ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest green business ideas competition. The competition invites business ideas that address climate change to support new clean-tech startups. Selected participants will take part in an idea boot camp and receive intensive coaching. The winner will receive €10 thousand, the runner-up €5 thousand. The submission deadlines vary by country (please check carefully). ClimateLaunchpad
training/education
BeChangeMaker Africa — Social Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program
BeChangeMaker is an online training program for social entrepreneurs. Participants gain access to tools and technology for start-ups, coaching, mentoring, and access to a diverse global network of potential investors. Interested social entrepreneurs have to form a team of 2-5 people between the ages of 18 and 35 years and present a social challenge they wish to address. Applications are open until 31 May 2025. BeChangeMarker
The University of Queensland — Online Course: Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
The University of Queensland Australia, in partnership with edX, offers an online course on tropical coastal ecosystems. Participants will develop the skills and knowledge needed to help preserve tropical coastal ecosystems and have a basic understanding of the value, vulnerability, dynamics and sustainable management, as well as learning the process of designing and implementing an experiment in a virtual ecology project. The course is free and no previous knowledge of tropical coastal ecosystems is required. Enrollment is open. Click here for details
North Atlantic Treaty Organization — Women & Girls in Science
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by providing a platform for them to share innovative research ideas that impact global security and defence. The Women & Girls in Science 2025 (WGS25) challenge invites young women and girls to submit visionary research proposals addressing pressing challenges in the field of security and defence research. The challenge is open to university students (bachelor, master, PhD), early career researchers, or individuals interested in starting a career in STEM and/or defence. The deadline for submissions is 11 March 2025. Details here
Village Capital — Reshaping Food LATAM
Village Capital supports startups transforming food systems and driving innovation in food waste diversion across Latin America. The program is designed to help startups identify early milestones and prepare for their next round of capital. Eligibility extends to companies that have legal incorporation and operations as a for-profit entity in at least one Latin American country. The application deadline is 14 March 2025. Link
United Nations — Ocean Literacy Summer School
The EU4Ocean Summer School on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration is an intensive 5-day training program aimed at building essential skills and fostering collaborative approaches in the design and implementation of ocean-related projects. This program is open to students and early-career professionals from international universities and institutions from EU and non-EU countries of the interested region. Interested students and early career professionals can apply to the summer school by 16 March 2025. EU4Ocean Summer School
European Union — Online Acceleration Programme for Women Entrepreneurs
The BIC Africa Acceleration Program supports women entrepreneurs from Angola, Comoros, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somalia, and 5 others from other Sub-Saharan African countries. The program will run from April to July 2025 for 4 months, and it will focus on established post-revenue women entrepreneurs with a registered startup or business. The applicant must be a woman founder/ CEO of a company. Applications have to be submitted by 20 March 2025. Details here
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit — Africa Fellowship Program
AFRIKA KOMMT! is a fellowship program that provides young African professionals with a one-year career transformational experience at leading German companies. Participants receive management training followed by an 8-month fellowship in a partner company. The monthly allowance is € 750. The initiative is open to citizens from all countries in Africa. The application deadline is 23 March 2025. AFRIKA KOMMT!
French-African Foundation — Young Leaders 2025
The French-African Foundation invites applications for Young Leaders 2025. The program recognizes and supports young leaders to become true agents of change in relation to global challenges. Candidates must be between 28 and 40 years old and have French nationality or the nationality of an African country. Successful candidates will spend five days in France, five days in Africa, engage in high-level meetings and receive training and mentorship. Flights and accommodation will be provided. The deadline for applications is 30 March 2025. About the program
United Nations University — Visiting PhD Fellowship
The Visiting PhD Fellowship Program gives registered doctoral students the opportunity to utilize the resources and facilities at UNU-WIDER for their PhD dissertation or thesis research on developing economies. Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD program and have shown the ability to conduct research on developing economies. NU-WIDER provides a travel grant and a monthly stipend of €1,850 to cover living expenses in Helsinki during the period of their fellowship. Deadlines for submission of applications are 31 March and 30 September each year. UNU-WIDER Visiting PhD Fellowship