Apply: Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000)
The Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000) is a fresh initiative between Africa and Europe aimed at speeding up innovation and encouraging meaningful collaboration across ecosystems in Africa and with Europe. The goal is to enhance transformative solutions that tackle shared challenges, especially those tied to digital transformation and the green transition.
This initiative was launched as part of the upcoming Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB 2.0), which is a project under the EU’s Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment package. JIF is co-developed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the European Union (EU). It is being implemented in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Finnish Public Management Institute (HAUS), utilizing their combined expertise in international cooperation, innovation support, and enhancing innovation ecosystems.
Eligible countries for JIF include 14 priority countries in Africa: Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously, and late submissions will not be accepted.
JIF is a catalyst for systemic change.
Despite the wealth of talent and innovation present in both Africa and Europe, there are still limited opportunities for collaboration, joint efforts, and innovation.
JIF promotes systemic change by:
– Empowering local and global leadership: African partners take the lead in innovation consortia, ensuring ownership and lasting impact;
– Leveraging digital innovation partnerships across borders in Africa and between Africa and Europe;
– Tackling global challenges: Cutting-edge solutions focus on digital transformation, climate-positive results, and societal inclusion;
– Amplifying impact: Solutions are crafted to be regionally integrated, replicable, and scalable.
Eligibility – Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000)
Innovative proposals – We are inviting joint project proposals from innovation consortia that:
- Consist of at least two partners forming a consortium collaborating across borders (Africa-EU or Different countries from Sub-Saharan Africa), led by an African entity;
- Are eager to advance digitally enabled innovations (with a preference for frontier technologies (e.g. AI-based, IoT, etc) in climate – mitigation, adaptation and resilience;
- Present tested solutions with proven or high potential for scaling and replication;
- Are grounded in local context, commercially viable, and regionally embedded;
- Are led by committed and capable teams, with a track record and technical skills required to scale the innovation;
- Prioritize gender responsiveness;
- Require strategic funding to accelerate their next phase of growth.
The Africa partner must be from 14 Africa project priority countries which are Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Download the Eligibility Criteria PDF document
The Offer – Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000)
Selected projects will benefit from:
- Non-dilutive funding of 100.000 – 250.000 EUR through a milestone-based grant structure;
- Tailored support through the JIF Project Studio, including:
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- Mentorship from seasoned experts and investors
- Access to toolkits, investment readiness support, and technical advisory
- Networking and peer learning opportunities across Africa and Europe.
- Strategic visibility, capacity strengthening, and alignment with the EU–Africa partnership goals and Agenda 2063
Focus areas – Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000)
- Climate Positive Impact
- The proposed solution must demonstrate measurable positive impact in at least one of the following areas:
- Climate mitigation
- Climate adaptation and resilience
- Key sectors
- Blue Tech, Mobility, Energy & Smart Cities
Who Can Apply? – Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000)
We invite joint collaboration projects led by African partners, consisting of:
- Small Growing Businesses (SGBs) and startups
- Larger companies
- Applied research organisations
- Digital Innovation hubs and Innovation Support Organisations
- Civil Society Organisations
- Startups (PreSeed or Seed stage)
- Public Sector Partners
How to Apply – Joint Innovation Facility Catalytic Funding for African-Led Innovation (€250,000)
Application Process: A Two-Stage Process
Stage 1: Prepare your application with the required details and required documents to be submitted.
Stage 2: Applications must be submitted electronically via the online application form and submit required documents via [email protected] email address.
The submission should include:
- Completed electronic application form;
- All supporting documents as per the eligibility and selection criteria.
The application to the Joint Innovation Facility is open from 17thJuly 2025 to 4th August 2025 via this application form and is structured in two stages,
Stage one will consists of the following:
a) Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Interested consortia projects are invited to submit an EOI outlining their project idea and demonstrating that they meet all eligibility criteria.
- Only applicants who fulfill the mandatory requirements will proceed to the next stage.
- If the applicant meets all the mandatory requirements and is selected through the evaluation process, they will proceed to the due diligence phase
b) Due Diligence
A structured due diligence process will be carried out to assess operational, financial, governance, and compliance capacity aligned to selection criteria.
Stage 2 will consist of the following:
a) Grant Proposal Submission
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full grant proposal.
- The proposal requirements will be aligned with the eligibility criteria shared in the call documentation to ensure consistency and transparency.
b) Final Selection and Award
The final selection will assess the project’s alignment with the objectives of the joint innovation facility, compliance with the selection criteria, and the extent to which feedback from the due diligence process has been effectively incorporated. Apply Now
