Startups

Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

  1. GEDA Digital Fellowship

The Donors for Africa Foundation (DAF) in partnership with Meta, launches the 4th cohort of GEDA Digital Fellowship (An African Social Innovators Bootcamp) designed to strengthen the capacity of third sector leaders in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Ghana which is targeted at startup founders between the ages of 22 to 50 years working on any of the 17 SDGs. GEDA digital is a 6 months intensive professional leadership development program that offers you a unique opportunity to learn how to transform your community by acquiring new skills, increase brand visibility and access funds. The fellowship is for social impact organizations, social enterprises, business owners who desire to understand how to play in the development sector, and professionals (22 – 50 years old) from across Africa who want to deep dive and understand the rubrics of building a sustainable social impact organization.

Benefits

  • Capacity Building Workshops
  • Networking Opportunities
  • Personal Support from a dedicated in-country manager
  • Post-fellowship support
  • Recognized professional certification in Social Enterprise Management
  • Funding Opportunity
  • Exclusive Invitation to topical growth webinars
  • Remain a valued member of the network for future events and ongoing activities
  • Build professional credibility with this one-of-a-kind, immersive experience
  • Like Skilling – getting comfortable with being uncomfortable
  • A global family for life!

Training Benefits

  • Group Workshops
  • Expert Sessions
  • Cash Prizes
  • Media Exposure
  • Credibility
  • Project/Funding Referrals
  • Growth Network for Life

What is DAF looking for?

  • Passion for the Intersection of your solution with any of the 17 SDGs
  • Capacity to Bridge Differences
  • Orientation Towards Results

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for this fellowship, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Be the founder or hold an executive position within a registered organization
  • Be available to commit to attending all sessions
  • Applicants must be 22 – 50 years old.
  • Ability to attend the launch and graduation event
  • Applicant and social enterprise organization are interested and ready to scale the organization
  • Must have a laptop and access to the internet
  • Must be creating positive, direct, and intended impact aligned to one or more of the SDG’s or AU Agenda 2063
  • Applications are open to applicants from these West African countries: Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia
  • All application will be notified of their selection status by July 2022

For more information, visit

http://dfageda.org/2022-applications/

  1. Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator

The Adaptation Fund has launched a new USD 10 million pilot small grants programme (Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator, AFCIA) to foster innovation in adaptation in developing countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid. The primary objective of the AFCIA administered by UNEP-CTCN is to support developing countries to test, evaluate, roll out and scale up innovative adaptation practices, products and technologies. Based on technical assistance services, 25 micro-grants projects will be implemented for 5 years to enhance climate resilience and adapt to climate change in the countries.

Elements

The following three elements will be considered in identifying and assessing innovation in adaptation technologies.

  • A new, existing or improved technology
  • A hard and soft technology
  • A scalable technology

Adaptation Sectors

Examples of adaptation sectors in the AFCIA includes:

  • Agriculture
  • Coastal zone management
  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Food security
  • Forests
  • Human health
  • Marine and fishery
  • Rural development (resilience)
  • Urban development (resilience)
  • Water management

Funding Information

The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) works in conjunction with UNEP, receiving USD 5 million to administrate and aggregate 25 micro-grants projects (up to USD 250,000 each).

Eligibility Criteria

  • The AFCIA will provide small grants to developing countries to support innovative for effective, long-term adaptation to climate change and is part of the Adaptation Fund’s Innovation Facility.
  • UNEP-CTCN will conduct technical assistance, implementing micro-grants projects in developing countries on a competitive basis.
  • The eligible countries in the AFCIA include developing countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that do not have National Implementing Entities (NIEs) accredited with the Adaptation Fund (113 countries in total as of April 2021).
  • Among them, priority will be given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

For more information, visit,

https://www.ctc-n.org/technical-assistance/adaptation-fund-climate-innovation-accelerator-afcia

  1. RFAs: Global Advocacy and Communications Partnership on Financial Health and Innovations

 The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) invites applications from registered entities for the Global Advocacy and Communications Partnership on Financial Health (FH) and Innovations. The purpose of this RFA is to identify an advocacy and communication partner to work with the FH programme, to drive integrated advocacy and communication engagements including building brand narratives and management that can work across the key stakeholder groups that are part of FH agenda.

Funding Information

  • UNCDF’s contributions can range from USD 200,000 – 250,000. UNCDF will award 1 application depending on the investment readiness level and outreach potential of the proposed proposal.
  • The current PBA would be drawn for a period of 9 months. Activities are expected to be terminated no later than 02/23. Final and assessment reports will have to be submitted no later than 03/23.

Expected Results

  • All applications must include targets on the indicators. The targets must be disaggregated for the selected target groups. Applicants who are not able to report on one or multiple indicators or provide disaggregated data should include a note with the reason.
  • The targets will be considered in the evaluation of the applications. During the negotiation process of the performance-based agreement, selected applicants and UNCDF shall develop a monitoring framework. This may include additional indicators and targets, tailored to the scope of the proposed solution, activities and expected results.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The applicant/lead applicant must be at least 3 years old registered entity i.e., Integrated Communication and Design firm, Policy Consultancy, etc.
  • The lead applicant can be based anywhere globally/duly registered and having at least one year of operations in the space of advocacy and communications. Their partnership should cover markets like Asia, Africa, Latin America at least.
  • Applicants can apply only once under this RFA, whether independently or in a consortium.
  • Joint applications between market players in the target country or countries are encouraged if the solution proposed will expand the advocacy and agenda mainstreaming in multiple geographies.
  • Applications from consortiums of organizations must show that the partnership was established prior to this call for applications.

For more information, visit

https://www.uncdf.org/article/7789/global-advocacy-and-communications-partnership-on-financial-health-and-innovations

  1. TransparencIT Civic Changemakers Fellowship Programme (Nigeria)

 TransparencIT has launched its Civic Changemakers Fellowship Programme, a civic innovation and governance training that aims to empower community champions who are working or have the ambition to work on solving civic and governance challenges. The sole objective of the programme is to make a difference in the lives of their communities by developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation of the changemakers to foster and implement citizens driven solutions. The programme was designed to create a positive impact using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Benefits

The emerging changemakers will:

  • Take part in interactions with global experts on equity and social justice
  • Receive professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities in addition to peer group learning
  • Receive support to build and advance solutions around governance challenges and customized programming from TransparencIT and affiliate partners.
  • Learn how to adopt technology in advocacy and leverage it to improve governance.

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is open to emerging changemakers who are:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of application
  • Citizens and residents of Nigeria at the time of the programme
  • Passionate about solving social justice and governance challenges in their communities
  • Available to attend both online and on-site activities of the programme
  • Proficient in speaking, reading, writing and understanding the English Language
  • Women and people living with disability are encouraged to apply

For more information, visit

https://transparencit.com/civic-changemakers/

  1. PSEA Outreach and Communication Fund

 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) have launched the third round of the Interagency Community Outreach and Communication Fund on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). The Fund will provide rapid, targeted financial support to NGOs to develop and disseminate PSEA outreach and communication materials, and to make available to all IASC members and the wider sector the materials developed through the Fund for their further us of adaptation.

Funding Information

  • Grants of USD $20,000 will be awarded to NGO applicants.
  • The timeframe for program implementation can be up to 4 months from the time the funds are received.

What can the funds be used for?

The funds can be used to develop or adapt context-specific PSEA outreach and communication materials targeting communities, such as:

  • Awareness-raising materials (including print, video or audio) that explain core concepts, such as what can constitute “sexual exploitation and abuse”, the obligations of all actors to prevent and address such acts: protect witnesses, victims and survivors and clarify that protection, assistance and access to solutions are never conditional on sexual favours or relationships;
  • Materials (including print, video or audio) that share information on where to safely report and seek help, in line with established complaints and feedback mechanisms (CFMs) and referral pathways;
  • Community engagement tools, such as outlines and facilitators guides to lead community dialogues, role plays or focus group discussions that increase awareness on SEA risks, and the rights of communities and people affected by crises to receive protection and assistance free from sexual exploitation and abuse; and
  • Other appropriate PSEA information, education and communication (IEC) materials, tools and approaches, as relevant to the local operational and cultural context.

Eligibility Criteria

  • NGOs, particularly those that may have limited financial capacity to develop outreach and communication materials on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), NGOs contributing to humanitarian responses are encouraged to apply.
  • NGO for a or networks can apply as well, or one of their members can apply on their behalf.
  • Large global organisations will not be considered for this fund.

For more information, visit

https://www.icvanetwork.org/resource/call-for-applications-psea-outreach-and-communication-fund/

  1. Startup Innovation Awards to support Innovators and Entrepreneurs

 The World Food Forum (WFF) has launched an open call for the Startup Innovation Awards to support and showcase innovators and entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of technology to drive the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in support of ending global hunger and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the WFF Startup Innovation Awards, they are seeking to identify, elevate and accelerate the growth of startups who show the greatest potential impact in transforming agrifood systems, aligned to one of four categories:

  • Better production
  • Better nutrition
  • Better environment and
  • Better life

Additionally, this year, the competition will also have a special award around how the innovation in each of the categories will contribute to the interconnected issues of the 2022 World Food Forum theme, “Health Diets. Health Planet.”

Eligibility Criteria

Agrifood systems specialists, innovators and entrepreneurs from around the globe have volunteered to become experts and judges for WFF Startup Innovation Awards.

For more information, visit

http://www.world-food-forum.org/innovation-lab/startup-innovation-awards/en/

  1. Call for Proposals for Major Research Grants

The Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL) is delighted to announce a call for proposals for the 9th Major Research Grant.

Objective

The Objective of PEDL is to fund cutting – edge, policy – oriented research that could be published in leading academic journals and be relevant to the policy dialogue in LICs. They welcome proposals in any area related to private sector development in low-income countries.

The Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL) programme pursues a research agenda that aims to better understand what determines the strength of market forces driving efficiency in Low-income countries (LICs). Existing research suggests that the private sector in LICs faces a multitude of constraints that act upon each other. What is needed is research that allows them to understand how these constraints interact.

Themes

PEDL expects that many of the funded proposals will relate to one of PEDL’s four main research themes:

  • Market frictions, management and organisations
  • Trade and macro models – agglomeration and spatial location of firms
  • High growth entrepreneurship
  • Social compliance, climate change and the environment

Funding Information

  • Major Research Grants have an average grant size of £300,000. Note, however that whilst there is a lower limit £100,000 for each Major Grant, there is no upper limit. Cost effectiveness and value for money are important evaluation criteria.
  • MRGs typically run for between 24 and 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Researchers are invited to submit a one or two-page description of their project in advance of the full proposal. They will aim to provide feedback on the fit of the proposal with the PEDL program within a week of submission, but encourage researchers to submit this expression of interest well in advance of the full proposal submission deadline.
  • The optional submission of an expression of interest is intended to reduce the initial effort required for those researchers who are unsure of their project’s alignment with PEDL’s themes.
  • They are particularly interested in proposals addressing issues of climate resiliency and adaptation.

For more information, visit

https://pedl.cepr.org/funding/major-research-grants

  1. Sustainable Development Goals Award

 Clifford Chance has opened applications for its annual global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) Award, which this year has an educational focus. The award is aligned with the UN SDGs, which also inform Clifford Chance’s pro bono and community outreach efforts. The intention of the award is to recognize and support outstanding achievement in contributing towards the achievement of the UN SDGs.

Focus Area

This year, the award has an educational focus.

Award Information

Clifford Chance will provide the winning organization with a £50,000 donation (or the local currency equivalent) and 500 pro bono hours.

Eligibility Criteria

  • In 2022, they are welcoming applications for the award from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and educational institutions, including schools and universities, around the world, whose work contributes towards the achievement of SDG 4, which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
  • The judges are particularly interested in award submissions that demonstrates a commitment to innovative approaches towards the achievement of SDG 4 and those which show potential to be replicated and scaled.

For more information, visit

https://bit.ly/3OfwIdq

  1. Elevating the Voices of Women in Agriculture Campaign (Africa)

 Applications are now open for African nationals between the ages of 18 and 30, who are leading projects that directly works with and empowers women farmers in Africa. The Elevating the Voices of Women in Agriculture (EVWA) Campaign aims to raise awareness of the lived realities of women farmers in Africa. The goal of EVWA is to raise awareness for the need to empower women farmers on the ground.

Benefits

  • EVWA Changemakers is an annual 30 under 30 campaigns, which recognizes and gives a platform to exceptional young Africans, who lead projects that contribute to the empowerment of women farmers.
  • Through a call for nomination, inspiring young leaders in the field of women farmers’ empowerment will be selected as EVWA Changemakers and spotlighted on the EVWA webpage.
  • The EVWA Changemaker, leading the most innovative and inspiring project will be announced and recognized as the EVWA Champion.
  • With the title of EVWA Champion comes a 5,000 USD seed-funding award to scale the impact of this project.
  • The EVWA Champion will also receive the unique opportunity to be part of an exciting multimedia documentary production.
  • They will publish this documentary on their promotional channels to spotlight the EVWA Champion as a best practice example.
  • In 2022, the EVWA Champion will be highlighted at or around COP27 in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt to gain global attention and build a network with high-potential partners.
  • In 2024, they will curate an impactful virtual exhibition, spotlighting the EVWA Champions of 2022, 2023 and 2024.

What kind of projects will be considered?

They consider projects of any size, whether they are implemented by only one person or a team. They could be community volunteer projects, freelance projects, NGO projects, or entire startups dedicated to women farmer empowerment. The list is long, and they are open to innovative approaches. Legal registration is not required to qualify as a project. However, you should be able to back the existence and validity of your project through website links, social media profiles, photos, video, etc.

For more information, visit

https://bankimooncentre.org/leadership/evwa

  1. Unlock Your Leadership Program 2022 – 2023

The Coaching Fellowship (TCF) is seeking applications for the Unlock Your Leadership Program to increase the leadership capacity of the next generation of women leaders in social and environmental change. Unlock Your Leadership is one-of-a-kind, transformational leadership program developed over eight years of coaching, training, and championing more than 1,500 women change leaders across the globe. Designed to accelerate leadership capacity, it is the only program that is specifically created for high-potential and early-career women working in social and environmental change. Women who are selected to join the Unlock Your Leadership program will become part of the Women’s Impact Alliance. This special group of women are selected based on the scope and scale of their impact, their potential to accelerate change, and their commitment to self-development.

Benefits

 By participating in the Unlock Your Leadership program, you will

  • Clarify your core values and how to lead with power and authenticity
  • Identify your core limiting beliefs and learn to access the wisdom of your inner leader.
  • Gain practical strategies and tools for personal and leadership resiliency, and well-being.
  • Explore what it means to lead with courage and vulnerability.
  • Build resilience and capacity to think clearly under pressure.
  • Strategize approaches to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity.
  • Cultivate mindful self-compassion practices that allow you to do work with more ease.
  • Learn practices to radical self-care and wellbeing.
  • Expand the concept of leadership agility and learn to lead in different ways to meet the needs of different situations.
  • Practice strengthening your leadership multi-dimensionality.
  • Deepen confidence in your leadership.

Why should you apply?

  • Through the combination of executive coaching, trusted peer-to-peer forums, and leader-lab practice modules, our Unlock Your Leadership Program is designed to increase leadership capacity. It is the only program specifically created for high-potential and early-career women working in social and environmental change.
  • Having access to a coach can be a significant influence on professional and personal development. If you want greater understanding of your strengths, if you need to make a change or a complex decision, if you want to step deeply into your leadership, if you are seeking balance and purpose, one of our coaches can help you.

For more information, visit

https://www.tcfs.org/program/

Related Articles

Back to top button
Arbiterz

Subscribe to our newsletter!

newsletter

Stay up to date with our latest news and articles.
We promise not to spam you!

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

Arbiterz will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.