Funding Opportunities for African Businesses

1. The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CYFE) for Call for Solutions in Nigeria.

CFYE  aims to co-invest in innovative, private sector-led partnerships that aim to address the youth unemployment challenge by creating, matching, and improving jobs for youth, especially women.

CFYE’s second Call for Solutions in Nigeria will focus on expanding on the work currently being done by existing partners in the country by supporting scalable private sector led initiatives that can create employment opportunities for youth, particularly those in rural areas with lower levels of education and women. In particular, we are seeking:

• Business models that have been piloted, have proven concepts and are looking to scale.
• Innovative models that aim to address systemic bottlenecks and bring about improvement to whole ecosystems.

Eligibility Requirements

The following eligibility criteria will apply:

1. Principles: Should be able to adhere to CFYE’s guiding principles & priorities.
2. Exclusion Criteria: The project and organizations involved in delivering the project must pass the FMO exclusion criteria.
3. Applicant Eligibility:

• CYFE strongly invites applications from private sector companies, including business accelerators and impact investors, as we believe that private sector involvement is the most effective way to develop and test market-based solutions that respond to the challenge of youth employment.
• CYFE actively welcomes partnerships or consortium responses to this challenge.
• Non-profit entities are also welcome to apply, but they must apply in consortium with a private-sector partner with confirmed labour demand as the lead applicant.
• We strongly prefer to work with fast-growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The applicant needs to be in their scale up or growth stage. Activities presented in the projects/solutions need to be tested concepts

4. Local Presence: The lead organization or at least one of the consortium partners, has a local operating presence in the country.
5. Job Type: Jobs may focus on waged employment, dependent self-employment or self-employment. The jobs created, matched or improved must be for youth aged 18-35 years. The proposal must demonstrate that the aspirations and requirements of youth have been taken into consideration in the design of the concept.
6. Decency of Jobs: For jobs to qualify as “decent”, basic requirements include an average monthly income of the minimum wage requirement of N30,000/ month. Jobs should be maintained for at least 6 months and should be in compliance with the labour laws of Nigeria.
7. Total Targets:

• The minimum employment impact per project will be 1000 jobs within the project timeframe which is a maximum of 2 years.
• The project must meet the minimum eligibility criteria for job targets through a combination of CFYE categories: create, match or improve.
• There should be a clear Pathway to Employment in the project approach. CFYE will not support training-only projects.
• Employment creation, matching or improvement (of jobs) must be a direct outcome of the project

Projects need to be focused on either tech-enabled jobs or jobs for women.

8. Women Targets: Of the total youth employment created, matched, or improved;

Window 1: at least a third (33.3%) should be for women. However, larger beneficiary targets will be regarded favorably.

Window 2: 100% should be for women

9. Leverage & CFYE Contribution: The applicant’s co-investment must be at least equal to the contribution requested by CFYE. The minimum CFYE co-investment is € 200.000. Sources of co-funding have to be approved based on the guidance provided​​.

Timeline:

• Opening: The Nigeria Call for Solutions launched on 30 September 2022.
• Webinar: CYFE will host a webinar to formally launch the Call for Solutions in the 2nd week of October 2022. An announcement with registration details will be made available on this page & sent to those who fill in the stay informed form below. The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be published on this page soon after the webinar.
• Deadline: CYFE expect all Concept Notes to be submitted by 7 November 2022.

CFYE is calling for innovative and demand-driven projects from either private sector organizations or private sector-led consortia that will maximize employment opportunities for youth (especially women) under two thematic windows.

Application Deadline:  7 November 2022.

For More Information: https://www.opportunitiesforafricans.com/the-challenge-fund-for-youth-employment-cyfe-for-call-for-solutions-in-nigeria-%ef%bf%bc/ 

2. SAIS Investment Readiness Programme 2023 in Africa

Are you running a tech start-up and want to challenge the status quo of the agriculture and food tech industry? Do you have a solution that makes the industry more sustainable and profitable while at the same time empowering value chain actors? Do you want support to learn how to raise investment, reach more customers, and have a more significant impact? Then this unique (and free!) acceleration programme is for you!

The Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) is part of the GIZ project ‘Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Start-up’” (SAIS). SAIS is a project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is co-funded by Bayer Cares Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Our overall goal at SAIS is to increase incomes in the African agri-food sector through scaling proven digital innovations in the AgTech, FoodTech and livestock industry.

What do they offer?

The SAIS Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) offers African tech start-ups from the agriculture, food, and livestock sectors a year-long tailor-made support program to make you investor ready and scale up your business! (Available in English and French).

Regular sessions of personalized coaching with local and international experts

• Tailored to your specific and individual needs, during which strategies and measures for rapid growth will be developed and implemented.

Access to online training  (tailored)

• Structured around several key themes to develop your start-up further, e. g. Pitch Training, Growth Strategy, Data Analytics & Management, Term Sheet, Valuation, Market Analysis, Marketing & Sales, and so on.

Integrating you into a local hub (optional)

• To get you a workplace for 6 months and facilitate contacts with major players in the local start-up scene, if needed.

Access to additional services

• To optimize certain key areas of your business, e. g. legal advice, online marketing, digital product optimization, design, and coding.

Access to the GIZ network

• Of their global presence, local expertise, far-reaching networks, and years of experience working with the private sector, investors, and business partners. The network can help you to improve the visibility and contacts with start-ups nationally and internationally through participation in national, regional, and international events dedicated to African entrepreneurs.

Add-on: Programme for Female Leaders

• In addition to the above-mentioned, GIz offers special support for female founders and women in leading positions of the start-ups:

GIZ’s Female Leader Circle meets with the aim of bringing women in leadership positions

• Together, networking and learning from each other. Input sessions on topics that are of special interest for female leaders serve as a starting point for discussion.
• A bi-annual Female Founders Award recognizes the achievement of female founders.

Benefits

Weekly advisory and coaching sessions

• Weekly advisory and coaching sessions held virtually during which strategies and measures for rapid growth and scaling, product improvement and innovation, leadership and business management operations are developed and implemented with the startups.

Additional services

• Based on the startup’s commitment, access to additional services to optimize certain segments (e.g. legal advice, marketing, coding, product optimization, etc.) of the startups.

Hub integration

• Integration of the selected startups in one of GIZ’s partner hubs in their home country in order to facilitate their visibility and establish contact with relevant actors in the local startup scene.

Access to GIZ-SAIS network

• Access to investors and business partners from the GIZ-SAIS network.

Extended services

• Add-on services for female entrepreneurs.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the SAIS Investment Readiness Programme, you must meet the following conditions:

Legal form

• You have to be registered and operate in Africa.You have to provide a certificate of registration.

Team (founders)

• You must have a founding team of at least two people who work ideally full time for the start-up.Your founding and management team should have entrepreneurial and technical experience in their area of operation.

Digital product/service

• You must have a viable digital product that positively impacts the incomes of its customers.Your product must have a positive impact on the African AgTech, FoodTech or livestock sector (vertical sectors that have an influence can be accepted like eCommerce, FinTech, Logistics, EdTech etc).

Market access and traction You must have launched your digital product at least six months before the application period.Your start-up has to provide evidence of traction (customer base, first revenue).

 Business model

• Your start-up should have an easily understandable and convincing business model.Your start-up should have a clear statement of the problem, clear digital solution, clear customer segment, and clear revenue stream.

Add-ons (But not musts)

• You have women in your founding team or as senior managers.
• You or one of your founding team members has an IT background.
• You and your founding team members have previous start-up experience.
• With your product you target a vulnerable group of customers.

For more information, visit; https://www2.fundsforngos.org/education/sais-investment-readiness-programme-2023-in-africa/ 

3. Cross-Border Digital Entrepreneurship Program 2022 for Nigerian Entrepreneurs

The Cross-border digital entrepreneurship program amongst others, seeks to promote integrated development between Nigeria and Countries where partners are. Being a go-to organization in the innovation and entrepreneurship space, the main objective of the 8-week CBDEP is to support the economic and social development of Nigeria and partner countries through the development of talents, entrepreneurs, and home-grown innovative solutions.

The cross border digital entrepreneurship program, an initiative of Opolo global and Scale Camp Canada seeks to promote integrated development between Nigeria and countries where partners are. The program seeks to address the knowledge and skills gap in building sustainable businesses by Nigerian innovators and ideators.

The program is a 3 phase program consisting:

• Pilot program
• Venture creation program
• Venture growth program

Join a diverse cohort of innovators in the Pilot program starting on October 25th, 2022.

Duration: October 25th – December 13th , 2022.

Benefits

Participants will be admitted as an Opolo Fellow and will have access to coaching, mentorship, masterminds, and access to the Opolo’s Community Platform.

Application Deadline: October 18, 2022

 For More Information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM7kGxo3wtU0MpmYr2dBl1a_fL3vhilMOHJL3EEF410ljQ7g/viewform

4. Academy for Women Entrepreneurs for Nigerian Northern Women Entrepreneurs.

The Association of Northern Women Entrepreneurs with support from the Embassy of the United States of America, Abuja launches the Academy for Women Entrepreneur (AWE) in Sokoto and Kebbi States.

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)  gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses.

By promoting women’s economic opportunities and ensuring that women have the capabilities and resources needed to participate in the economy, the AWE program directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.

Timeline

October 6 to February 6, 2023

For More Information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdy5QiRbkwvaPgrxumL7ehz2tkk4F2sgr9BtSnf7bufP4QK5Q/viewform

5. GAIN announces Call for Proposals in Nigeria

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking Proposals for Raw Materials Quality, Handling Finished Product Packaging and Storage Material Specification to Meet Quality and Regulatory Standards in Nigeria.

The purpose of this RFP is to engage services of a Service Provider to conduct targeted training(s) for processors and businesses on raw materials quality, manufacturing process, handling, material balance, finished product packaging and storage material specification to meet quality and regulatory standards with a specific focus on women-led businesses functioning in four (4) selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in each of the four selected states of Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa and Oyo in the Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, Rice and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato value chains. This activity is part of the targeted intervention to support and strengthen the efficiency of supply chain actors operating in selected priority value chains.

The Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples project is currently implemented by The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in partnership with GIZ and the Green Innovation Centre for the Agricultural and Food Sector in Nigeria (GIC), with support from the German Government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Strengthening nutrition project will strengthen the GIC priority value chains and improve food security and safety through improved diets for farmers, farm workers, other workers in businesses in these value chains, and among the wider population in Nigeria.

Objectives

The main objective is to engage a service provider to conduct targeted training of food processors, aggregators, and distributors on raw materials quality, manufacturing process, handling, material balance, finished product packaging and storage material specification to meet quality and regulatory standards. This training is for processors and distributors operating in the Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, Rice and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato value chains in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue and Oyo States.

The specific objectives are:

• To design and develop training manuals to enable food processors, aggregators and distributors to understand raw material quality , material balance, manufacturing process for efficient finished product packaging and storage to meet quality and regulatory requirements. These manuals will be deployed for training of food processors, aggregators and distributors in the priority value chains across the following states:
• Vitamin A Maize: Kaduna
• Rice: Nasarawa
• Rice and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato: Benue
• Vitamin A Cassava and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato: Oyo
• To train women and youth-led SMEs (food processors, aggregators, and distributors) on the raw material quality and material handling to meet regulatory standards.
• To train new and existing women and youth-led SMEs on finished food product packaging as a means of storage to prevent spoilage and contamination and as an aesthetic value to increase demand for the consumption of biofortified foods.
• To develop the capacity of SMEs through practical training to adhere to storage specifications after product packaging to ensure nutrient retention for biofortified food products from Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP).

 Scope

The successful applicant shall present the following services:

• Develop a gender strategy document to guide the implementation of the training(s) across the targeted states.
• Design a manual for the targeted training for food processors, aggregators and distributors on raw materials quality, manufacturing process, handling, material balance, finished product packaging and storage material specification to meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Facilitate the training of 300 women/youth-led businesses with a particular focus on food processors, aggregators and distributors on raw materials quality, manufacturing process, handling, material balance, finished product packaging and storage material specification to meet quality and regulatory standards across the four states.
• Submit training deliverables covering each state of intervention which is not limited to the training manual, attendance list, training report etc.

Approaches

This will be carried out using three interlinked approaches:

• Improving the nutritional quality of staple foods produced by SMEs and farmers involved in GIC activities.
• Improving the capacity of food safety and value chain actors to adhere to standards and regulations on best practices.
• Supporting technical innovations for supply chains through innovation challenges and innovation clinics.

Criteria

Qualification

• The service provider shall be an individual or organization legally registered in Nigeria with proven experience in post-harvest handling and storage of raw materials and working on biofortified staples. The service provider should also have experience working across the four value chains, Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, Rice and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato, specifically on finished product packaging and storage.
• Prior experience in manufacturing process, handling, and material balance for food products developed from biofortified staples (Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato). A track record of training SMEs on food processing, raw material sourcing, and handling to meet food safety and regulatory requirements for nutritious and safe food is essential.

Evaluation Criteria

• Proposals will be reviewed by the Selection Team. The following indicate a list of the significant criteria against which proposals will be assessed. This list is not exhaustive or 100% inclusive and is provided to enhance the applicants’ ability to respond with substance.
• Applicants are required to submit the following information, conforming to the guidelines given in this section:

Understanding of the scope of work:

Proposal shall demonstrate a clear understanding of the project objective and deliverables.

Demonstrate a clear understanding of the technical requirements of this RFP:

• Providing detailed technical documentation of the proposed strategy.
• Evidence of experience delivering solutions using the proposed information technology platform.
• The creative and methodological approaches required to implement each of the parts of the scope of work.
• Comprehensiveness of work plan and reasonableness of proposed time frame:
• Proposal shall include a feasible work plan to ensure successful completion of deliverables.The work plan details how activities will be coordinated. Detailed budget and cost-effectiveness of proposed approach: Evidence of cost-effective approaches to undertaking the scope of work within the proposed budget.Proposal shall identify possible challenges and include creative approaches to addressing them.
• Management and personnel plan: The team members working on this project shall have the relevant qualifications and overall experience required to successfully implement the project.Roles and responsibilities of each team member shall be clearly defined. GAIN shall have onemain contact person clearly identified in the proposal.A duly completed offer of services.

For more information,  visit; https://www2.fundsforngos.org/agriculture-food-nutrition/gain-announces-call-for-proposals-in-nigeria/

6. 2023 Hult Prize Challenge on Redesigning Fashion (US$1 Million in Seed Capital)

The 2023 Hult Prize Challenge is now open for applications to create a for-profit social venture in the fashion/clothing industry. Every year, one team receives $1M USD in funding to make their idea a reality.

Today’s fashion industry is huge. It’s the world’s third-largest manufacturing sector, contributing $2.4 trillion to the global economy. Over 150 billion articles of clothing are produced each year. Fashion employs 300 million people across its value chain*—a sixth of the world’s workforce.

The fashion industry is responsible for up to 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions—more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. It consumes 215 trillion liters of water a year and accounts for 9% of the microplastics found in our oceans. For the majority of workers, conditions are dangerous and exploitative. Compensation is often below a livable wage, especially for women who comprise 80% of the workforce.

The industry must change. If not, the United Nations has little hope of meeting its Sustainable Development Goals by the 2030 deadline. It’s time to rethink every stage of the fashion industry’s ecosystem, from how we source textiles and manufacture garments to how we buy them and dispose of them.

Application Procedure:

• Step 1: Align with one or more of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development. Goals
• Step 2: Choose an area of impact in the fashion industry’s value chain that you feel passionate about.
• Step 3: Build your team.
• Step 4: Explore your idea with Design Thinking.
• Step 5: Develop your Step 6: Create your pitch. business plan.
• Step 6: Create your pitch.
• Step 7: Compete!

Competition Details

You’ll need to make it through three qualifying rounds to compete at the Finals in Paris for the $1million prize.

• Round 1: OnCampus [Year-round] Compete with other teams at your university, or apply independently through the General Application.
• Round 2: Summits [June and July] Campus Finalists choose one of multiple cities worldwide where they compete alongside other teams worldwide for a spot at our 4-week Global Accelerator program.
• Round 3: Global Accelerator [September] Semi-Finalists transform their business ideas into investment-ready social ventures with four
• intensive weeks of mentorship and preparation at a thrilling world-class destination.
• Round 4: Finals [September] Only a select few teams will be chosen as finalists to pitch their ideas before globally renowned judges in Paris.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2022

For More Information: https://www.hultprize.org/2023-hult-prize-challenge/