International Skills Partnership Grant: A Funding Opportunity to Strengthen TVET Collaboration in South Africa

The British Council is inviting applications for the International Skills Partnership (ISP) focused on strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in South Africa. This grant supports meaningful collaboration between UK institutions and South African partners, with a particular emphasis on developing leadership pathways for women entrepreneurs in the TVET ecosystem. The call offers substantial financial support to co-design innovative solutions that advance skills development and contribute to long-term systemic change.

The deadline for applications is 11 March 2026.

About the International Skills Partnership

The International Skills Partnership is part of the British Council’s broader commitment to building stronger, more inclusive, and globally connected higher education and TVET systems. These partnerships promote knowledge exchange, enhance learner outcomes, strengthen institutions, and widen access to high-quality skills development. Since 2009, over 200 partnership projects have been delivered across more than 40 countries, linking UK skills organisations with global counterparts to address local and shared challenges.

ISPs offer professional development opportunities for participating institutions, encourage cross-border collaboration, and support the development of new curricula, employer engagement models, soft skills integration, and quality assurance practices. Partnerships are designed to continue beyond the grant cycle, fostering relationships that support sustainable skills development.

Focus of the South Africa Partnership

The current ISP opportunity is focused on Port Elizabeth TVET College in the Eastern Cape. This initiative aims to address leadership development for women entrepreneurs studying or graduating from the College, recognising the vital role women play in South Africa’s shift toward a low-carbon, sustainable economy.

The partnership will explore how leadership competencies can be embedded within existing entrepreneurship and employability support. This aligns with national goals of supporting a just transition that balances economic growth, environmental protection, and social wellbeing.

Key Objectives

The selected UK–South Africa partnership will collaborate to:

• Strengthen understanding of leadership capabilities required by women entrepreneurs emerging from the public TVET system.

• Co-design a contextualised leadership development framework tailored to the realities and needs of Port Elizabeth TVET College.

• Build institutional capacity among staff to deliver and sustain leadership development programming.

• Identify practical delivery and quality assurance models suited for implementation and future expansion.

• Produce tools, resources, and guidance materials for long-term use and potential scaling across South Africa’s public TVET sector.

Scope of the UK Partner’s Role

The selected UK institution will lead the design of the leadership intervention, conduct needs assessments, and guide the co-creation of learning outcomes, competencies, and focus areas. Additional responsibilities include:

• Delivering staff capacity-building or train-the-trainer activities.

• Participating in reciprocal UK–South Africa visits and knowledge-exchange sessions.

• Providing insights into governance structures, quality assurance mechanisms, and delivery models appropriate for the intervention.

• Developing practical tools and materials to support future implementation.

The partnership will also be supported by relevant South African technical bodies, including advisory committees and sector forums.

Funding and Duration

The ISP grant provides up to £30,000 to support project activities across a 12-month period beginning in March or April 2026. Eligible costs include travel, staff time, workshops, knowledge-exchange events, production of learning materials, and specialist equipment essential to the project. The funding structure encourages equitable collaboration between partners, with flexibility to accommodate travel and implementation needs.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, the lead institution must be based in the UK and fall under one of the following categories:

• Further education college

• Independent training provider

• Membership organisation within the TVET or further education system

• Sector skills organisation

• Awarding body

Proposals may also include associated partners, such as employer bodies, NGOs, civil society organisations, and education charities. For-profit organisations may participate but cannot receive funds except for travel-related costs.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The International Skills Partnership grant offers institutions a unique chance to collaboratively address real-world challenges, promote gender equality in entrepreneurship, and strengthen capacity within the TVET system. By supporting women leaders and fostering cross-border collaboration, the programme contributes to sustainable development and long-term impact across communities.

Application can be accessed from here.

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