Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

1.    Call for Proposals: STOP Spillover Media Grants 2022

     Deadline: 9-Jan-23

Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering organizational grants to media organizations, including traditional news media, broadcast media, development media, new media and independent media to support capacity-building activities for media and journalists related to understanding and preventing zoonotic viral spillover.

Journalists and media organizations are well-positioned to provide this information, but the presence of mis- and disinformation, lack of publicly available data and other barriers pose challenges to producing high-quality journalistic work about zoonotic disease spillover and pandemic preparedness. More training and resources are needed to bring journalists up to speed quickly, so they can disseminate information to the communities most at risk.

To fill this gap, EJN has joined a global consortium led by Tufts University and USAID, known as STOP Spillover, which is working to understand and address the risks posed by known zoonotic viruses with the potential to spill over from animals and cause outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics in humans. As part of STOP Spillover, EJN is offering grants to organizations to support reporting and media development activities to increase public information and journalist capacity around this topic.

Objectives

Proposed activities should contribute to the following overarching objectives:

• Strengthen collaboration between the media, scientists, healthexperts and local communities to gain a deeper understanding of zoonotic viral spillover;
• Generate greater awareness at the community and policy levels of zoonotic disease risk to help communities, scientists and policymakers identify, anticipate and mitigate future outbreaks;
• Bolster the capacity of journalists and media organizations to produce high-quality, factual, evidence-based and engaging public information on zoonotic viral spillover, prevention strategies and the most up-to-date science;
• Increase the quantity of high-quality content and media coverage on key public health themes to focus attention on the intersections between disease, the environmentand social dimensions including food security, migration, gender and more;
• Empower women, the poor, youth, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups to address the disproportionate impacts of disease by amplifying their voices and increasing their access to high-quality, publicly available information.

Project Themes

They are accepting applications that seek to increase media coverage or train journalists on a wide variety of topics related to high-priority zoonotic viral spillover risks and disease mitigation. They are particularly interested in projects that help journalists find and use data and the latest scientific research in their reporting; explore ways to better explain the drivers of viral spillover and their intersections with other global issues; and elevate the voices of women and other marginalized communities most at risk.

Applications must be focused on the following zoonotic diseases. Proposals that center on diseases not listed here will not be considered.

• Ebola
• Marburg
• Animal-origin zoonotic influenza viruses
• Animal-origin coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV)
• Nipah virus
• Lassa virus

Please note proposals must take a nuanced approach to the role of gender in spillover risk and the differences in risk between men, women and other marginalized gender identities.

Also Read: Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

Funding Information

They anticipate supporting at least 3 organizations with up to US$10,000 each in funding. Generally speaking, applications with smaller budgets will be more competitive, but we will consider larger grant amounts up to US$10,000 for projects using innovative approaches that may be more resource-intensive and time-consuming.

Eligible Activities

Examples of possible activities include,  but are not limited to:

• Field trips and/or training workshops that bring journalists together with experts
• Development of reporters’ resources and e-learning courses or tools
• Mentoring of journalists
• Special reporting projects
• Networking and partnership activities for journalists
• Development of new storytelling platforms
• Establishment of a journalists’ network.

Eligibility Criteria

• Media organizations including traditional news media, broadcast media, development media, new media and independent media are welcome to apply. Please note that they will not consider applications rooted in advocacy, activism or political campaigning.
• They are accepting applications from the following countries only: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, Cambodiaand Vietnam. Organizations must be legally registered in one of these countries to be eligible – they will not accept applications from organizations elsewhere looking to conduct activities in one of these target countries. Organizations must also maintain a bank account with the ability to receive international transfers and the appropriate license, if necessary, to receive foreign funding (particularly in Bangladesh.)
• For the purposes of this grant opportunity, they will be accepting applications in English, Bangla, French, Vietnamese and Khmer. Unfortunately, they do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time, but project activities can be completed in any language.
• Organizations that have received support from EJN in the past are eligible, however, they will take past performance into consideration during the selection process and may favor organizations that have not yet received their support.
• EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct.

For more information,

Visit https://earthjournalism.net/opportunities/stop-spillover-media-grants-2022

2. USAID Open Call for Achieving and Sustaining HIV/TB Epidemic Control in South Africa

Deadline: 17-Jan-23

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified local organizations to implement a program titled “Achieving and Sustaining HIV/TB Epidemic Control in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.”

USAID strongly encourages effective, evidence-based approaches (with new “innovation”7 where appropriate to the context) that are tailored specifically to address the development challenges of attaining HIV epidemic control and TB elimination in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Effective and working partnerships with communities, community-based organizations and civil society that will result in services reaching the people most in need is encouraged. Identifying and resolving health systems barriers will be key to promoting long-term sustainability of results achieved under the Activity.

The goal of USAID’s “Achieving and Sustaining HIV Epidemic Control in the KwaZulu-Natal Province” (hereinafter referred to as the Activity) is to support long, healthy lives for the population of KwaZulu-Natal Province by achieving and sustaining HIV/TB epidemic control.

USAID aims to reach this goal by achieving the following strategic objectives:

• Close the gaps to HIV epidemic control;
• Sustain health gains through strengthened, improved, and resilient health systems; and
• Leverage community, civil society, traditional structures, and private sector partnerships to improve and sustain service delivery and client outcomes.

 Funding Information

USAID intends to provide up to approximately $104 million in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period. This Activity will be incrementally funded over the life of the Activity, subject to the availability of funds.

 Geographic Focus

The geographic target area of the Activity is the KwaZulu-Natal Province with tailored and targeted interventions and technical support at the district level, specifically in the highest HIV and TB burden districts Harry Gwala, King Cetshwayo and Ugu Districts. These districts may change in alignment with USAID, PEPFAR and/or GoSA direction.

Eligibility Criteria

For purposes of consistency and reporting, the definition of “local entity” means an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:

• Is legally organized under the laws of South Africa;
• Has as its principal place of businessor operations in South Africa;
• Is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of South Africa; and
• Is managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.

For more information,

Visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=344159

3. Global Change Award 2023: Calling all Innovators (Grant of 1 million euros)

Deadline: 8-Dec-22

The H&M Foundation is looking for bright minds that can transform fashion and change the way it is seen, worn, and made.

The aim of the Global Change Award is to find, support and scale disruptive ideas that can protect the planet and turn the fashion and textile industry into a planet positive one.

Regenerative fibres, resources looping in never-ending cycles and reimagined supply chain solutions. The momentum to transform the industry has never been stronger

Categories

For 2023, the GCA is turning it up a notch. The Foundation is updating its scope to cover more ground, raise the bar on innovation and help shift the industry into a planet positive one. The winning ideas should fall into one of three categories:

• Regenerate – solutions towards planet positive effects.
• Repurpose – solutions towards circularity.
• Reimagine – solutions they have not even thought about yet.

Funding Information

• Five winning teams share a grant of 1 million euros and get access to a one-year-long GCA Impact Accelerator provided by the H&M Foundation, in collaboration with Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and The Mills Fabrica.
• Neither H&M Foundation nor H&M Group take any equity or intellectual property rights in the innovations as the aim is to benefit the entire industry.

Benefits

Five winning teams share a grant of 1 million euros and venture into the year-long GCA Impact Accelerator programme which includes invaluable coaching and support from the H&M Foundation and its partners Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and The Mills Fabrica.

Accenture – Business & Technology Readiness

Accenture offers GCA winners support with business and technology readiness, while also providing access to a large network of experts. The global professional services firm has extensive experience in bringing innovations to market at speed, and also helps the foundation winners articulate their multidimensional value, which is particularly valuable for early-stage start-ups.

KTH – Innovation Readiness

KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, offers GCA winners science and technology legacy, a framework for innovation development and guidance in key commercialisation areas.

The Mills Fabrica – Industry Access & Investor Readiness

The Mills Fabrica bridges the gap between innovators and industry players through their incubator programme, impact fund and innovation spaces. They provide the winners with investment readiness and peer portfolio synergies as well as industry exposure, ecosystem network and collaboration opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

Innovation knows no national borders and the foundation believes these early stage ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. Therefore, to reach as many great minds as possible the challenge is open to any individual and groups of up to four people over 18 years of age anywhere in the world. It is also open for institutions, organisations and social businesses, as well as for joint ventures, consortiums and other types of partnerships.

Please note that your entry must be in English and that all communication including the GCA Impact Accelerator will be in English.

For more information, visit https://hmfoundation.com/gca/

4. UNESCO Kulturweit Tandem exchange program for young Africans (fully funded to Germany)

Deadline: November 21^st, 2022.

Kulturweit-Tandem invites people from African countries and Germany to explore the history/histories of colonialism from many perspectives and to deal with our postcolonial present. You develop projects in culture, education and sustainability that you can implement together in Germany.

Program details

In the Kulturweit-Tandem, two participants from an African country and two from Germany deal with the history of colonialism and its effects on the present. Together you will develop projects against racism that you can implement in theatres, museums and schools, in clubs, initiatives or in companies in Germany.

 Requirements

• If the center of your life is in Germany, Kenya, Madagascar or Tanzania and if you are of legal age.
• Basic language skills in German, French or English are required
• In addition, very good knowledge of one of these three languages.

Formal requirements.

• You are of legal age and live in Germany or one of the participating African countries.
• You must have basic knowledge of German, French or English. You should have very good knowledge of one of the three languages.
• Please note the necessary requirements for a valid visa (vaccination status, etc.)

Personal requirements 

• Desire for international exchange
• Curiosity and openness to other people and places
• A sense of responsibility and independence
• Enjoy volunteering
• Willingness to work full-time (i.e. 38.5 to 40 hours per week) and to integrate into a team
• Interest in dealing with the history of colonialism, post colonialism and criticism of racism
• Enjoy project work

Benefits

 The program consists of a two-month, everyday language course, and a four-week seminar in Kenya and a three-month project phase in Germany. All participants receive financial support and educational support.

Kulturweit offers you:

• Coverage of the international and national travel expenses for flight or train to the seminar location and to the place of assignment and
• Subsidy for the two-month language course (German, English or French course)
• Accommodation and meals during the international seminar in an African country
• A full-time job for three months in an institution in the cultural, educational or sustainability sector in Germany. Here you will be supported with 750 euros per month. Please note that depending on the location of the assignment, you will have to find accommodation for this.
• International health, liability and accident insurance
• Organization and implementation of the accompanying educational program
• A contact person at the deployment site
• A contact person for questions about application, selection and placement, visa and security at the German commission for UNESCO
• Quality assurance and evaluation

What costs will you incur: 

• Visa and all associated costs (e.g. travel costs to embassies, consulates or authorities, processing fees, certifications, translations),
• Transfer (bus, train, taxi) to the airport at the place of residence.
• All costs that go beyond the monthly subsidy of 750 euros that you receive during the three-month project phase in Germany. During this time you have to take care of your own accommodation and meals.
• For participants from Germany: during the project phase in Germany you remain in your health insurance, you may incur costs. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Also Read: Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

 Multi-day follow-up seminar

 The follow-up seminar takes place during the last week of the project phase in Germany. Here all participants meets again to reflect on their experiences and to develop perspectives and possible collaborations for the time after participation in the program.

Educational and networking events

In addition, further educational and networking events will take place during the project phase, such as an interim seminar, in which the participants will reflect on their first few weeks together, exchange ideas about their projects and experience encounters that are thematically related to the program.

With Kulturweit-Tandem you are committed to a world without discrimination. You will gain international experience, given free rein to your creativity during the project phase and establish a network with which you can get involved for a long time to come.

Kulturweit-Tandem is funded by the federal foreign office and is part of the Federal Government’s catalog of measures against right-wing extremism and racism.

Application timeline:

The participating Africans countries are published on this website about two months in advance):

• March 2023 for the program from September 2023 to February 2024.
• July 2023 for the program from January to June 2024
• November 2023 for the program from May to October 2024.

For more information:

Visit the official webpage of the UNESCO Kulturweit Tandem Exchange Program

5. Mozilla Foundation Africa

Innovation Mradi: In Real Life (IRL) Fund.

Deadline: November 30, 2022

The IRL fund seeks to fuel movement building efforts by a range of organizations and collectives across the African continent. It is open to those across civil society advancing digital and human rights, both on and offline. We welcome applicants working intersectionally with other movements areas (e.g. community justice, racial justice, climate justice, human rights, economic justice, or other social justice movements.

Africa innovation Mradi leverages Mozilla’s role as stewards of the open web to promote innovation grounded in the unique needs of users on the Africa continent. The program establishes networks of partners and communities exploring and developing new technologies and products grounded in open innovation.

The IRL Fund seeks to support movement building efforts contributing to the development, utility and governance of technologies because of the impact each has on issues of social justice, both on and offline.

 Through the IRL Fund hope to:

• Connect technologists, entrepreneurs, civil society and policy makers who are addressing the impact of technology on social justice issues. And, to share knowledge and perspectives across disciplines with a focus on developing values-driven solutions.

Requirements

• The In Real Life (IRL) Fund will support work led by not for profit organizations focused on and based in the African continent.
• The spirit of this call is to amplify and resource initiatives that explore the intersection of social justice and technology, and IRL encourage applications exploring new ideas that innovate around the lived experiences of Africans.

To apply for this grant, you are;

• Not for profit social justice/civil society organizations; or
• Journalist/media based institutions; or
• Art based organizations; or
• Academic or research focused institutions; or
• Technology/digital rights focused not for profit orgs; or
• Network/ collective/ collaborations comprised of the above.

How to apply

Does this call resonate with you and your work?

The IRL Fund has a two-stage application process. In the first stage you will be asked to submit and expression of interest through a letter of intent (“LOI”). Applications that meet the eligibility and award criteria will be reviewed by an external committee of experts. You will only be invited to submit a full application if you meet the eligibility criteria and your concept note is selected to proceed to the next stage.

Before submitting a LOI, we encourage you to:

1. Complete this simple eligibility test
2. Review the application guide, which is downloadable and includes a full overview of the questions in the application.

For more information

Visit the official webpage of the Mozilla Foundation Africa Innovation Mradi: In Real Life (IRL) Fund

6. IWA-Grundfos ’Youth Action for SDG 6’ Fellowship for Young Water Professionals (Fully Funded To UN 2023 Water Conference, In New York, USA)

 Deadline: November 25, 2022

The international water association (IWA) and Grundfos youth action for SDG6 fellowship will mobilize twelve young water professionals (YWPs) from around the globe to actively participate in the UN 2023 Water Conference, In New York, USA. After the conference, the selected YWPs will work together with Grundfos staff and IWA to co-develop a publication that provides insights into the critical role that young people have in the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Agenda. The publication will focus on how the water sector can maximize the benefits of integrating young professionals to achieve sustainable development.

A joint Grundfos-IWA publication will be launched during a three-day gathering at the Grundfos HQ, in Denmark (date to be defined, after 2023), where the twelve selected YWPs will have the possibility to present their key learnings from the UN 2023 Water Conference. All financial support for the twelve participants will be provided through this fellowship.

Eligibility

The applicants are required to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be between 18 and 35 years of age on the date of the UN 2023 Water Conference (22 to 24 March 2023);
• Be an active IWA member – membership status will be verified by the IWA secretariat;
• Show evidence of commitment to delivering positive change in the water sector
• Demonstrate leadership capacity.

7. Rolex Explorers Club Grants Program

     Deadline: 15-Nov-22

The Explorers Club is pleased to announce another installment of The Rolex Explorers Club Grants program.

The Explorers Club and Rolex share a common vision – supporting and fostering emerging young explorers.

Proposals must contain a field science exploration component and address a novel scientific, environmental, or The Rolex Explorers Club Grants sends extraordinary young explorers into the field and promotes the significant role that exploration plays in addressing cutting-edge scientific questions, understanding their environment and the world they live in, and learning more about their history to protect their future.

Funding Information

• Historically, awards have been given in the amount of $10,000.

How they define field science for Explorers Club Granted Expeditions?

• Field science consists of expeditions that collect data in order to add to the scholarship, or knowledge in a given discipline, bound for peer reviewed publication. Relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to – anthropology, archaeology, wildlife, botany, earth sciences, marine and freshwater research, ecology, geography, paleontology. Priority will be given to expeditions tackling ambitious research questions over survey data. Uniqueness and rarity of the data collected will be taken into account.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to explorers under the age of 35 conducting fieldwork to address a novel scientific, environmental, or historic question.
• This program is open to all field science disciplines. In addition to demonstrating a spirit of exploration, candidates must put forward a project or research proposal that has a clear scientific rationale, represents original work, and has the potential for significant impact or new understanding.

For more information,

Visit https://www.explorers.org/grants/rolex-explorers-club-grant/

8.     Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship in Peace and Development Studies for Women (US$10,000 over 2 years)

       Deadline: 15-Jan-23

The International Peace Research Association Foundation (IRPAF) invites applications for the Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship in Peace and Development Studies for Women from countries in the Global South.

The IPRA Foundation was founded in 1990 as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. The Foundation’s purpose is to promote peace research and scholarship throughout the world.

Funding Information

• Amount: The scholarship consists of US$10,000 over 2 years (US$5,000 per year) to cover university expenses for the students.
• Duration: Scholarships are awarded for a period of two years.

 Eligibility Criteria

• The Dorothy Senesh Fellowship is available to women from countries in the Global South who have completed a Bachelor’s degree, who have been accepted into a graduate program, and whose graduate work is to be focused on issues related to the goals of the IPRA Foundation.
• Funds will only be dispersed when the selected candidate is admitted into a graduate program. Awards are considered based on need; therefore, students with substantial funding sources are less likely to be considered for the award.

Also Read: Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

Ineligible

This fellowship is not for research purposes and proposals.  Do not apply if you are male, if you are an undergraduate, or if you are not from a country in the Global South.

For more information,

Visit https://iprafoundation.org/2020-senesh-fellowship-announcement/

9. GroFin Grants and Funding for Small and Growing Businesses in Africa

Applications accepted all year round.

GroFin is seeking applications for its Small and Growing Business Fund.

GroFin is a pioneering development financier specializing in financing and supporting small and growing businesses (SGBs) across Africa and the Middle East.

GroFin combines patient capital and specialized business support to grow emerging market enterprises.

SGB Fund: First of its kind, uncapped and unlimited-life fund to support growth of small and growing businesses in Africa.

Objectives

80 – 100 investments per year at an average deal size of USD $100,000- USD $1.5 million in local currency.The fund typically provides finance in forms of medium term loans. Over 10 years the growing SGB portfolio will sustain 32,000 employees as part of its impact.

A specialist fund manager with a proven track record and local capacity in 9 countries in Africa.

Focus

Focus on Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) that are grossly underserved by other funds or financiers.

Delivers a unique integrated solution for patient risk capital and end-to-end business support to start-up and growing businesses at the SME base.

Fund Size

US $100+ Million

Locations

Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant’s business operates in one of the following countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia,
• Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda
• Applicant’s business is for profit
• Applicant’s business has a turnover of less than US$ 15 million and assets less than US$ 6 million
• Applicants require financing between US$ 100,000 and US$ 1.5 million
• the business is owner-operated and/or the owner is substantially involved in running the business

How to Apply

Applicants can apply online through the given website.

Applications accepted all year round.

For more information and application details,

See; GroFin Grants and Funding for Small and Growing Businesses in Africa