Funding Opportunity For African Businesses

1. Access Bank Udacity Advance Africa Scholarships for Young Africans

 Deadline – 19th June 2023

 Udacity has joined forces with Access Bank, a global commercial bank, to support individuals in Africa keen to acquire tech-oriented skills to begin their professional journeys. Udacity takes pride in offering practical learning experiences in various areas including Business Analytics, Programming, Data Science, Product Management, and Digital Marketing. Those who receive scholarships would showcase their expertise in highly desirable tech skills by successfully completing a collection of real-life projects.

Requirements

• Anyone 20 to 30 years of age and above is encouraged to apply.
• Scholarship recipients should be prepared to invest about 5–10 hours per week during the Nanodegree programs.

Eligibility Criteria

• STEM graduate or demonstrated evidence of strong interest in pursuing IT and Digital Career.
• Consistent access to a laptop
• Consistent access to strong data network and power supply
• Commitment to the time required for the program
• Must give pre-consent during application for Udacity to share data with the bank
• Applicants based in Africa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique, and Cameroun are strongly preferred

Available Programs

• Business Analytics
• Intro to Programming
• Programming for Data Science with Python
• Product Manager
• Digital Marketing

For more information and job application details, vist  Access Bank Udacity Advance Africa Scholarships for Young Africans

Also Read: Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

 

2. Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) Call for Entrepreneurs – Apply by 25th June 2023

Deadline – 25th June 2023

 Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium, invites local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania to apply for the “2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023”. The call is looking for entrepreneurs with expertise in addressing the continent’s energy access challenges with a focus on rural and off-grid communities.

The SESA project, funded by the European Commission, operates in nine African nations with the help of national and international partners, testing and verifying scalable sustainable energy solutions and business models that create local economic development prospects.

This appeal focuses on certain innovations that have been assessed by SESA partners and offer good chances for local business owners in the four countries to build them up. Interested businesses should be operational in areas such as solar irrigation technology in peri-urban and rural communities waste-to-energy solutions to increase clean cooking, and solar irrigation technologies for rural communities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Your enterprise must be registered and operationally active in Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda or Tanzania.
• Your enterprise must have officially been in operation for at least three years.
• Your enterprise must have generated revenues and provide financial statements including income statements and balance sheets for the last two years (2022 and 2021).
• Proof of previous similar work done in the country.

Benefits

• Each selected enterprise will receive between € 50,000 to €100,000 for the design, implementation, and evaluation of submitted replication projects via service agreements.
• After selection, they will have the opportunity to participate in the SESA Incubator Programme run by SESA partner Smart Innovation Norway (SIN). The programme includes mentorship, coaching, and access to networks of industry experts and potential investors.

For more information and job application details, visit  Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) Call for Entrepreneurs

 

3. Royal Commonwealth Society Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

Deadline – 3oth June 2023

 The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023 is now open for entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Categories

• Senior Category
• Junior Category

Benefits

• Top Prize: The top two winners from each category will be awarded with a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special Awards Ceremony at a royal palace.
• Awards: All successful entries will receive a Certificate of Participation and a number of entrants will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for excellence in writing.

Eligibility Criteria

Senior Category

• Born between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2009 (14-18 years of age)

• Script a dialogue between two people, with contrasting viewpoints, on an issue that divides generations
• The 2023 Year of Youth was a moment of significant social change – what was its impact on the world, write an essay.

Junior Category

• Born on or after 1 July 2009 (under 14 years of age)
• In fiction and throughout history, young people have performed numerous acts of heroism. Choose your favourite young hero and write to them about why you admire them.
• What is your youthful superpower, and how can it make a positive difference in the world?
• Why does your voice matter?

For more information, visit Royal Commonwealth Society Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

 

4. Wise Guys SaaS–Africa Acceleration Program for Early-Stage Digital B2B SaaS Startup

Deadline – 17th September 2023

Level up your SaaS startup with our SaaS Acceleration Program in Africa and start an intense journey. Startup Wise Guys SaaS acceleration Africa program will provide an optimized approach that delivers tailored guidance and support from world-class mentors and experts. Our accelerator program will help you navigate the bumps in the company-building road, revolutionize your go-to-market strategy and encourage you to bring your A game.

Eligibility Criteria

This program is mainly for English-speaking East and West African early-stage digital B2B SaaS startups with initial traction, a solid team, and a focus on one of these areas:

• FinTech
• AgriTech
• Edtech
• CleanTech
• RetailTech
• You have a working MVP
• Your startup has at least 2 co-founders or team members
• You are building initial customer traction, MRR or revenues.

Benefits

• Up to €65K investment for up to 12% equity (45K cash + 20K program) with a follow-on possibility.
• Get access to top-notch industry experts joining a network of +600 founders, +350 mentors and +200 investors.

For more information, Visit Wise Guys SaaS–Africa Acceleration Program for Early-Stage Digital B2B SaaS Startup

5. D-Prize Challenge Social Entrepreneurs to Fight Poverty

 Deadline – 24th June 2023

TD-Prize initiates the establishment of new enterprises that disseminate established methods for alleviating poverty. Numerous effective solutions to eradicate poverty have already been created worldwide. However, we have identified numerous proven strategies that are not being sufficiently implemented, resulting in significant gaps in their delivery. Consequently, millions of individuals continue to lack access to fundamental tools for combating poverty.

Can you design a new business or NGO that delivers a proven poverty intervention at scale? Submit your design for a new organization that solves one of our Distribution Challenges. The most promising team will be awarded $20,000 USD to launch their new organization wherever extreme poverty exists.

Eligibility

• D-Prize is for aspiring entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world, of any age, and any background. The majority of our awardees have not launched nor raised any funding.
• D-Prize will consider funding existing organizations only if you are distributing an existing intervention and you have a need for high-risk capital that cannot be supported by your current donors or revenue.
• Existing organizations applying to D-Prize should have operated for no more than 18 months and raised no more than $30,000 in outside funding.

Evaluation Process

Round 1
Submit your concept note and resume(s). We receive 2000+ submissions per competition.

Round 2
Top 5% of entrepreneurs are invited to answer short-written questions. You will have two weeks to draft and submit.

Final Round
Top entrepreneurs interview via phone and email. The top 1% will receive up to $20,000 to launch.

Launch
You will spend the next three months using your talent to start a venture that can grow and help millions of people.

For more information, visit  D-Prize Challenge Social Entrepreneurs to Fight Poverty

Also Read: Funding Opportunities for African Businesses

 

6. Royal Academy of Engineering Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Deadline – 25th July 2023

The Royal Academy of Engineering has opened applications for the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation as the programme approaches its 10th anniversary. The Africa Prize supports ambitious entrepreneurs and innovators developing local and scalable solutions to everyday challenges on the continent. The academy awards Crucial entrepreneurial support to ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to address local challenges, demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development.

Requirements

• African entrepreneurs from all engineering disciplines, and with an innovation that can provide scalable solutions to local challenges.
• Individuals or small teams living and working in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Submitted innovations should have a social, economic or environmental benefit, and should be at an early stage of development, with the potential for upscaling and commercialisation.

Benefits

• The winner of the Africa Prize receives £25,000 and three runners-up are each awarded £10,000.
• Up to 16 shortlisted applicants receive a unique package of support over eight months to help them accelerate their businesses, including comprehensive and tailored business training, sector-specific engineering mentoring, communications support, pitching opportunities and access to the Academy’s network of high-profile, experienced engineers and business experts in the UK and across Africa.

For more information, visit Royal Academy of Engineering Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

 

7. German Chancellor Fellowship Programme for Emerging Leaders

 Deadline – 15th October 2023

Are you interested in actively participating in an international network of dedicated leaders? Then come to Germany with a German Chancellor Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to take the next step of your career.

Requirements

The German Chancellor Fellowship sponsors future decision-makers, multipliers and thought leaders – regardless of industry. We invite you to apply if you:

• Hold Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, South African or American citizenship
• Work in a field such as politics, business, media, administration, society or culture and have demonstrable initial leadership experience
  will have completed your first academic degree (Bachelor’s or comparable degree) no more than twelve years ago. The key date for calculating this twelve-year period is 1 October 2024.
• Want to conduct an independently developed project with a host of your choice in Germany have good knowledge of English and/or German

Benefits

• A monthly fellowship grant of 2,000 euros, 2,300 euros or 2,600 euros – depending on your training and career level
• An intensive language course before you begin your fellowship and funding for German courses during your fellowship.
• Individual support during your stay in Germany
• additional financial support, e.g. for mobility, accompanying family members, travel expenses, full private health insurance or additional German language courses
• Networking activities that enable you to collaborate in peer groups and independently organise smaller network formats with other fellows.

For more information visit German Chancellor Fellowship Programme for Emerging Leaders

 

8. Jana Robeyst Trust Fund Small Grants for Sub-Saharan Africa 2023/2024 – Grants in Africa 2023/2024

Deadline – Open all year round

The Jana Robeyst Trust Fund (JRTF) is seeking applications for its “Small Conservation Grants” to provide financial resources to early career scientists/conservationists and non-profit organizations to carry out vital field conservation and research work in Africa. The JRTF aims to provide relatively small levels of funding for ongoing projects or pilot programmes with a clear conservation value.

Funding Information

Small grants will be awarded up to a maximum of 1,500 euros.

Eligibility Criteria

• This funding program is open to individuals or organizations for projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Applicants can be based anywhere in the world.
• Both successful and unsuccessful applicants are welcome to apply again 12 months after the submission.
• Eligible projects will have a clear conservation value and be based in a country in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Preference will go to projects in relation to elephants.
• Education projects will also be considered.

How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit the grant form in English or French. Additional information may be provided in separate attachments.
They will request:

• The grant form fully completed CV with the contact details of two references (if one letter of reference is sent with the application, the referees will not be contacted, the referees need to have professional email addresses).
• The application must be sent through a professional email address (not Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.).
  If not possible, please send proof of affiliation with a university, research institution or non-profit organization.
• Applications must be submitted via email at the address given on the website.

For more information and application details, see; Jana Robeyst Trust Fund Small Grants for Sub-Saharan Africa

Also Read: Funding opportunities for African Businesses

 

9. Truworths Trainee Fashion Graphic Designer Program for South Africans

 Deadline – 9th Febuary 2024

Are you a creative that thrives on designing original artwork and branding in line with fashion trends? Keeping up to date with the latest graphics and print direction shown on the catwalks, tradeshows and key influencing brands is what drives you. In this role you will work closely with Buyers; Fashion Designers; Manufacturers; Printers and Mills to create fashionable prints that reflect each brand’s unique DNA. This opportunity is based at our Head Office in Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities

• To design placement graphics, branding and all-over prints for a variety of fabric types and garment styles
• Research print and fashion trends internationally and locally to determine key new directions in prints and graphics.
• Advise Buyers and Designers on how to interpret the latest trends into fashionable graphics for the South African market
• Be involved in preparing graphics and prints for production from a technical perspective

Qualifications and Experience

• Graphic Design, Surface/textile design, Fashion Design or a related qualification
• Technical ability to design graphics for fashion garments and fabrics
• A basic understanding of various print techniques e.g. Screenprints, digital prints
• Knowledgeable and up-to-date on the latest branding and graphics for the season
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
• Attach portfolio of evidence upon application

Competencies

• Being involved and hands-on with suggestions for styling details, branding and graphics
• Using computer-aided design work as well as freehand sketching on programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, etc.

For more information, visit Truworths Trainee Fashion Graphic Designer Program for South Africans

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