What is the National Skills Fund (NSF)?

The National Skills Fund is a public entity established by the Skills Development Act. It is funded by 20% of the skills levies collected from employers and is designed to fund national skills priorities that are not covered by the SETAs.

How do training providers apply for NSF funding?

Training providers cannot simply ask for NSF funding at any time. They must wait for the NSF to publish a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a specific national project, and then submit a compliant bid proving they have the capacity and accreditation to deliver the required training.

Does the NSF fund private training providers?

Yes, the NSF often partners with accredited private skills development providers (SDPs) to execute national training initiatives, especially when public institutions lack the specific capacity or geographical reach required for a project.

What is an NSF bursary?

An NSF bursary is financial aid granted to students studying towards qualifications identified as critical or scarce skills. It is typically administered through the NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) system for public university and TVET students.

Can an employer apply to the NSF?

Employers generally apply to their specific SETA for mandatory and discretionary grants. However, employers can partner in NSF projects if they are offering workplaces for large-scale national youth employment initiatives.

National Funding Body

National Skills Fund (NSF) Guide

While SETAs handle industry-specific training, the National Skills Fund (NSF) drives large-scale national priorities. Learn how the NSF operates and how accredited providers fit into its projects.

Compare with SETA Funding

Where the NSF spends its money

The NSF receives 20% of all skills levies collected in South Africa. It directs these funds toward systemic, national priorities.

National Priorities

Unlike SETAs which focus on their specific economic sector, the NSF targets national development priorities spanning multiple sectors.

Unemployed Youth

A significant portion of NSF funding is dedicated to providing skills to unemployed youth to improve their employability or support entrepreneurship.

Rural Development

The NSF prioritizes projects that uplift rural and underserved communities, where sector-specific funding might not reach.

Bursaries & Scholarships

The NSF provides bursaries for students pursuing critical skills qualifications at public universities and TVET colleges.

NSF vs SETA Funding

Understanding the structural difference is critical for training providers looking for funding opportunities.

Area	NSF (National Skills Fund)	SETA (Sector Education & Training)
Source of Funds	Receives 20% of the total Skills Development Levies (SDL) collected nationally.	Receives 80% of the SDL collected from employers within their specific sector.
Focus	Cross-sectoral, national priorities, vulnerable groups, and rural development.	Sector-specific skills shortages and workplace training for levy-paying members.
Target Audience	Largely unemployed youth, rural communities, and national priority projects.	Employed workers (mandatory grants) and unemployed sector entrants (discretionary grants).
Application Process	Responses to specific NSF Requests for Proposals (RFPs) published nationally.	Responses to annual or bi-annual Discretionary Grant windows opened by individual SETAs.