Definitions and FAQ
The key terms of the PPP Funding Mechanism 2027 to 2030, as set out in the joint document of SWISSCO, SSCP and SECO and in the application forms, followed by answers to frequent questions.
Funding and budget
- SECO grant
-
The share of the total project budget financed by SECO. SECO aims to act as a catalyst for investment, so its contribution is kept as low as possible.
Window Grant size Window volume Collaborative Impact Up to CHF 1,500,000 CHF 7 million per platform Roadmap Booster CHF 20,000 to 250,000 CHF 3 million per platform Measuring Impact and Learning Up to CHF 150,000 CHF 1 million per platform - Counterpart contribution
-
The share of the total project budget that SECO does not cover. It is provided by the lead applicant and the co-applicants and, where applicable, other project partners. It may consist of financial and in-kind contributions, both presented transparently in the project budget.
Window Minimum counterpart contribution Collaborative Impact 70 % for new projects, 80 % for deepening or scaling Roadmap Booster 40 % for micro firms, 50 % for SMEs, 60 % for large firms (firm size) Measuring Impact and Learning 50 %, indicative - Financial contribution
Cash contributions by the lead applicant, the co-applicants or other partners towards project costs.
- In-kind contribution
-
Non-cash contributions by the lead applicant, the co-applicants or other project partners that can be clearly linked to the project, for example:
- studies or analytical inputs financed by the applicants, such as HCV or HCS assessments;
- key personnel, counting only the time they dedicate to the project;
- office space or vehicles explicitly allocated to the project.
- Collaborative investments (precompetitive investments)
-
Investments beyond individual supply chains, whose benefits are not limited to the supply chain of a single company, for example local governance structures, joint coordination and monitoring, joint training centres or social infrastructure.
In Collaborative Impact projects, at least 20 % of the total project budget must be spent on such investments and financed from the counterpart contribution. Financial and in-kind contributions both count, provided their benefits extend beyond the supply chain of a single company. For a total budget of CHF 3,000,000, this means at least CHF 600,000, on both routes.
- Project support fee
-
5 % of the SECO grant, paid by the applicants to SWISSCO or SSCP for the project support services of the Coordination Office. It is paid on top of the grant and cannot be deducted from it. The applicants decide among themselves how the fee is split and state the shares, in percent, in the project proposal. The fee is invoiced together with the annual membership fee.
It contributes to the call for proposals, fund management, monitoring and evaluation, project data management, knowledge management and peer learning, and the communication of results.
- Proposal development co-funding
Collaborative Impact only. Because a full proposal takes time and resources, lead applicants and co-applicants, NGOs and research institutions in particular, may request up to 50 % of the development costs, to a maximum of CHF 50,000. The request is made in the Project Idea Form, with a justification, a description of the costs and the designated contract partner. The Project Committee decides on it together with the stop or go decision. The contribution comes on top of the project grant and is not deducted from it.
- Firm size
Micro firm, SME or large firm, as defined in the membership fee regulation of the SWISSCO and SSCP bylaws. In the Roadmap Booster, firm size sets the counterpart contribution and decides whether the innovation criterion applies. For a non-corporate lead applicant, the size of the participating company member applies; where several company members take part, the largest company is decisive.
Applicants and partners
- Member
A full or associate member of SWISSCO or SSCP. Member categories are defined in the bylaws of each platform, see non-corporate member and company type.
- Lead applicant
The main contractual partner of the platforms. It holds the contract with SWISSCO or SSCP and coordinates the project overall. The lead applicant must be a member (full or associate) of SWISSCO or SSCP.
- Co-applicant (core project partner)
An organisation that commits to the project financially, through cash or in-kind contributions, and whose participation is reflected in the project logframe. Co-applicants may co-sign the project proposal or formalise their engagement with the lead applicant and the other core partners by other means.
- Other project partners and stakeholders
Organisations that contribute through their expertise, networks or role in implementation, without necessarily making a financial commitment.
- Non-corporate member
A member that is not a company: a non-profit organisation, a research institution or an associate member, as defined in the SWISSCO and SSCP bylaws.
- Company type
A sub-category of corporate members, for example manufacturers, roasters or traders. A Collaborative Impact consortium brings together two company types, each with at least two companies, plus at least one non-corporate member. See what counts as a valid consortium.
Assessment
- Key criteria
-
The criteria against which ideas and proposals are assessed. Each window has its own set, worth 100 points in total. At project idea stage they are assessed qualitatively, without points, to see whether the idea has the potential to fulfil them. Full proposals are scored.
- Collaborative Impact: criteria 1 to 6, plus 7 to 9 for deepening or scaling
- Roadmap Booster: criteria 1 to 4, with criterion 2 on innovation for large firms only
- Measuring Impact and Learning: criteria 1 to 3
- Thresholds
In all three windows, a full proposal must reach at least 50 % of the possible points on each key criterion and at least 70 % of all points to pass. In Collaborative Impact, criterion 2 on collaboration must already be fulfilled at project idea stage.
- Assessment scale
-
Each key criterion of a full proposal is rated on how well the proposal documents it:
Rating Quality of documentation Points covered 100 % Clear, detailed and comprehensive, figures provided, realistic assumptions Complete evidence for all points 75 % Clear and comprehensive Evidence for 75 % of points 50 % Detailed and comprehensive, assumptions only partly comprehensible and realistic Evidence for 50 % of points 25 % Incomplete, lacking detail, not realistic Evidence for 25 % of points 0 % Documentation completely missing No evidence - Formal requirements
Conditions every proposal must meet in addition to its score, such as the minimum counterpart contribution or a risk assessment. They differ by window and are listed on each window page.
- Additionality
-
A project is additional if it would not have happened, or not in the same form, without SECO support. SECO financing complements private financing rather than replacing it, filling gaps the market leaves open. It takes three forms:
- Financial additionality: grants the private sector would not provide, for example because budgets are limited or risks are too high.
- Convening: technical assistance, standard setting, structuring expertise or convening power that improves projects beyond what companies could achieve alone.
- Demonstration effect: proof that a market or business model is viable, so private capital follows without further SECO support.
Process and governance
- Project idea and full proposal
Collaborative Impact and the Roadmap Booster follow two steps. In Step 1, members submit a short project idea, which is assessed qualitatively and receives a stop or go decision. In Step 2, members develop the full proposal, which is scored and approved. Measuring Impact and Learning has a single step: members submit a full proposal directly.
- Deepening or scaling
A Collaborative Impact route for extending an ongoing or recently completed project, to deepen its impact or scale it. Requests may be submitted no earlier than one year before the project ends and no later than one year after it has been finalised. They follow the same two steps as new projects and are also assessed against criteria 7 to 9.
- Coordination Office
Manages the day-to-day work of both platforms, with a team in Bern and regional advisors in Ghana, Indonesia and Honduras. It filters ideas and supports members, gives SMEs tailored support, matches partners, appraises full proposals with a recommendation to the Project Committee, and decides on Roadmap Booster and Measuring Impact and Learning projects with a SECO contribution below CHF 100,000. It also monitors projects during implementation.
- Project Committee
Steers the project portfolio. It is led by SECO, involves Swiss offices in Bern and abroad case by case, and meets in February and August. It approves Collaborative Impact project ideas and all full proposals with a SECO contribution of CHF 100,000 or more. The Coordination Office serves as its secretariat.
- Written consultation
To avoid delays, the Project Committee can also approve projects in writing between its two meetings.
- Swiss Embassies and Swiss Cooperation Offices
Consulted after the Coordination Office has appraised a project idea and before the Project Committee meets, to advise on how to embed the project locally and align it with other initiatives. They may suggest projects, but the formal submission must come from members. During implementation, they can open doors to local decision-makers and facilitate local partnerships.
Strategy and framework
- Roadmap 2030 ambitions
The sustainability targets set out in the SWISSCO and SSCP Roadmap 2030: achieving living incomes, addressing human rights risks, preventing deforestation, tackling climate change, advancing regenerative agriculture, and promoting transparency and gender equality. Every project contributes to them. The Roadmaps are linked on the documents page.
- Improvement ladder
The engagement levels of the Roadmap 2030. A company climbs the ladder by moving up engagement levels or by broadening the scope of its intervention within the supply chain. Roadmap Booster projects are assessed on this under criterion 1.
- Baseline survey
The applicant company's survey, which establishes its current position on the improvement ladder. Roadmap Booster proposals state this position and the level or scope they intend to reach.
- MEL Framework
The SWISSCO and SSCP frameworks for monitoring, evaluation and learning. They track progress against the Roadmap 2030 ambitions and their underlying theory of change through data collection, reporting and joint learning, so that members can track progress in a consistent and comparable way. Project logframes select their KPIs from it. The SWISSCO framework is on the documents page.
- MEL Community of Practice
The forum for thematic exchange and learning between members and projects on monitoring, evaluation and learning. Measuring Impact and Learning projects are closely linked to it.
- Landscape or jurisdictional approach
A project focused on a single region or jurisdiction, built on collaboration between private, public and civil society actors. It sets, monitors and evaluates sustainability, climate and forest conservation targets at that level, so that solutions are both scalable and locally embedded.
- Issue Brief on Gender
SWISSCO and SSCP guidance on gender, with a checklist. Alignment with it is a formal requirement for Collaborative Impact projects.
Frequently asked questions
Which funding window fits my project?
- Collaborative Impact: systemic issues tackled jointly by several companies from different supply chains, together with at least one non-corporate member.
- Roadmap Booster: improving your own company's sustainability performance along the Roadmap 2030, with innovation expected from large companies.
- Measuring Impact and Learning: joint measurement, data and learning in line with the MEL Frameworks, such as household income studies.
If you are unsure, contact the Coordination Office before you start.
Who can apply?
Every project is led by a member of SWISSCO or SSCP, the lead applicant. Co-applicants and other project partners do not have to be members.
When can I apply?
At any time from January 2027. The call is ongoing until 2030 and has no deadlines. Submitting ideas early leaves time to agree on partners with the Coordination Office.
How do I submit my application?
Download the form for your window and step from the documents page and send it by e-mail to info@kakaoplattform.ch. A full proposal is sent together with its annexes.
Can a non-corporate member apply to the Roadmap Booster?
Yes, provided at least one company member takes part as a co-applicant and aims to improve its Roadmap performance. The counterpart contribution, the point structure and the baseline survey then follow that company member, see firm size.
Can in-kind contributions count towards the counterpart contribution?
Yes, as long as they are clearly linked to the project and shown transparently in the budget. See in-kind contribution for what counts.
What counts as management costs?
All costs arising from planning and organising the project activities. The overall budget in Annex 2 shows management costs and project costs separately.
Who pays the project support fee, and when?
The applicants, in the shares they agree among themselves and state in the full proposal. It is invoiced with the annual membership fee. See project support fee.
Can I get help preparing my application?
Yes. The Coordination Office gives guidance and support to all applicants, tailored support to SMEs in particular, and can help connect you with other companies, NGOs or universities. For Collaborative Impact, you can also request proposal development co-funding.
Still have a question?
Contact the Coordination Office at info@kakaoplattform.ch or +41 31 311 65 11.
This call is based on the Federal Act on Financial Assistance and Subsidies, in conjunction with the Federal Act on International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. It is not a public procurement.
Definitions and FAQ
The key terms of the PPP Funding Mechanism 2027 to 2030, as set out in the joint document of SWISSCO, SSCP and SECO and in the application forms, followed by answers to frequent questions.
Funding and budget
- SECO grant
-
The share of the total project budget financed by SECO. SECO aims to act as a catalyst for investment, so its contribution is kept as low as possible.
Window Grant size Window volume Collaborative Impact Up to CHF 1,500,000 CHF 7 million per platform Roadmap Booster CHF 20,000 to 250,000 CHF 3 million per platform Measuring Impact and Learning Up to CHF 150,000 CHF 1 million per platform - Counterpart contribution
-
The share of the total project budget that SECO does not cover. It is provided by the lead applicant and the co-applicants and, where applicable, other project partners. It may consist of financial and in-kind contributions, both presented transparently in the project budget.
Window Minimum counterpart contribution Collaborative Impact 70 % for new projects, 80 % for deepening or scaling Roadmap Booster 40 % for micro firms, 50 % for SMEs, 60 % for large firms (firm size) Measuring Impact and Learning 50 %, indicative - Financial contribution
Cash contributions by the lead applicant, the co-applicants or other partners towards project costs.
- In-kind contribution
-
Non-cash contributions by the lead applicant, the co-applicants or other project partners that can be clearly linked to the project, for example:
- studies or analytical inputs financed by the applicants, such as HCV or HCS assessments;
- key personnel, counting only the time they dedicate to the project;
- office space or vehicles explicitly allocated to the project.
- Collaborative investments (precompetitive investments)
-
Investments beyond individual supply chains, whose benefits are not limited to the supply chain of a single company, for example local governance structures, joint coordination and monitoring, joint training centres or social infrastructure.
In Collaborative Impact projects, at least 20 % of the total project budget must be spent on such investments and financed from the counterpart contribution. Financial and in-kind contributions both count, provided their benefits extend beyond the supply chain of a single company. For a total budget of CHF 3,000,000, this means at least CHF 600,000, on both routes.
- Project support fee
-
5 % of the SECO grant, paid by the applicants to SWISSCO or SSCP for the project support services of the Coordination Office. It is paid on top of the grant and cannot be deducted from it. The applicants decide among themselves how the fee is split and state the shares, in percent, in the project proposal. The fee is invoiced together with the annual membership fee.
It contributes to the call for proposals, fund management, monitoring and evaluation, project data management, knowledge management and peer learning, and the communication of results.
- Proposal development co-funding
Collaborative Impact only. Because a full proposal takes time and resources, lead applicants and co-applicants, NGOs and research institutions in particular, may request up to 50 % of the development costs, to a maximum of CHF 50,000. The request is made in the Project Idea Form, with a justification, a description of the costs and the designated contract partner. The Project Committee decides on it together with the stop or go decision. The contribution comes on top of the project grant and is not deducted from it.
- Firm size
Micro firm, SME or large firm, as defined in the membership fee regulation of the SWISSCO and SSCP bylaws. In the Roadmap Booster, firm size sets the counterpart contribution and decides whether the innovation criterion applies. For a non-corporate lead applicant, the size of the participating company member applies; where several company members take part, the largest company is decisive.
Applicants and partners
- Member
A full or associate member of SWISSCO or SSCP. Member categories are defined in the bylaws of each platform, see non-corporate member and company type.
- Lead applicant
The main contractual partner of the platforms. It holds the contract with SWISSCO or SSCP and coordinates the project overall. The lead applicant must be a member (full or associate) of SWISSCO or SSCP.
- Co-applicant (core project partner)
An organisation that commits to the project financially, through cash or in-kind contributions, and whose participation is reflected in the project logframe. Co-applicants may co-sign the project proposal or formalise their engagement with the lead applicant and the other core partners by other means.
- Other project partners and stakeholders
Organisations that contribute through their expertise, networks or role in implementation, without necessarily making a financial commitment.
- Non-corporate member
A member that is not a company: a non-profit organisation, a research institution or an associate member, as defined in the SWISSCO and SSCP bylaws.
- Company type
A sub-category of corporate members, for example manufacturers, roasters or traders. A Collaborative Impact consortium brings together two company types, each with at least two companies, plus at least one non-corporate member. See what counts as a valid consortium.
Assessment
- Key criteria
-
The criteria against which ideas and proposals are assessed. Each window has its own set, worth 100 points in total. At project idea stage they are assessed qualitatively, without points, to see whether the idea has the potential to fulfil them. Full proposals are scored.
- Collaborative Impact: criteria 1 to 6, plus 7 to 9 for deepening or scaling
- Roadmap Booster: criteria 1 to 4, with criterion 2 on innovation for large firms only
- Measuring Impact and Learning: criteria 1 to 3
- Thresholds
In all three windows, a full proposal must reach at least 50 % of the possible points on each key criterion and at least 70 % of all points to pass. In Collaborative Impact, criterion 2 on collaboration must already be fulfilled at project idea stage.
- Assessment scale
-
Each key criterion of a full proposal is rated on how well the proposal documents it:
Rating Quality of documentation Points covered 100 % Clear, detailed and comprehensive, figures provided, realistic assumptions Complete evidence for all points 75 % Clear and comprehensive Evidence for 75 % of points 50 % Detailed and comprehensive, assumptions only partly comprehensible and realistic Evidence for 50 % of points 25 % Incomplete, lacking detail, not realistic Evidence for 25 % of points 0 % Documentation completely missing No evidence - Formal requirements
Conditions every proposal must meet in addition to its score, such as the minimum counterpart contribution or a risk assessment. They differ by window and are listed on each window page.
- Additionality
-
A project is additional if it would not have happened, or not in the same form, without SECO support. SECO financing complements private financing rather than replacing it, filling gaps the market leaves open. It takes three forms:
- Financial additionality: grants the private sector would not provide, for example because budgets are limited or risks are too high.
- Convening: technical assistance, standard setting, structuring expertise or convening power that improves projects beyond what companies could achieve alone.
- Demonstration effect: proof that a market or business model is viable, so private capital follows without further SECO support.
Process and governance
- Project idea and full proposal
Collaborative Impact and the Roadmap Booster follow two steps. In Step 1, members submit a short project idea, which is assessed qualitatively and receives a stop or go decision. In Step 2, members develop the full proposal, which is scored and approved. Measuring Impact and Learning has a single step: members submit a full proposal directly.
- Deepening or scaling
A Collaborative Impact route for extending an ongoing or recently completed project, to deepen its impact or scale it. Requests may be submitted no earlier than one year before the project ends and no later than one year after it has been finalised. They follow the same two steps as new projects and are also assessed against criteria 7 to 9.
- Coordination Office
Manages the day-to-day work of both platforms, with a team in Bern and regional advisors in Ghana, Indonesia and Honduras. It filters ideas and supports members, gives SMEs tailored support, matches partners, appraises full proposals with a recommendation to the Project Committee, and decides on Roadmap Booster and Measuring Impact and Learning projects with a SECO contribution below CHF 100,000. It also monitors projects during implementation.
- Project Committee
Steers the project portfolio. It is led by SECO, involves Swiss offices in Bern and abroad case by case, and meets in February and August. It approves Collaborative Impact project ideas and all full proposals with a SECO contribution of CHF 100,000 or more. The Coordination Office serves as its secretariat.
- Written consultation
To avoid delays, the Project Committee can also approve projects in writing between its two meetings.
- Swiss Embassies and Swiss Cooperation Offices
Consulted after the Coordination Office has appraised a project idea and before the Project Committee meets, to advise on how to embed the project locally and align it with other initiatives. They may suggest projects, but the formal submission must come from members. During implementation, they can open doors to local decision-makers and facilitate local partnerships.
Strategy and framework
- Roadmap 2030 ambitions
The sustainability targets set out in the SWISSCO and SSCP Roadmap 2030: achieving living incomes, addressing human rights risks, preventing deforestation, tackling climate change, advancing regenerative agriculture, and promoting transparency and gender equality. Every project contributes to them. The Roadmaps are linked on the documents page.
- Improvement ladder
The engagement levels of the Roadmap 2030. A company climbs the ladder by moving up engagement levels or by broadening the scope of its intervention within the supply chain. Roadmap Booster projects are assessed on this under criterion 1.
- Baseline survey
The applicant company's survey, which establishes its current position on the improvement ladder. Roadmap Booster proposals state this position and the level or scope they intend to reach.
- MEL Framework
The SWISSCO and SSCP frameworks for monitoring, evaluation and learning. They track progress against the Roadmap 2030 ambitions and their underlying theory of change through data collection, reporting and joint learning, so that members can track progress in a consistent and comparable way. Project logframes select their KPIs from it. The SWISSCO framework is on the documents page.
- MEL Community of Practice
The forum for thematic exchange and learning between members and projects on monitoring, evaluation and learning. Measuring Impact and Learning projects are closely linked to it.
- Landscape or jurisdictional approach
A project focused on a single region or jurisdiction, built on collaboration between private, public and civil society actors. It sets, monitors and evaluates sustainability, climate and forest conservation targets at that level, so that solutions are both scalable and locally embedded.
- Issue Brief on Gender
SWISSCO and SSCP guidance on gender, with a checklist. Alignment with it is a formal requirement for Collaborative Impact projects.
Frequently asked questions
Which funding window fits my project?
- Collaborative Impact: systemic issues tackled jointly by several companies from different supply chains, together with at least one non-corporate member.
- Roadmap Booster: improving your own company's sustainability performance along the Roadmap 2030, with innovation expected from large companies.
- Measuring Impact and Learning: joint measurement, data and learning in line with the MEL Frameworks, such as household income studies.
If you are unsure, contact the Coordination Office before you start.
Who can apply?
Every project is led by a member of SWISSCO or SSCP, the lead applicant. Co-applicants and other project partners do not have to be members.
When can I apply?
At any time from January 2027. The call is ongoing until 2030 and has no deadlines. Submitting ideas early leaves time to agree on partners with the Coordination Office.
How do I submit my application?
Download the form for your window and step from the documents page and send it by e-mail to info@kakaoplattform.ch. A full proposal is sent together with its annexes.
Can a non-corporate member apply to the Roadmap Booster?
Yes, provided at least one company member takes part as a co-applicant and aims to improve its Roadmap performance. The counterpart contribution, the point structure and the baseline survey then follow that company member, see firm size.
Can in-kind contributions count towards the counterpart contribution?
Yes, as long as they are clearly linked to the project and shown transparently in the budget. See in-kind contribution for what counts.
What counts as management costs?
All costs arising from planning and organising the project activities. The overall budget in Annex 2 shows management costs and project costs separately.
Who pays the project support fee, and when?
The applicants, in the shares they agree among themselves and state in the full proposal. It is invoiced with the annual membership fee. See project support fee.
Can I get help preparing my application?
Yes. The Coordination Office gives guidance and support to all applicants, tailored support to SMEs in particular, and can help connect you with other companies, NGOs or universities. For Collaborative Impact, you can also request proposal development co-funding.
Still have a question?
Contact the Coordination Office at info@kakaoplattform.ch or +41 31 311 65 11.
This call is based on the Federal Act on Financial Assistance and Subsidies, in conjunction with the Federal Act on International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. It is not a public procurement.