The Specializing Master aims to strengthen transversal knowledge and support African Universities by contributing to upgrading their staff and nurturing a qualified generation of skilled young researchers and lecturers. The program is designed around 6 didactic modules (1 intro module, 2 transversal modules, 3 technical modules). The course is designed for young talents with an academic perspective: young lecturers and junior researchers. Scholarships covering the entire cost of the Master will be available for 35 applicants. The application deadline is 05 September 2021. Link
Africa
United Nations Capital Development Fund — Agritech Challenge
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) invites Expressions of Interest for the Agritech Challenge 2021 to co-create or adapt solutions for smallholders farmers. Solutions must focus on key challenges of small farmers in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia in Africa and India, Indonesia, Malaysia in Asia. The program invites applications from start-ups with solutions that are addressing low productivity, climate risk, or inefficient supply chain challenges and are interested to pilot their solution in one of the seven participating countries. Applicants must submit a complete application form before 30 August 2021. UNCDF Agritech Challenge
Green People’s Energy for Africa — Energy Access Challenges
The Green People’s Energy for Africa (GBE) seeks concrete solutions to address two specific challenges in the energy access sphere: Increasing Off-Grid System Sustainability and Reducing CO2 Emissions via Energy Access. The Challenge prioritizes solutions from within the nine focal countries: Ethiopia, Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia. However, applications from other Sub-Saharan countries are also welcome. Applicants must be either non-profit organizations or local for-profit organizations in the country of implementation. GBE can cover up to 80% of the total project costs and must be lower than €125 thousand. The deadline for submissions of proposals is 31 August 2021. Details
Afri-Plastics Challenge — Marine Plastic Waste
The Afri-Plastics Challenge seeks proposals that focus on solving the marine plastics problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Challenge aims to reduce marine plastics by developing and scaling innovative solutions to plastic mismanagement. Challenge prizes are competitions that offer a reward for the first or best solution to a problem. The process identifies the most promising and supports them with seed funding and expert support to develop the idea further. Applicants must be formally constituted and operating in Sub-Saharan Africa as either a registered business or non-governmental organization. The closing date for applications is 15 September 2021. About the Afri-Plastics Challenge
European Commission — Climate Research Infrastructures
European Commission seeks applications to strengthen the Bilateral Cooperation on Research Infrastructures with Africa to improve the knowledge base on climate change in Africa. Proposed projects are expected to contribute to enhanced research capacities in Africa for climate change observation. Grant amounts are equal to or greater than €500 thousand. Any legal entity is eligible to participate. The application deadline is 23 September 2021. Find details
Green People’s Energy for Africa — Small Projects Fund
The Small Projects Fund offers financial support to initiatives led by non-profit organizations in the field of decentralized renewable energy. The Fund supports small projects and concrete solutions based on an identified local need located in sub-Saharan Africa. The project’s target region must be in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda or Zambia and aim at improving decentralized energy supply. Contributions from the Small Projects Fund can cover up to 80% of the total project costs and must not exceed €200 thousand. Applications must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the steering committee’s convene dates which are 01 October and 01 December 2021. Know more
African Women’s Development Fund — Grants for Women’s Organizations
The African Women’s Development Fund supports organizations working towards the empowerment of African women and the achievement of gender equality on the continent. The six thematic areas include one on economic empowerment and livelihoods related to food security, agriculture, climate change, and other issues. The program makes grants to local, national, sub-regional, and regional women’s organizations in Africa and the following Middle East Countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Yemen. Grants range from US$8 thousand to US$50 thousand. The closing date for applications is 11 August 2021. More
United States Agency for International Development — Resilience of Coastal Communities and Ecosystems
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) to co-create, co-design, co-invest, and collaborate to pilot new and innovative approaches that provide actionable solutions to improve the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in Mozambique. USAID envisions to fund solutions building sustainable food and fisheries systems, and building climate resilient, diversified, and economically viable livelihoods. Please note that the resources made available under this call will depend on the concepts received. Some award types may not include any funding. Eligibility extends to public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations, as well as institutions of higher education, public international organizations, non-governmental organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. government organizations. The closing date for applications is 30 August 2021. Know more
UK National Research Foundation — Research Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships
The UK National Research Foundation (NRF) makes research grants and scholarships to students worldwide (but mainly South African citizens) to pursue studies in all areas of Science, Engineering, Technology, Social Sciences and Humanities. The allocation of funds is demand-driven. There is no maximum or minimum proposal request. The NRF makes one call for proposals starting in February of each year. Please note that institutions set their own much earlier internal closing dates for applications, therefore, applicants must check the deadlines of each individual program very carefully. The call closes 31 December 2021. Find details here
Save Our Species — Rapid Action Grants: South Africa
Save Our Species (SOS) is open to applications for Rapid Action Grants in the framework of the SOS African Wildlife initiative. SOS accepts applications for projects targeting terrestrial and freshwater threatened species in South Africa. Rapid Action Grants are open to projects responding to threats linked to the COVID-19 crisis and its consequences. Grant funding to a maximum of 100,000 EUR is available to civil society organisations and public entities. The maximum grant size is €100 thousand with no matching funds required. Applications can be submitted anytime. SOS African Wildlife