The Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAARS) fellowship program announces its annual call for research proposals. STAARS Fellows will be paired with researcher mentors from Cornell University or the World Bank with whom they will jointly author a paper on a topic of mutual interest relating to structural transformation in Africa south of the Sahara. The call is open to early career researchers, either Ph.D. students in their final year prior to degree completion. The selected applicants will receive funds to cover travel and participation in a three-week mentorship program. The deadline to submit a research proposal is 17 January 2025. Link to STAARS Fellowship
Africa
Cultural Survival — Indigenous Community Media Fund
The Indigenous Community Media Fund provides opportunities for Indigenous community radio stations and media outlets to strengthen their broadcast infrastructure and systems. Indigenous community radio stations can apply for a grant of up to US$8 thousand. Radio networks represented by at least three or more Indigenous radio stations can apply for funding of up to US$12 thousand. Proposed projects must be completed within a period of 6 to 10 months. Indigenous communities in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand are eligible to apply. The application deadline is 26 January 2025. Indigenous Community Media Fund
Industrial Development Cooperation — Green Tourism Incentive Program
The Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) seeks applications for the Green Tourism Incentive Program (GTIP). The key objective is to encourage privately owned tourism enterprises in South Africa to adopt responsible tourism practices by installing solutions to reduce their energy and water consumption and costs. The GTIP offers grant funding from 50% to 90% of the total cost of approved energy and water efficiency solutions. The application deadline is 28 February 2025. Green Tourism Incentive Program
Rainforest Trust — Creating New Protected Areas
The Rainforest Trust partners with local conservation organizations to create new protected areas and expand existing ones for Critically Endangered and Endangered species. The Initiative invites applications for conservation partnerships from nonprofit entities and NGOs for projects in tropical Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Applying organizations may submit proposals for either a land purchase or a protected area designation. Applications to create new protected areas are reviewed three times per year. The application deadlines are 01 March, 01 June, and 01 November 2025. Applications for less than US$250 thousand may be submitted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Link
French Committee for International Solidarity — Grants for Family Agriculture in West Africa 2025
The French Committee for International Solidarity (Comité Français pour la Solidarité Internationale – CFSI), in partnership with Fondation de France, funds projects that support small-scale farming in West Africa. Grants will support projects carried out by partnerships between European and West African nonprofit legal entities, research and training organizations in the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Projects can range from one to three years. Grants are a maximum of €15 thousand per year or €50 thousand in the case of a 3-year project. The deadline for project summaries (French, English) is 06 March 2025. Find the call
Bridges for Enterprise — Business Incubation Program for Social Enterprises
Bridges for Enterprise (BfE) works with social impact startups from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Incubation Program supports entrepreneurs seeking to solve some of the world’s most urgent challenges. The program is open to for-profit and non-profit social enterprises and startups at the pre-seed or seed stage. Participating entrepreneurs receive 3 to 4 months of professional advice and mentorship. Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis year-round. However, social entrepreneurs must submit their application before specific deadlines to be considered for specific cohorts: 01 April (Autumn Cohort) and 01 October (Spring Cohort). Link
Delft University of Technology — African Water Corridor Scholarship
The Delft University of Technology offers the African Water Corridor Scholarship for two Sub-Saharan African students in the Master’s program Environmental Engineering, track Water Resources Engineering. The scholarship comprises full tuition fees for this 2-year TU Delft CEG Master program based on the statutory fee or institutional rate and contribution for the living expenses. The application deadline is 15 January 2025. Water Corridor Scholarship
Innovations Against Poverty — Matching Grants
Innovations Against Poverty Challenge Fund offers matching grants ranging from €50 thousand to €200 thousand to businesses ready to scale their inclusive innovations. IAP also offers tailored non-financial support. Applying businesses must operate in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, or Zambia, and must be able to co-invest at least 51% of the total project cost, either through cash or in-kind contributions. The application deadline is 15 January 2025. Innovations Against Poverty Challenge Fund
Royal Society — Prize for African Scientists
The Royal Society Africa Prize recognizes research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the sciences. This year, the Society is encouraging nominations of joint collaborations, groups, or teams for almost all its medals to better represent how contemporary science is undertaken. The prize consists of a medal and £2 thousand. The Royal Society Africa Prize is open to African citizens. The application deadline is 21 February 2025. Royal Society Africa Prize
U.S. National Science Foundation — Biodiversity on a Changing Planet
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) invites submission of interdisciplinary proposals addressing grand challenges in biodiversity science within the context of unprecedented environmental change, including climate change. The program supports a comprehensive and integrative approach to understanding planetary biodiversity from a functional perspective. Research supported by this program will improve modeling and forecasting of the consequences of functional change in biodiversity. The program supports both US-only collaborative proposals and proposals with international partnerships with National Science Foundations in China, Brazil, and South Africa. Proposals may be submitted by non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education. The total anticipated funding amount is up to US$17 million. Depending on the quality of proposals, 4-6 awards are estimated to be made for design and implementation. Applications have to be submitted by 04 September 2025. Link