The SKYE II Call for Proposals invites qualified Nigerian industrial companies to collaborate with GIZ and its partners to advance skills development for youth employment through high-quality, industry-led training initiatives with long-term impact.
Skills development is at the heart of Nigeria’s pathway to sustainable youth employment, and this opportunity places skills development at the center of a strategic partnership between Nigerian industry and international development actors.
Introduction and Background: SKYE II and Skills Development for Youth Employment
The Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE II) programme in Nigeria is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The programme is designed to strengthen skills development systems that directly improve employment opportunities for young people in Nigeria.
SKYE II focuses on engaging the private sector as a key driver of skills development, recognising that sustainable youth employment is best achieved when industry plays an active role in shaping training content, delivery, and standards. Through this Call for Proposals on Private Sector Engagement in Skills Development for Youth Employment, GIZ seeks to partner with visionary Nigerian industrial companies that are capable of delivering high-quality, industry-relevant training aligned with both Nigerian labour market needs and international best practices.
The programme is currently implemented in Abuja (FCT), Edo, Enugu, Lagos, Ogun, and Plateau States, and aims to create tangible pathways from training to decent employment for Nigerian youth.
Objective of the SKYE II Call for Proposals
The core objective of this call is to engage visionary, quality-focused, and reliable Nigerian industrial companies to jointly advance youth employability through structured and high-standard skills development initiatives.
Specifically, the call aims to:
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Promote high-quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
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Strengthen private sector ownership of skills development in Nigeria.
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Foster collaboration between Nigerian industry and the German and/or Swiss market.
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Translate shared commitments into concrete, high-impact training initiatives.
By the end of the supported initiatives, participating students and graduates are expected to have gained hands-on experience, industry-relevant skills, and improved access to meaningful employment opportunities.
Target Group: Who Can Apply
This opportunity is not for individuals, but for Nigerian industrial companies that meet clearly defined criteria.
Eligible applicants include:
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Nigerian private industrial companies that are currently active in, or aspire to be active in, skills-driven development initiatives.
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Companies with the capacity, commitment, and resources to implement high-quality training programmes.
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Nigerian industrial companies with strong links and working relationships with the German and/or Swiss market, enabling international skills transfer.
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Companies that are financially sound and free from legal or reputational risks.
The programme specifically targets companies that can deliver training beyond their immediate internal workforce needs, contributing instead to broader economic and labour market development in Nigeria.
Geographic Scope and Programme Locations
The SKYE II programme is implemented in the following Nigerian locations:
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Abuja (Federal Capital Territory)
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Edo State
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Enugu State
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Lagos State
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Ogun State
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Plateau State
Proposed training initiatives should be implemented within these contexts or demonstrate relevance to the programme’s geographic and strategic focus.
Programme Scope and Structure
The call is intentionally flexible and welcomes a broad range of training activities, provided they meet quality and impact standards.
Key programme details include:
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Minimum training duration: One year.
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Type of activities: Industry-led skills development and training initiatives.
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Focus: Building a competent, inclusive, and future-ready Nigerian workforce.
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Standards: Where possible, training approaches should reflect European quality standards and internationally recognised best practices.
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Partnership duration: Linked to the current SKYE project phase and will not exceed January 2028.
The structure of each initiative should reflect the applying company’s strengths and capacity, while contributing to a flagship project that demonstrates strong international skills transfer between Nigeria and Germany and/or Switzerland.
Funding and Cost-Sharing Requirements
This is a co-funded partnership model, not a fully funded grant.
Key financial requirements include:
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The Nigerian industrial company must contribute at least 50% of the total project value.
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The proposed initiative must exceed the company’s existing or planned training efforts in scope and impact.
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The collaboration should form part of a long-term business commitment to Nigeria.
The programme supports initiatives that generate public benefit while remaining aligned with the company’s commercial interests.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To be considered, proposals must meet the following criteria:
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Demonstrate a clear public benefit and direct contribution to SKYE II objectives.
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Extend beyond company-specific needs to support long-term economic impact.
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Show evidence of technical expertise, qualified personnel, and adequate infrastructure.
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Align with international best practices in skills development.
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Reflect strong institutional links to Germany and/or Switzerland.
Applicants should note that additional assessments, including eligibility checks and business partner screening, will be conducted as part of the due diligence process.
Selection Process
The selection process is conducted in two stages:
Stage 1: Concept Note / Proposal Submission
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Interested companies submit a short concept note or proposal (2–10 pages).
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Proposals are evaluated based on quality, relevance, and suitability.
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Only proposals meeting minimum quality standards proceed to the next stage.
Stage 2: Proposal Alignment and Cooperation Design
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Selected applicants refine the proposal.
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Financial frameworks are defined.
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Suitable forms of cooperation and next steps are agreed upon.
How to Apply
Interested and eligible companies must submit their proposal by email.
Submission email:Here
Proposals must be submitted on or before 09 January 2025.
Important Dates
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Application Deadline: 09 January 2025
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Partnership End Date: Not later than January 2028
Application Portal / Submission Link
Apply by Email:
HERE
For additional background information, applicants may consult the official call document linked below:
Call for applications
Building Skills Development Partnerships for Youth Employment
The SKYE II Call for Proposals represents a strategic opportunity for Nigerian industrial companies to take a leading role in skills development for youth employment. Through private sector engagement, international collaboration, and high-quality training initiatives, this programme aims to build a resilient, inclusive, and demand-driven skills ecosystem in Nigeria. Companies that participate will not only strengthen their workforce pipelines but also contribute meaningfully to national development and youth employment outcomes through sustainable skills developmentinitiatives.
