The Awa Prize highlights women entrepreneurs from Belgian development cooperation countries and their projects. The prize aims to promote women entrepreneurs in their local community and strengthen them in their entrepreneurial success. The winner receives €50 thousand in support of their enterprise and one week in Belgium. Participating countries for the 2024 edition: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, DRC, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Palestine, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda. The competition is open to any woman founder or majority/equal partner in a company based in one of the selected countries. Registrations close on 28 June 2024. Details here
Africa
TotalEnergies — Support for Young African Entrepreneurs
The Startupper Challenge by TotalEnergies supports young African entrepreneurs to innovate and bring their projects to reality in their country of application. Winners will receive financial support to develop their startup or business idea. Business owners of startups under 3 years old with a positive impact on their communities or the planet can participate. The challenge is open to young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35. The application deadline is 18 June 2024. Startupper Challenge
Youth Climate Justice Fund — Funding for Young Climate Leaders
The Youth Climate Justice Fund seeks applications to support climate justice young leaders with trust-based funding, resources, and youth-to-youth capacity development. Groups can apply for a grant of up to US$10 thousand, which can be used for 12 months. Applying networks or collectives have to be led by young people aged 35 and under and be based in East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia, or North America. Applications have to be submitted by 01 July 2024. Youth Climate Justice Fund
EnDev — Solar Products and Cookstoves
The Demand-Side Subsidies Results-based Financing Program aims to provide access to quality off-grid solar products and improved cookstove products by bridging the affordability gap for people in ultra-poor, vulnerable settings who would otherwise not be reached. The program targets poor populations in Malawi. Customers will be eligible to purchase one solar and cookstove product per household with the help of subsidies. Participating suppliers can be private firms, registered associations, and cooperatives. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 30 September 2024. Know more
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives — Community Projects in the Republic of Congo
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives invites proposals that meet the needs of local communities in the Republic of Congo. The priorities under this call include women’s economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, and investing in the poorest and most vulnerable (which may include agriculture or aquaculture projects). The average contribution is C$20 thousand to C$30 thousand per project. Eligibility extends to local community organizations, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. The deadline for submission is 05 June 2024. CFLI Republic of Congo
African Food Changemakers — Building Resilience Against Climate and Environmental Shocks
Building Resilience Against Climate and Environmental Shocks (BRACE) is a capacity development program supporting agripreneurs to be aware of how their businesses are affected by climate change and to enable them to develop strategies to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change through climate-smart practices adoption. Agribusinesses operating in Africa and in any part of the agribusiness sector’s value chain are eligible to apply. The application deadline is 09 June 2024. Link to BRACE
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives — Community Projects in Angola
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives invites proposals that meet the needs of local communities in Angola. The priorities under this call include women’s economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, and investing in the poorest and most vulnerable (which may include agriculture or aquaculture projects). The average contribution is C$25 thousand to C$50 thousand per project. Eligibility extends to local community organizations, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. The deadline for submission is 09 June 2024. CFLI Angola
EnDev — Solar Energy Niger
The objective is to transform the off-grid solar market to ensure the popularization and marketing of quality solar products that are economically and technically viable across Niger. Companies can express their interest in benefiting from individual support. Private firms, NGOs, or cooperatives following commercial business models can apply for the program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 14 June 2024. Know more
United Nations World Food Programme — Food Systems Challenge: Rwanda
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) seeks solutions in Rwanda that address food insecurity through strengthening food systems. The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge supports the scaling of innovative start-ups, small businesses, and cooperatives with commercially viable solutions to address gaps in the food system. Each selected venture will receive up to US$25 thousand in grant funding and 5 months of technical support. Applications close on 23 June 2024. IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
Global Landscapes Forum — African Youth Storytelling Contest
The Global Landscapes Forum hosts a storytelling contest for young Africans. The story should revolve around the key themes of a thriving Africa, including but not limited to food sovereignty, biodiverse landscapes, ecosystem restoration, and climate justice, among others. The three best stories will receive prizes of €500, €300 and €200 respectively. The contest is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 born and/or currently living in Africa. Stories have to be submitted by 30 June 2024. African Youth Storytelling Contest