The African Cities Innovation Fund is set to open applications in early 2026, offering grants of up to $75,000 to support innovators and organisations addressing urgent urban challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The fund is designed to back collaborative, scale-ready solutions that contribute to building smart, healthy, equitable, and climate-resilient cities, with a strong emphasis on impact in low-income urban communities.
What the Fund Supports
Successful applicants may receive:
Grant funding of up to $75,000
Collaborative urban innovation projects
Climate resilience and adaptation solutions
Digital equity and inclusion initiatives
Youth employment and livelihood programs
Projects promoting healthier, safer, and resilient cities
The fund prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate practical implementation potential and measurable urban impact.
Who Should Apply
The opportunity is open to:
Urban innovators
Startups
NGOs
Research institutions
Cross-sector partnerships
City-focused organisations
Applicants must be working on scalable, real-world solutions tailored to African urban environments.
Application Timeline
Applications Open: Early 2026
Proposal Insight
Strong applications will clearly demonstrate:
Local collaboration and stakeholder engagement
Community-level impact, especially in low-income areas
Scalability across multiple cities
Long-term sustainability
