Deadline to apply for ECD Stimulus Relief Fund extended

The Western Cape Department of Social Development welcomes the extension of the deadline to apply for the ECD Stimulus Relief Fund to Friday, 26 February 2021, and urges ECDs who have not yet applied, to make use of the opportunity to do so.

As at 21 February 2021, a total of 2 558 applications have been received from the Western Cape. According to the provincial Department of Social Development's (DSD) database, there are approximately 4282 ECD centres and programmes (both registered and unregistered) in the province. 

ECD centres and services who have not yet applied can contact designated NPOs for assistance with completing the application forms, guidance on opening bank accounts, as well as help with registering on the Central Supplier Database. The list of NPOs can be accessed on the provincial DSD website, by visiting westerncape.gov.za/ecd.

ECDs in need of assistance can also send an email to ecdstimulus@dgmt.co.za or contact the call centre on 0800 089 666 and support will be provided.

In addition to the GovChat application platform (https://govchat.app.), another web-form to assist with larger organisations’ submissions has been made available on the https://ecd.gov.za/ website. ECD services that have already completed their applications on the GovChat platform do not need to submit another application through the new web-form.

The National Department of Social Development has received R496 million from National Treasury as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s COVID-19 relief measures, to assist ECD programmes and services that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the R496 million received by National Treasury, R53 million has been earmarked to support ECD programmes and services in the Western Cape.

The Early Childhood Development Employment Stimulus Relief Fund is part of sustaining employment opportunities in the sector in light of the high unemployment rate and job losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

ECD operators/owners/managers must apply on behalf of their ECD service, and if successful, would pay the ECD employees. Individual ECD workers cannot apply to the fund themselves.

Successful applicants can only use the funds to subsidise the cost of employment for workers.

The financial support will amount to a maximum value of R4 470 per staff member. The support varies according to the type of ECD service.

1. A maximum of 4 staff members per ECD centre will be supported.
2. A maximum of one staff member will be supported at non centre-based ECD programmes.

The types of ECD programmes include the following:

· ECD centres

· Playgroups

· Mobile ECD programmes

· Childminders

· Toy libraries

Before making an application, applicants must ensure that they have the following in place:

• Banking account: All ECD services making an application will need to have a bank account in the name of the ECD service.

• Loaded on the Central Supplier Database (CSD): ECD services that do not currently receive funding from Provincial DSD will need to be registered on the CSD database, which can be done via this link: https://secure.csd.gov.za/Account/Register.

• The registration number generated from the CSD database will be required for the stimulus application.

How to apply:

Applicants must use the govchat.app portal, or https://ecd.gov.za/ to apply.

For assistance with the application, call 0800 089 666, or email ecdstimulus@dgmt.co.za.

For more information about the qualifying criteria, visit www.dsd.gov.za

Applications opened on 05 February 2021 and will close on 26 February 2021.