Grants and Awards

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is seeking proposals for a cooperative agreement to manage the FY 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. This fellowship program has successfully connected over 6,500 young African leaders from various sectors, fostering stronger relationships between Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States while preparing participants for leadership roles across the continent. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a key initiative of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which focuses on promoting democratic institutions, economic growth, peace, and security in Africa and the U.S. The Leadership Institutes, which are a core component of the fellowship, are expected to be

The 2024 Megatrends Afrika Fellowships are now accepting applications. This project, a collaboration between the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin, the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) in Bonn, and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), is offering three fellowships to African researchers. The aim of the Megatrends Afrika project is to conduct interdisciplinary research on Africa and provide policy advice to decision-makers. The project focuses on three main research themes: the changing nature of conflict and actors of violence, the impact of megatrends on democratization and autocratization, and global power shifts and multipolarity. As a fellow, you will have the opportunity

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to announce that applications for grants are now open to eligible feminist and women’s rights organizations (WROs) led by historically marginalized and minoritized groups in Africa. We have three different funding streams available: 1. Open Grants: These grants are designed to support projects that promote the rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. Priority will be given to initiatives that address structural barriers to gender equality and projects that empower women, girls, and gender-diverse people to take a leading role in advocating for gender justice. 2. Kasa! Initiative Grants: These grants are specifically for projects that address sexual violence and are exclusively

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 ITU Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme. This program, in collaboration with Huawei, aims to engage, empower, and inspire young digital leaders and changemakers. Each year, 30 young fellows will have the opportunity to receive guidance, training, and financial support to implement their own digital development projects in diverse communities worldwide. ITU, in partnership with Huawei, is offering guidance, training, and financial support to 30 young fellows annually, enabling them to practically implement digital development projects in their diverse communities across the globe. This program provides young leaders with a unique chance to turn their digital development ideas into reality or expand the

As part of its capacity-building initiative for African professionals in the water-sanitation-hygiene sector (Africap), the African Water and Sanitation Association, funded by USAID, is establishing research grants for Young Water and Sanitation Professionals. These grants, the USAID/AFWASA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG WATER AND SANITATION PROFESSIONALS valuer at a maximum of 1,000 USD each, will support research projects leading to scientific reports on various themes within the Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation sector. In the academic years 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019, the AAEA granted sixty scholarships to students from eleven countries in West and Central Africa. Additional scholarships will be distributed across Africa over a three-year period (2021-2024). For the 2021-2022 academic

VivaTech is hosting the third edition of the Vivatech AfricaTech Awards, a pan-African initiative that celebrates and empowers startups making a positive impact in key sectors such as Climate Tech, Health Tech, E-commerce, and FinTech. Startups play a crucial role in addressing global challenges and driving sustainable development. Despite growing interest from investors, many startups in Africa face challenges in securing the necessary funding to grow. The AfricaTech Awards by VivaTech aim to open doors for emerging startups on the continent, offering networking opportunities and mentorship with tech leaders, investors, policymakers, and institutions to support the brightest African innovators shaping the future. Key Sectors Vivatech AfricaTech Awards Climate Tech Challenge

The BGV | TikTok Innovate Together Grant Program represents a joint venture between Black Girl Ventures and TikTok, serving as a transformative initiative with the primary aim of empowering small business owners/entrepreneurs and content creators on their path to success. The initiative will offer financial assistance to enable businesses to collaborate with creators who have the ability to produce engaging content that resonates with their target audience. The program seeks to redefine success by promoting innovative partnerships, expanding brand reach, and establishing enduring legacies. Applications open: January 30, 2024 Application close: February 29, 2024, 11:59pm Who should participate: Entrepreneurs/Founders/Small Business Owners looking for funding for creative services to grow their

The Abdul-Lateef & Sanni Foundation empowerment program aims to assist financially independent Muslim women through the Womenpreneur 2024 initiative. This year, we are focusing on supporting women with small businesses who require financial assistance to grow their ventures. Criteria for Eligibility To qualify for this opportunity, candidates must fulfill the following criteria: 1. Be a female small-scale business owner 2. Aged between 27 and 40 years 3. Possess a minimum of O’ level education 4. Have a registered business Benefits Successful applicants will be granted up to five hundred thousand Naira to enhance their businesses. Deadline for Submission To apply visit the website The deadline for applications is March 20,

In partnership with UNDP and NORCAP, the Global Platform for Action (GPA) at UNITAR has developed a Multi-partner Trust Fund (MPTF) on Decarbonising Humanitarian Energy (DHE), with initial funding of approx. $22 million by the German Federal Foreign Office, the program will focus on transitioning from diesel-powered generators to renewable energy systems in humanitarian settings in the countries of the Sahel Region. Decarbonising Humanitarian Energy Objectives To support stakeholders across the clean cooking ecosystem, the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) provides information about grants, investments, and other funding. The implementation will start in Niger and Nigeria in the first phase. Any organizations working in these regions are welcome to join this initiative and be part of

Sustainable and locally driven ideas are sourced from organizations worldwide, regardless of their type or size. In order to ensure these ideas are given due consideration, Unsolicited Solutions for Locally Led Development (US4LLD) allocates a portion of its annual budget to provide USAID Missions with the necessary funding to support unsolicited applications that promote locally led development. USAID Unsolicited Solutions for Locally Led Development How to Submit a Proposal: Eligible organizations and entities can submit concepts at any time. Please keep in mind: – Individual awards cannot exceed $2,000,000. – Final award amounts will be determined through negotiation, subject to fund availability, and aligned with USAID’s interests. – Organizations that

The USAID Climate Finance for Development Accelerator (CFDA), also referred to as “the Accelerator,” is a $250 million initiative aimed at generating $2.5 billion in public and private climate investments by 2030. These investments will support various activities related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a focus on promoting the transition to an equitable and resilient net-zero economy. The Accelerator serves as a platform that assists countries in fulfilling their national commitments in line with the Paris Agreement. It achieves this by offering evidence-based solutions tailored to each country’s specific circumstances and addressing gaps in global, regional, and national climate finance systems. The Accelerator revolves around three key objectives,

Request for Proposals: Regulatory Guidelines for the Use of Carbon Credits as CollateralRegulatory Guidelines for the Use of Carbon Credits as Collateral Background  The Clean Cooking Alliance, established in 2010, is committed to making clean cooking accessible globally. It works towards empowering consumers, improving health, and protecting the environment. The CCA aims for universal clean cooking access by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The Catalytic Finance Accelerator, a crucial initiative of CCA, targets mobilizing significant investment to bridge the current funding gap in the clean cooking sector.  The Catalytic Finance Accelerator CCA’s Clean Cooking Systems Strategy highlighted that at least US $10 billion per year is required

The UNDP Equator Prize Initiative is extending the deadline for its Global Call for Nominations by 24 hours. You have one extra day to nominate a community-led organization for this prestigious award. Nominate by February 27th, 11:59pm EDT at this link. For further information, please visit prize.equatorinitiative.org/about-the-prize. You will find all relevant information on eligibility requirements, selection criteria and how to nominate. Nominations can be submitted in four different languages (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese) in our new online nomination system at prize.equatorinitiative.org. Thematic priorities this year include: Nature for Climate Mitigation Nature for Climate Adaptation and Resilience Nature for a Just Transition Special consideration will be given to nominees championing youth and women-led climate action. Equatorequato

Release the capacity of your startup and accelerate its success in the ever-evolving fintech industry through the Visa Accelerator program. This innovative program connects Africa’s brightest minds with seasoned mentors, cutting-edge technology, and exceptional investment prospects. Are you prepared to shake up the sector, transform finance, and leave a mark on the ecosystem? Embark on this thrilling three-month journey with us to drive your startup towards unparalleled growth and recognition. It’s time to unleash your entrepreneurial drive and carve a path to triumph in the dynamic fintech landscape. Visa Accelerator Program Benefits Knowledge and Expertise Obtain a competitive advantage with a customized program that covers product design, marketing, finance, sales,

AAI is delighted to announce the commencement of the Africa Adaptation Initiative Young Professional Programme on Climate Finance. This initiative, hosted in Lome by Sustainable Solutions for Africa (SSA) and funded by USAID, seeks to involve graduates, postgraduates, and early-career young professionals from all African nations in the crucial field of climate finance. The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) was established during COP 21 in Paris with the primary objective of addressing the pressing need for climate change adaptation in Africa. Introduced in 2015 by African heads of state, AAI functions as the African Union’s primary vehicle for climate change adaptation. The Young Professional Programme on Climate Finance presents a distinctive

The PRO-WASH & SCALE Award is delighted to announce this call for applications (CFA). The purpose of this CFA is to invite applications and identify partner(s) who will collaborate with us to develop and implement initiatives that prioritize community engagement within the focus sectors of PRO-WASH & SCALE, in order to support food and nutrition security objectives. These sectors include agriculture, natural resource management (NRM), livelihoods, markets, water resource management (WRM), and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The selected partner(s) will conduct activities that explore various approaches or tools, with a particular emphasis on centering community voices and decision-making processes when adopting new practices or behaviors. PRO-WASH & SCALE Award

The Alstom Foundation Grant Program invites applications to back and finance projects that aim to enhance living conditions and economic opportunities for communities near Alstom’s facilities worldwide. These projects are initiated, presented, and backed by Alstom employees in collaboration with expert partners, seeking to create a positive impact on the local surroundings. The Foundation collaborates closely with local or global NGOs with a track record of successfully implementing projects on the ground. The Foundation’s objectives include sharing Alstom’s achievements and knowledge, promoting and acknowledging the citizenship and dedication of Alstom employees, and establishing a strong relationship with local communities to give back to those affected by their operations. Alstom Foundation