Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE)

The Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) Project is a Government of Uganda (GoU) initiative financed by the World Bank and other development partners including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden through a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Grant.

The Project is being implemented through the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the INVITE Trust which consists of Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFPED and the Bank of Uganda (BoU) as Trustees. 

The INVITE Trust is established under the INVITE Project as special-purpose vehicle to provide and facilitate intermediation of development finance to the manufacturing and exporting sectors. The INVITE Trust which consists of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFPED) and the Bank of Uganda (BoU) as Trustees is intended to provide long-term capability for growing businesses in the export and manufacturing sectors, leading to sustainable development.

Check www.invite.go.ug for more on the Grants and Financing Products.

The Project seeks to support private sector investment, employment and opportunities in the manufacturing and exporting sectors including in refugee and host communities. The Project comprises four components:

Component 1: Supporting Manufacturing and Exporting Sectors Driving Economic Transformation, including Refugee and Hosting Districts;

Component 2: Creating New Product and Transformative Assets including in Refugee and Host Districts;

Component 3: Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms; and

Component 4: Implementation Support, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

For more information on the INVITE Project visit www.invite.go.ug

The INVITE Project aims to support all types of legitimate Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) businesses in the manufacturing and export value chains.

PSFU is responsible for finance grants to support Business Development Services (BDS) for private sector enterprises engaged in manufacturing and exporting sectors under the Export Firm Support (EFS). Under Component 3, EFS mobilises donor contributions and invests in strategic areas to promote effective implementation of Uganda’s National Development Plans. PSFU also handles Window 2.3 under Component 4, which will facilitate investments in rural supply chains in the refugee host districts by encouraging expansion of existing supply chains or establishment of new ones to be achieved through supporting the lead investors.

Click the link to get more detail on the INVITE Project www.invite.go.ug

There are two categories of beneficiaries, and these include the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) and the MSME (benefiting borrower) both of whom are borrowers and therefore are obligated to follow the laws that pertain to borrowers. Furthermore, the Financial Institutions whose primary role is to lend to the MSMEs double as lenders and are also bound by certain criteria.

The criteria for the two categories are listed below:

The benefiting borrower/business:

1. A medium, small or micro enterprise under Uganda’s MSME Policy.
2. Preferably operate as part of the following value chains: Manufacturing; Agro-processing; Digital/ICT; Warehouse and logistics (that is, land [road and rail] transport), Manufacturing Hubs, Incubators, Accelerators, IPs, SME Centres, ; Involvement in medical and pharmaceutical supply chains; Involvement in export supply chains Involvement in the Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA) strategic commodity supply chains (cassava, maize, cotton, tea, coffee, beef, dairy, fish, oil palm)
3. Operate in the preceding value chains is certified by selling - locally or via exports - to a company in any of those
4. Preferably be in a refugee district, be in districts related to the new growth t
5. The client shall not be a shareholder, owner, employee or related in any way to the MFI.

Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs):

1. Licensed by Bank of Uganda to operate as a Tier I, II or III institution. 
2. Have operated in Uganda for at least the three full years
3. Have well-defined business and operational policies and procedures
4. Have adequate internal controls
5. Have adequate Management Information Systems (MIS)
6. Have a demonstrated interest in financing the manufacturing and export value chains
7. Have willingness to take non-traditional collateral in lending
8. Fully compliant with BoU regulatory requirements

Must have an ESMS compliant with the ESF requirements in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP).

For more information on eligibility for specific Components go to www.invite.go.ug

All funding support is done through Call for Proposals (CFP) and Expression of Interest (EoI) and eligible businesses and Financial Institutions can register and apply for funding support on the INVITE Project website www.invite.go.ug

1.  Visit www.invite.go.ug
2.  Scroll to the Export Firm Support section under Apply for Funding at the top right of the home page and register to Create an Account as a New Firm User.
3.  Register and log in as a Registered User
4.  Fill in theApplication Form
5. Attach your relevant business documents as follows: - 

1.  Certificate of incorporation/Registration
2.  Trading Licence
3. Exporting Licence
4.  Memorandum and Article ofAssociation (Front and Shareholder pages)
5.  Business Plan/Proposal
6.   E and S Documents (If Applicable)

Contact information:

Project Implementation Unit

Plot 43, Nakasero Hill Road,

Kampala Tel: 0312214600