SEDA Cooperative Incentive Scheme South Africa

Overview

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Cooperative Incentive Scheme (CIS) is a government grant program designed to help cooperatives across multiple sectors grow and become commercially viable. SEDA was developed by the South African government to support micro and small businesses with both financial and non-financial assistance.

Grant Amount

The maximum grant amount offered to each qualifying cooperative is R 350,000. This is non-repayable financial support designed for new and expanding cooperatives to invest in growth, equipment, or operational improvements.

Eligible Sectors

The Cooperative Incentive Scheme supports cooperatives in the following sectors: textiles, services, energy, agriculture, print and publishing, film and video production, consumer goods, and housing. Cooperatives in these sectors can apply for funding to support their operational and growth objectives.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for SEDA funding, businesses must be tax-compliant and formally registered. Applicants must have an annual turnover of less than R 50 million. The cooperative structure must be properly constituted and meet SEDA's criteria for commercial viability and growth potential.

Application Process

Applications are submitted to SEDA offices across South Africa. The application and approval process typically takes up to six weeks. SEDA provides comprehensive support including business assessments, mentoring, technical business support, and business plan development to help applicants prepare strong applications.

Contact Information

Contact SEDA regional offices for application procedures, eligibility verification, and business development support services. SEDA has offices across all South African provinces.