National Youth Development Agency
NYDA Grant Programme
National R1,000 – R250,000 Ages 18 – 35 Business grant
At a glance
Survivalist tier
R1,000 – R10,000
Micro tier
R10,001 – R50,000
Cooperative tier
R50,001 – R250,000
Age eligible
18 to 35 years
Ownership requirement
51% by youth
Business status
Registered or informal
Mentorship
Compulsory 12 months
Application
Online (NYDA ERP)
Who qualifies
- South African citizen aged 18 to 35 (with valid ID)
- At least 51% youth ownership in the business or cooperative
- Business or cooperative registered in South Africa, or a viable business idea for survivalist tier
- Not receiving another youth-development grant for the same purpose
- Willing to complete NYDA's compulsory Business Management Development Programme
- Trading or ready to trade in a productive sector (agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, services, etc.)
Who does not qualify
- Under 18 or over 35
- Youth ownership below 51%
- Businesses in speculative, gambling, or purely retail-buy-and-resell sectors
- Already funded by NYDA for a duplicate purpose
- Not willing to attend the compulsory mentorship and training sessions
Documents you bring
- Certified copy of your ID (all shareholders / cooperative members)
- Business registration certificate (CIPC / CoC) if registered
- Bank statements for the past 3 months (personal and business if separate)
- Business plan (template available on NYDA ERP)
- Quotations for the equipment, stock, or services the grant will fund
- Proof of business premises (lease, permit, or affidavit)
- Tax reference number and tax clearance (SARS PIN) if trading
The grant is disbursed against approved quotations, paid directly to suppliers where possible. NYDA does not deposit large grant amounts into personal accounts.
How to apply
- Register on the NYDA ERP portal at erp.nyda.gov.za using your ID and cellphone number.
- Complete the Grant Programme application form and select your funding tier.
- Upload your business plan, quotations, and required certified documents.
- Submit. NYDA acknowledges receipt within 10 working days.
- If shortlisted, attend an interview or panel adjudication at your nearest NYDA branch.
- On approval, sign the grant contract and start the compulsory Business Management Development Programme.
- NYDA disburses funds directly to approved suppliers or in tranches against project milestones.
The mid-year voucher round typically opens between June and August each year. Ordinary applications are rolling. Check NYDA's news feed for round dates.
The mentorship is often stricter than the grant
The compulsory 12-month Business Management Development Programme has attendance requirements that many grantees underestimate. Missing two consecutive sessions can suspend your final tranche and, in some tiers, trigger recovery of already-disbursed funds. Treat the mentorship as an unpaid part-time job, not an optional add-on.