The Rural and Community Development Fund is a funding scheme provided by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) who's  role is to support Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

Rural and Community Development Fund

The aim of the Rural and Community Development Fund is to provide funding to aspiring rural entrepreneurs and to facilitate skills transfer and operational involvement by community groups thereby promoting social and economic upliftment in pursuant of the NEF Mandate.

Sectors funded:

• Agro Processing and Manufacturing
• Eco-Tourism
• Forestry and Fisheries
• Commercial Property
• Aqua and Marine Culture
• Non – Farm Activities (rural based)

The key criteria of this fund are:

• Projects must be financially sustainable
• BEE applicants should be actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business
• Technical partners should be actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business
• The NEF will invest using debt, equity and quasi-equity instruments
• Minimum black ownership of 25.1% is a requirement
• Joint ventures between black and non-black partners to support skills transfer
• The business should be able to repay NEF’s investment
• The business must have a clear value-add with a sustainable business case
• The NEF will exit from the investment in 5 to 10 years
• The NEF reserves the right to oblige applicants to participate in the NEF mentorship programme

Funding is delivered through the following products:

• Acquisition
• New Venture Capital

1. Acquisition

This product was designed to cater for rural entrepreneurs or communities seeking to buy equity in existing rural and community enterprises focusing on small to large ventures where partnerships between NEF, BEE parties or community entity and technical partner is involved.

Qualifying Criteria:

Rural entrepreneurs, Co-operatives, community groupings arranged as Trust or any legal entity, and workers trust and individuals

2. New Venture Capital

New Venture Capital product is aimed at assisting rural entrepreneurs and co-operatives and communities with equity contribution towards establishment of sustainable new ventures in Agri-sector including forestry, tourism, processing, etc. Medium sized new venture projects with total funding requirements of between R1m and R50m.

Qualifying Criteria:

Rural entrepreneurs, Co-operatives, community groupings arranged as Trust or any legal entity, and workers trust and individuals

How to apply

Download Application Form

Please note:

• Required documents are listed in the application form.
• Regrettably, if you do not submit all of these documents together there will be a delay in processing your application form.
• From receipt of the application to approval stage the process can take 6 to 8 weeks.
• Our process period is 3 to 4 months on receipt of the application up to  disbursement stage.

Send Applications to: applications@nefcorp.co.za

Contact us

For enquiries visit or contact your nearest office:

Gauteng Province (Head Office)
West Block, 187 Rivonia Road, Morningside 2057, PO Box 31, Melrose Arch, Melrose North 2076

Tel: +27 (11) 305 8000 

Fax: +27 (11) 305 8001

Call Centre: 0861 843 633 | 0861 (THE NEF)

Email (Applications): applications@nefcorp.co.za

Email (General Enquiries): info@nefcorp.co.za

Eastern Cape Province
7b Derby Road, Berea, East London 5241
Tel: (043) 783 4200 | 0861 NEF ECP (0861 633 327)

Fax: 0861 ECP NEF (0861 327 633)
Email: easterncape@nefcorp.co.za

Free State Province
34 Fountain Towers, Corner Zastron and Markgraaf Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tel: (051) 407 6360 | 0861 NEF FSP (0861 633 377)

Fax: 0861 FSP NEF (0861 377 633)
Email: freestate@nefcorp.co.za

KwaZulu-Natal Province
Smart X - Change Building, 5 Walnut Road, Durban, 4001
Tel: (031) 301 1960 | 0861 NEF KZN (0861 633 596)

Fax: 0861 KZN NEF (0861 596 633)
Email: kzn@nefcorp.co.za

Limpopo Province
Suite 8, Biccard Park, 43 Biccard Street, Polokwane 0699
Tel: (015) 294 9200 | 0861 NEF LIM (0861 633 546)

Fax: 0861 LIM NEF (0861 546 633)
Email: limpopo@nefcorp.co.za

Mpumalanga Province
Trust Building, 16 Brander Street, Nelspruit, 1200
Tel: (013) 754 9860 | 0861 NEF MPU (0861 633 678) | 013 754 9860

Fax: 0861 MPU NEF (0861 678 633)
Email: mpumalanga@nefcorp.co.za

North West Province
32B Heystek Street, Sunetco Office Park, Ground Floor, Rustenburg, 0299
Tel: (014) 523 9220 | 0861 NEF NWP (0861 633 697)

Fax: 0861 NWP NEF (0861 697 633)
Email: northwest@nefcorp.co.za

Western Cape Province
Suite 2818, 28th Floor, ABSA Centre, 2 Riebeek Street, Cape Town 8001
Tel: (021) 431 4760 | 0861 NEF WCP (0861 633 927)
Fax: 0861 WCP NEF (0861 927 633) 

Email: westerncape@nefcorp.co.za