Funding Criteria
The NEF provides funds to black entrepreneurs and groups with the aim of facilitating access to finance in support of Broad-Based BEE in terms of government legislation. The investment activities of the NEF are guided by an investment policy that seeks to ensure that investments create real economic empowerment for black people without deviating from sound economic principles.
Each application for funding is assessed in terms of the following criteria:
- Commercial viability of the business case being presented
- The business must comply with all relevant laws and regulations
- There must be operational involvement at the managerial and board levels by black people
- Minimum percentage of black ownership or interest of 50.1% is a requirement
- The business must be able to repay NEF funding
- The business must create a reasonable number of jobs
- Geographic location of the business is also important with the focus on rural or economically depressed areas encouraged
- Meaningful black women participation is viewed more favourably
- Rural and Community Development Projects must have meaningful participation by communities
- Possibility of co-funding with private or public sector institutions is encouraged in larger projects.
Once your application has been received and found to meet the above conditions, it will then go through different stages for a detailed commercial assessment.
