The iF Student Design Award recognizes students and their future-oriented concepts that aim to solve a global development challenge. The best concepts earn a share of €50 thousand. All winners will be honored with a two-day event in Istanbul. Students and recent graduates of all design-related courses and programs are welcome to register their concepts. The registration deadline for participation is 28 January 2026. iF Student Design Award
agriculture
University of Antwerp — Masters Program in Development Studies
The University of Antwerp’s Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB) offers three specializations for one-year master’s programs in development studies. Topics include poverty, climate change, conflict, good governance, sustainable development, and others. The Institute of Development Policy awards scholarships to students from many countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America for studies at Belgian universities that include Antwerp’s IOB. Candidates applying for an ICP Connect scholarship have to submit their application by 01 March 2026. Link
Common Fund for Commodities — Support for Commodity Development
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) provides financial and technical instruments to support projects proposed by enterprises, cooperatives, and institutions. Funding is targeted mainly to for-profit organizations and social enterprises for production, value chains, and marketing across a wide group of commodities (agricultural crops, tree crops, timber, bamboo and rattan, minerals, and others). Projects need to focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Innovative solutions for new agritech applications, access to renewable energy, or expanding environmental services are especially welcome. All interested SMEs, enterprises, cooperatives, and governments must submit proposals no later than 01 April 2026. Common Fund for Commodities
Echoing Green — Fellowships 2026
Echoing Green helps emerging social entrepreneurs around the world with grants of seed capital and technical assistance to support their start-up organizations. Seed funding of up to US$80 thousand over 18 months is offered to for-profit organizations through recoverable grants. Past fellowships include examples in renewable energy, waste management, smallholder farming, climate change, and other societal challenges in developing countries. Applications are due on 08 October 2025. Echoing Green Fellowships
ACT Foundation — Grant Cycle 2026
The Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation accepts applications from national and regional non-profit organizations working to address social, environmental, and economic challenges across the African Continent. Focus areas include health, environment, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Proposed projects must have a maximum life cycle of 12 months and benefit African communities. The application deadline is 10 October 2025. Click here
International Fund for Agricultural Development — Macadamia Nut Export Value Chain
IFAD launches an EOI to partner with food, agriculture, or trading companies interested in supporting Rwanda’s macadamia nut producers. The goal is to build sustainable export value chain linkages by combining private sector resources with smallholder production, improving livelihoods and adoption of sustainable practices. Eligible firms must be ready to co-invest and partner in the intervention. EOIs must be submitted by 13 October 2025. Details here
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development — African Women in Data Science Leadership Program
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) invites applications from high-potential African women under 35 in selected Sub-Saharan countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia). Up to 40 participants will be chosen for a nine-month, non-residential virtual program offering leadership training, mentoring, communication and personal branding skills, and gender-integration capacity. The program does not offer stipends or sitting allowances or subsidies. However, all training materials and mentorship provided will be at no cost. The call is open now and closes 15 October 2025. Leadership Program
Farm Radio International — Farm Radio Awards
The George Atkins Communication Award recognizes individual radio broadcasters for their outstanding commitment and contribution to food security and poverty reduction in low-income countries. The winners will receive a certificate and C$500. Farm Radio International broadcasting partners in Africa can apply. The deadline to apply is 17 October 2025. Farm Radio Awards
Commonwealth Secretariat — Commonwealth Youth Awards 2025
The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work recognize individuals ages 15 to 29 who lead innovative development projects in themes that include agriculture, small enterprise, skills training, climate change, environmental protection, sustainable livelihoods, and poverty reduction. The program selects regional winners from each of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Winners are awarded grants of up to a total of £5 thousand in total to advance their projects. The application deadline is 17 October 2025. Commonwealth Youth Awards
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Mountain Future Award
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) invites institutions and individuals to submit proposals for transformative mountain projects. Projects must address glacier-related challenges, sustainable water management, agrifood systems, glacier preservation or the resilience and livelihoods of mountain communities. Winning projects will receive seed funding and project incubation assistance. New projects and projects in the initial planning stages are eligible; ongoing projects are not. The application deadline is 31 October 2025. Mountain Future Award