rather than technology products. Major programs include the Orange Digital Centers (digital skills training across 14 African countries, >38,000 trainees), the Digital Skills Accelerator Africa (DSAA), the SAP Young Professionals Program (expanded to 10 African countries), the Africa Fashion & Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN, 300+ brands), the Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP), the Women Shea Collectors Support Program (30,248 women trained, 552 jobs created), the Manager Business Unit (MBU), the Gender Equality Seal certification, and Digit4Growth / Industry 4.0 Jobs in Morocco. Notable recent grant commitments include an EUR 5.17 million IFE grant to Eranove for a Côte d'Ivoire training academy targeting 14,000 trainees and 1,100+ jobs.

The business model is non-commercial: services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and entirely funded by German federal appropriations through BMZ, with the company type recorded as private (as a brand of GIZ GmbH, a German federal enterprise) but operating as a public development cooperation programme. There are no pricing models, no paying customers, and no revenue in the commercial sense. Go-to-market relies on a combination of direct advisory by GIZ advisors, country-level offices, partner referrals (GIZ/KfW/AHK networks), and Calls for Proposals under IFE and develoPPP. The initiative was originally launched in 2021 under the name 'Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation' and was rebranded in January 2023 to broaden its scope to climate and just transition priorities.

Name

Invest for Jobs

Legal name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Website

https://invest-for-jobs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Invest for Jobs is a German federal development initiative (BMZ Special Initiative, implemented by GIZ and KfW) that provides free advisory services, partner introductions, and co-financing grants to German, European, and African companies investing in eight African partner countries, with the goal of creating jobs and improving working conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Cooperation / International Development Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

Keywords

• Development cooperation programs
• Job creation grants
• Investment advisory services
• Africa employment initiatives
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Invest for Jobs is a brand of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Special Initiative that bundles advisory services, local partner contacts, and co-financing grants (through IFE and develoPPP programmes) to support German, European, and African companies creating employment in 8 African partner countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia). It is implemented by GIZ GmbH and KfW Development Bank, offering no-cost development cooperation support including investment barrier advisory, partner matching, training programs, and grants for job-creating projects.

Product overview

Invest for Jobs is the brand of the Special Initiative 'Decent Work for a Just Transition' by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by GIZ. It is not a traditional software product but rather a development cooperation initiative that bundles various programs to support employment-effective investment in Africa. The core offering includes advisory services, networking facilitation, and financial support through multiple grant programs including the Facility Investing for Employment (IFE) for co-financing, develoPPP for company projects, and training programs such as Orange Digital Centers, Digital Skills Accelerator Africa (DSAA), and the SAP Young Professionals Program. Specialized sector initiatives include the Africa Fashion & Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN) and Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP). Partner countries are Egypt, Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sonderinitiative "Gute Beschäftigung für sozial gerechten Wandel": The official title of the Special Initiative 'Decent Work for a Just Transition' that bundles offers to support employment-effective engagement in Africa
• Facility Investing for Employment (IFE)
• Africa Fashion & Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN)
• Orange Digital Centers
• Digital Skills Accelerator Africa (DSAA)
• develoPPP

Products and services

• Facility Investing for Employment (IFE)

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIZ is the primary implementing organization for Invest for Jobs. The organization has offices in all partner countries and provides advisory services, project management, and network facilitation. Registered offices in Bonn and Eschborn, Germany.
• sequa gGmbHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSequa is an implementing organization of the Special Initiative, supporting chambers and associations through development partnerships.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDAAD supports the higher education and research component of Invest for Jobs, facilitating university partnerships and student exchanges.
• PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPTB supports standards and quality-related aspects of the initiative, particularly in technical cooperation areas.
• Rwanda Development Board (RDB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDB is the key government partner in Rwanda, collaborating on investment promotion, Global Business Services initiatives, and various sector-specific projects including e-mobility and pharma/biotech.
• Harambee Youth Employment AcceleratormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Rwanda and other countries for youth employment programs, particularly in the Global Business Services sector. Jointly organized GBS conferences.
• Digital Skills Accelerator Africa e.V. (DSAA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSAA is a registered non-profit association of companies in the digital services sector. Supported by Invest for Jobs, it offers job-relevant ICT training programmes across African countries. Member companies include Zatec, getINNOtized, CCI Global, and others.
• Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Make-IT in Africa. Accelerator programme for African start-ups in smart mobility, housing, and fintech sectors.
• German Outsourcing Association (AO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported by Invest for Jobs, produced the Outsourcing Destination Guide Rwanda assessing BPO and ICT market opportunities.
• Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project with GIZ through develoPPP programme. OMEA established Orange Digital Centers (ODCs) in 14 African countries with Invest for Jobs support between 2019-2023 for digital skills training and employment.
• Alliance for Product Quality in AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for Africa FAN, providing support to local textile manufacturers on sustainability and quality certification requirements.
• Global Shea Alliance (GSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic project partner for shea sector development in Ghana. GSA coordinates with European companies (Fuji Oil, Bunge Loders Croklaan, etc.) to promote sustainable and profitable shea value chains.
• Young Job NetworkmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNon-profit organization implementing the Manager Business Unit (MBU) programme in Côte d'Ivoire for professional integration of young graduates.
• SAP SEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAP's Young Professionals Program was expanded to Tunisia and 9 other African countries with Invest for Jobs and develoPPP support. Program trains SAP Associate Consultants who then join partner companies.
• CEPICI (Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d'Ivoire)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIvorian investment promotion agency, key government partner for investment facilitation in Côte d'Ivoire.
• German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAHK contact offices in partner countries (Nairobi for Rwanda, Accra for Ghana, Casablanca for Morocco, etc.) refer companies to Invest for Jobs services.
• EranovemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany receiving EUR 5.17M IFE grant for establishing a Professional Training Academy in Côte d'Ivoire, expected to train 14,000 people and create 1,100+ jobs.
• Ghabbour Auto GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEgypt's leading automotive company, partnered with Ghabbour Foundation for Development and Invest for Jobs to create EV training programs through Ghabbour School.
• UEMI (Urban Electric Mobility Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in e-mobility training project in Rwanda, along with PEM Motion and University of Rwanda.
• PEM MotionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in e-mobility training project in Rwanda, along with UEMI and University of Rwanda.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Proparco: French Development Finance Institution owned by AFD, financing private sector projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Direct peer in mandate (private sector development, job creation), instrument mix (grants, concessional finance, equity) and target beneficiary profile (SMEs, local financial institutions).
• DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft): German DFI financing private sector investments in developing and emerging markets. Direct peer as a fellow German federal instrument focused on mobilising private investment and job creation in partner countries, often deployed alongside GIZ/KfW initiatives.
• British International Investment (BII): UK's development finance institution, investing in businesses in Africa and South Asia. Comparable focus on job creation through private sector investment, similar instrument toolkit (debt, equity, concessional finance) and target geographies overlapping Invest for Jobs' African footprint.
• FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): Netherlands DFI providing capital, knowledge and networks to private sector projects in emerging markets. Comparable mandate on job creation, sector focus (agriculture, energy, financial inclusion) and use of concessional instruments alongside commercial capital.
• Norfund: Norwegian development finance institution investing in SMEs and renewable energy in developing countries. Comparable mandate on private sector job creation in Africa, similar use of catalytic capital, and overlapping focus on green/just transition investments.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal enterprise for international cooperation and primary implementing organisation of Invest for Jobs. Direct operational peer in mandate (technical cooperation, capacity building, private sector development advisory) and institutional parentage (BMZ-owned).

Regional players

• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Japanese bilateral development agency providing ODA, technical cooperation and investment support. Comparable structure as a bilateral donor implementing government-funded programmes in partner countries, though focused more on infrastructure and Asia than on African private sector job creation.

Broad incumbents

• IFC (International Finance Corporation): World Bank Group's private sector arm, the largest global DFI. Comparable focus on catalysing private investment in emerging markets, including Africa, and advising governments on investment climate reform — overlapping significantly with Invest for Jobs' advisory and policy mandate.
• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC): US government DFI with a much larger balance sheet and broader toolkit (equity, debt, political risk insurance, technical assistance). Comparable mandate on mobilising private investment for development, but operates at greater scale and across more geographies.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): French bilateral development agency financing public and private projects in developing countries. Comparable as a European bilateral that channels grants and concessional finance to private sector projects in Africa, with overlapping country footprint (Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/61567611722885
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/invest-for-jobs-sonderinitiative-gute-beschaeftigung-fuer-sozial-gerechten-wandel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Invest for Jobs