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Application Guidelines – DG Funding Window: Career Awareness Initiatives

Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training AuthorityRef: https://www.merseta.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Application-Guidelines_DG-Career-Awareness-Initiatives.pdf

Official source

Source domain: merseta.org.za

Collected on 29 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 29 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is an application guideline for merSETA’s 2026/27 Discretionary Grant (DG) Special Funding Window: Specific Initiatives for Career Awareness Events. It sets out who may apply, who the events must target (Grades 8–12 learners, STEM learners, learners with special educational needs, and unemployed TVET learners), and mandatory scope caps (50 total events nationwide; max 4 events per applicant; events across no more than two provinces per applicant). It also specifies detailed event, infrastructure, catering, compliance documents, and submission rules, including that applications must be submitted via the NSDMS Projects Portal between 29 July 2026 and 14 August 2026.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

grant funding application for career awareness eventsOpen

Apply for merSETA 2026/27 Discretionary Grant (DG) Special Funding Window: Specific Initiatives (Career Awareness Events)

Apply to implement career awareness events on occupations in high demand in the manufacturing, engineering and related services sector, with a focus on STEM. Your proposal must target Grades 8–12 learners at Technical and Comprehensive High Schools, STEM learners, learners with special educational needs at special schools, and unemployed TVET learners, and must fit the national and provincial event caps. Applications must be submitted as a brand-new submission on the NSDMS Projects Portal within the stated dates.

Who it is for
suitably qualified organisations (including CBOs, NGOs, NPOs, private companies, sole proprietorships, cooperatives, trade unions, higher education institutions, TVET colleges, CET colleges, accredited skills development providers, and event management companies) implementing career awareness events for specified learner groups
How to act on it
Submit a brand-new application on the NSDMS Projects Portal for consideration.
Closes
14 August 2026
Show the line this came from
A brand-new submission on the NSDMS Projects Portal is mandatory for consideration. Organisations that applied under either withdrawn window must submit a new application; previous applications will not be considered.

Facts

Reference

https://www.merseta.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Application-Guidelines_DG-Career-Awareness-Initiatives.pdf

Key Takeaways

  • Programme: merSETA 2026/27 Discretionary Grant (DG) Special Funding Window - Specific Initiatives (Career Awareness Events)
  • Total events: 50 nationwide (25 urban, 25 rural)
  • Applicant cap: maximum 4 events per applicant
  • Provincial cap: events proposed by one applicant across no more than 2 provinces
  • Mandatory rule: previous 2026/27 DG Special Funding Window and 2026/27 DG Funding Window 6 withdrawn; new NSDMS portal submission required
  • Target beneficiaries: Grades 8–12 at Technical/Comprehensive High Schools; STEM learners; learners with special educational needs at special schools; unemployed TVET learners
  • Strategic requirement: events linked to local TVET colleges; WIL partnership and MOU required for unemployed TVET learners
  • Event capacity baseline: 1,000 learners and 100 delegates (engineered for 1,100 occupants)
  • Submission portal: NSDMS Projects Portal only
  • Submission dates: opens 29 July 2026; closes 14 August 2026 (late submissions disqualified)
  • Mandatory compliance documents: CIPC registration, tax clearance/TCS, B-BBEE proof, banking confirmation, CSD report, detailed cost breakdown, school commitment letters
  • Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA)
  • National Skills Development Plan
  • District Department of Basic Education
  • School Governing Body (SGB)
  • Technical and Comprehensive High Schools
  • Special Schools
  • TVET Colleges
  • CET Colleges
  • NSDMS Projects Portal
  • CIPC
  • South African Revenue Service (implied via Tax Clearance/TCS)
  • B-BBEE Commission (implied via B-BBEE certificate/affidavit)
  • Central Supplier Database (CSD) (National Treasury)
  • Skills Development Facilitator (SDF)
  • Shure
  • Sennheiser
  • SANS (emergency signage requirement)

Dates

Closing Date

29 July 2026