Call for Proposals: USADF invites applications from registered African Agricultural cooperatives, producer groups, processors, and enterprises for or grant financing...
Calling all agricultural cooperatives, producers, or enterprises based in Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia: Apply today for USADF grant funding!
Visit https://www.usadf.gov/usadf-rfa for more information!
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2024
Mastercard Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, sets out a shared vision to leverage youth-led solutions to drive socio-economic development in Nigeria.
The programme will focus on identifying, incubating and scaling solutions across a diverse set of sectors. At the core of the programme, innovators will be provided with technical support to test, validate and scale their solutions.
Young Africa Innovates ethos is rooted in inclusivity, ensuring that innovators from all walks of life are empowered to bring their visions to life.
Are you a Youth between 18-35 from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna or Lagos with Innovative Ideas that can drive social development?
UNDP and Mastercard Foundation are nviting you to submit your innovative solutions that contribute to social and economic change and stand a chance to participate in an Intensive Innovation Bootcamp and receive extra support for your innovation.
Application deadline : May 31st, 2024
For more information contact us at hello@youngafricainnovates.ng or +2349044013058
Apply using the link below 👇
The Western Union Foundation Fellowship is a leadership and venture development program for entrepreneurs and community leaders from and/or working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe. This virtual and global program is designed to equip next-generation entrepreneurs and leaders with the skills and experience to increase access to economic opportunity, build valuable networks and resources, and transform their communities.
This is a fully-funded program thanks to the support of the Western Union Foundation.
Dates: August 8th, 2024 to November 19th, 2024 (16-weeks of programming).
Format: Weekly virtual workshops with localized gatherings and events when possible (8-10 hours per week time commitment). Sessions are held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30am – 10:30am in Mountain Time Zone (GMT-6).
Immersive & Orientation: 2-week virtual Immersive starting August 8th, 2024 (20–25 hours per week time commitment).
Training: Weekly expert-led modules covering Foundations, Data & Metrics, Go-To-Market, Funding, Team Management, and Pitch.
Impact Series: Renowned leaders, entrepreneurs, and practitioners join the fellowships we empower to share their entrepreneurial journey and experience, as well as mentor the Fellows. See previous Impact Series Speakers here.
Basecamp: 1-3 day Fellow-led workshops hosted in each Fellow’s community, to ideate solutions, design business models, and compellingly communicate their businesses and organizations to an external audience.
Summit: Culminating celebratory event, where select Fellows pitch to local and global leaders, potential funders, and renowned entrepreneurs (November 19th, 2024).
Venture Development Stipend: A pool of $36,000 in venture development stipends will be distributed among select Western Union Foundation Fellows, based on progress and impact throughout the Fellowship.
Who You Are:
You are an entrepreneur or community leader from and/or working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe.
You have an entrepreneurial spirit, a growth mindset, and are driven to grow as an effective leader within your community. The ideal venture stages for this fellowship are Problem-Solution Fit or Product-Market Fit phases, with engaged customers or beneficiaries, and demonstrated outcomes in both impact and revenue.
You are able to commit to the 16-week program including a 2-week virtual immersive. We prioritize individuals who are fully committed to actively participating in the entire program. At the heart of the program is a strong sense of community, and its success hinges on the active engagement and enthusiasm of all participants, who are eager to both learn and share
Where You Create Impact: Applicants located in and/or creating impact in the following locations:
United States, Uganda, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Lithuania, Japan, Philippines, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil.
Preference is given to applicants from the following locations: Uganda, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan and the United States.
What You Are Looking For: You are looking for expert-led entrepreneurial training, access to funding opportunities, and a vast network of mentorship to accelerate your leadership skills and venture impact
What You Will Accomplish
With the unwavering support of the Western Union Foundation and Watson Institute team, you will receive a comprehensive roadmap to guide the growth and scalability of your work and impact. Additionally, you will facilitate an impactful workshop and training session (known as a Basecamp) in your community for your stakeholders, backed by a stipend, playbook, and team support to bring your vision to life.
Applications Submitted: Complete the online application. This application should take approximately 45 minutes to fill out. The deadline for application submissions is June 1st, 2024.
2. First Round Review: The Admissions Committee diligently reviews all applications, seeking entrepreneurs who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and ventures that are both innovative and scalable. Applications received after the deadline will be assessed on a rolling basis as needed.
3. Interview: Qualified applicants will receive invitations for a 20-minute one-on-one Zoom interview. This interview allows us to delve deeper into your motivations for pursuing the fellowship and to gain a better understanding of your venture.
4. Admissions Committee Review: The most promising applicant profiles will be shared with the external Admissions Committee for their final review and selection.
5. Acceptances Announced: Notifications of acceptance will be sent out during the week of July 1st, 2024.
6. Fellows Confirm & Enroll: The final step to complete your enrollment is to confirm your commitment to the program. Upon confirmation, you will receive an invitation to participate in a “Meet the Cohort Webinar” event leading up to the program’s commencement. The program begins August 8th, 2024.
Click on the link below for more information and how to apply.
Social Shifters is an international charity helping the next generation of young leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to tackle the world’s most pressing social and environmental issues in new ways.
We inspire action, build confidence and skills, and help accelerate some of the most impactful youth-led sustainability projects on the planet
This year, they're offering even more support and learning opportunities to every applicant (aged 18-30). You'll gain access to resources, mentorship, and the chance to compete for multiple seed funding awards. It's all online, free to enter, and designed to help you turn your ideas into reality
Are you ready to lead the pack and make your mark in the Global Innovation Challenge?
here’s why you should register NOW:
Be the First Mover: Get a head start on the competition before it opens to everyone.
Level Up Your Idea: Access resources and materials to boost your innovation potential.
Learn from Champions: Get insider tips and tricks directly from last year's winners
Secure Your Place: Be among the first to register for this year's funding round.
The Earlier You Start, the Better: The more time you have to refine your idea, increasing your odds of success!
Use the link below to apply.
Calling all young storytellers with disabilities aged 18-35 years, across Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria!
Join us in celebrating your talents in the "We Can Work” Narrative competition. Whether you express yourself through writing, audio, video, art, or photography.
Let your creativity shine as you showcase your work 👏
Winners get exclusive access to events and career mentorship sessions. There are also opportunities for paid internships and online features.
Submission deadline: 28th June 2024 🗓️
Submit your entry via the mail: WeCanWork@light-for-the-world.org
Mastercard Foundation , Light for the World Uganda , Crosswise Works , InBusiness Initiative , NUDIPU-Uganda , United Disabled Persons of Kenya -UDPK , Jonapwd Jonapwd , FSAPH Fédération Sénégalaise des Associations de Personnes Handicapées , African Disability Forum - ADF
Calls for Proposals and Calls for Applications / USAID Integrated Health Systems Strengthening Program
USAID Integrated Health Systems Strengthening Program
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Deadline: 06-Jul-2024
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the Integrated Health Systems Strengthening (IHSS) program.
The purpose of the Integrated Health System Strengthening (IHSS) program is to accelerate countries’ Health System Strengthening (HSS) efforts and achieve sustainable, equitable, and resilient health systems through locally-led, evidence-driven, and context-specific approaches to HSS.
The primary goals are to advance primary health care (PHC), accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), and improve health outcomes. Investments in HSS help USAID reach its priority global health goals of preventing child and maternal deaths, controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and combating infectious disease, which directly contributes to strengthening global health security. A strengthened and accessible health system is necessary to yield high-quality health services, which are essential for achieving sustainable improvements in health, promoting economic growth, and overall democratic development.
Focus Area #1 – Address the root causes of complex health system challenges through systems thinking.
Integrated HSS activities generally address and impact, or at minimum consider the relevance of, multiple system functions simultaneously, incorporating systems thinking approaches.8 For example, improving health outcomes requires strong institutional arrangements across all levels of the health system, including well-functioning community health systems. Approaches within this activity might therefore address leadership and governance capacity, behaviors, and work to incorporate evidence-based policy processes, mitigate corruption risks, and strengthen accountability at both national and sub-national levels. Simultaneously the activity might support the seamless integration of community health systems into the overall health system architecture with enhanced governance structures, well-established community engagement platforms, strengthened donor coordination platforms, and promotion of country-led efforts to integrate community health workers (CHW) into human resource and health sector plans.
Focus Area #2 – Strengthen the entirety of the health system, including public and private sectors and across all levels, to meet the population needs of each context, with a focus on Primary Health Care.
This activity can include work from primary to tertiary levels but needs to include a focus on the system strengthening necessary to advance PHC. PHC is widely regarded as the most inclusive, equitable and cost-effective way to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and creates more responsive health systems at lower or equivalent costs, with higher standards of quality, greater efficiencies, and with broader community acceptance. It is estimated that ninety percent of essential interventions necessary for UHC can be delivered using a PHC approach. 10 Foundational health systems investments (in areas such as financing, the health workforce, governance, digital transformation, and more) support and sustain the delivery of equitable, efficient, and high quality primary health services.
Focus Area #3 – Promote localization by putting local actors in the lead, strengthening local systems, and being responsive to local communities.
Aligning with USAID’s definition of localization,12 this activity should seek to put local actors in the lead, strengthen local systems, and be responsive to local communities. Implementation throughout the life of the activity will require a locally-led, whole-of-society approach, with close collaboration with key HSS stakeholders at the global, national, regional, and local levels, including but not limited to country policymakers, the private sector, health service providers, continental and regional partner organizations, other donor representatives, community leaders, faith based organizations, academic institutions, and other actors throughout the health system.
Focus Area #4 – Increase social inclusion and gender transformation throughout implementation to advance inclusive, equitable, and accessible healthcare systems
Operationally the activity should center relevant aspects of identity in each context, including gender, disability, etc. and should aim to increase social inclusion and health equity throughout implementation by promoting gender and social equity, advancing gender-transformative HSS approaches, considering intersectionality, and incorporating social determinants of health where appropriate. The activity should be intentional about integrating principles that promote improved health care access and quality for all populations, including marginalized and under[1]served communities, and should seek ways to ensure health systems are designed for and by people.
Focus Area #5 – Enhance health system resilience and responsiveness capacity to prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to emerging challenges, including infectious disease outbreaks, climate change, and other shocks.
HSS investments are crucial for strengthening health system resilience, defined as the ability to adapt, respond, and recover from shocks and stressor. 13 This award is intended to support health systems to prepare for, mitigate and/or adapt to all emerging and potential challenges by strengthening their capacity to consistently provide acceptable, accessible, and quality care to the communities they serve, including during times of shocks.
Focus Area #6 – Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) efforts to understand health system changes and the contributions of HSS activities and facilitate real-time learning and adaptation.
Programmatic approaches undertaken within this activity should reflect USAID’s cross-cutting HSS priority related to strengthened monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL). HSS MERL is essential to understanding how health systems and relevant multi-sectoral components interact and impact one another to produce health outcomes, health system changes, and how these changes can be sustained. MERL allows health system practitioners to understand the contribution or impact of HSS efforts.
Focus Area #7 – Advance health sector integration and collaboration by coordinating efforts across relevant investment areas and fostering multi-sectoral partnerships.
Finally, this activity will advance health sector integration and collaboration by providing opportunities for jointly-funded or collaborative work across health areas and with multi-sectoral partners. Implementation of effective HSS activities requires coordination and integration of efforts across relevant investment areas. Improving global, regional, national, sub-national, and multisectoral coordination and collaboration can enable timely responses to emerging health system challenges and improve the effectiveness of long-term programs.
USAID intends to award one (1) Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide up to $325,000,000.00 in USAID funding over a five (5) year period.
Results Framework and Components
The intended result of the contemplated IHSS program is to achieve sustainable, equitable and resilient health systems through locally-led, evidence-driven, and context-specific approaches to HSS, thereby contributing to advancing PHC, accelerating progress toward UHC, and improving health outcomes. The desired results are outlined below in Intermediate Results (IR) 1-3 as well as each results’ components. It is expected that applications will reflect integrated approaches to achieving these results holistically, incorporating the focus areas described above.
Intermediate Result 1: Increased and equitable access to and use of quality health services that are responsive to population health needs.
Component 1.1: Improved capacity of health systems to effectively quantify, mobilize, and use financial and other resources to efficiently and equitably achieve health objectives.
Component 1.2: Strengthened health system capacity to develop a well-managed, supported, and highly skilled workforce to meet countries’ health care needs.
Component 1.3: Optimized system designs that improve and sustain integrated models of equitable, quality care and improve client outcomes.
Intermediate Result 2: Strengthened leadership, governance, and management to improve health system performance.
Component 2.1: Enhanced institutional arrangements, including transparent policies, systems, and processes, to increase efficiency and effectiveness of integrated health system performance and accountability.
Component 2.2: Improved community health system integration into health system architecture to accelerate achievement of primary health care and health system goals.
Component 2.3: Improved effective response and adaptation to both unanticipated shocks and ongoing health system stressors22 at all levels of the health system.
Intermediate Result 3: Improved HSS learning and data and evidence generation, synthesis and utilization to strengthen health system policies and practice.
Component 3.1: Strengthened HSS monitoring and evaluation for program, country, and global needs through robust metrics, standards, systems, and approaches.
Component 3.2: Strengthened capacity of government, local and regional partners for monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) for health systems strengthening.
Component 3.3: Increased knowledge synthesis, exchange, and collaboration to improve evidence translation and use by key audiences including USAID Missions and local, regional, and global HSS stakeholders
Illustrative Activities
Illustrative Activities IR 1
Component 1.1: Improved capacity of health systems to effectively quantify, mobilize, and use financial and other resources23 to efficiently and equitably achieve health objectives.
Optimization of strategic purchasing approaches via insurance or contracting.
Expansion of the utilization of health technology assessments or other such assessments to support decision-making
Health resource tracking and analysis to improve health budget mobilization, execution, and planning
Component 1.2: Strengthened health system capacity to develop a well-managed, supported, and highly skilled workforce to meet countries’ health care needs.
Expand and strengthen human resource for health (HRH) information systems and increase utilization of HRH data and other relevant data to provide evidence-informed HRH decision-making.
Support health training and educational institutions to strengthen learning platforms, educational content, and learning modalities that contribute to a high-performing health workforce.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and regulations to support performance, well-being, motivation, and retention of the health workforce.
Component 1.3: Optimized system designs that improve and sustain integrated models of equitable, quality care and improve client outcomes.
Support systematic approaches to strengthening, embedding, and implementing quality improvement processes and approaches across the health system.
Apply social and behavior change theories and methods to address the underlying reasons for or facilitate shifts in health system actors’25 performance and behaviors.
Evaluate health system structural interventions to influence system actor behavior, such as health provider behavior to improve quality by closing the “know-do gap,” or to shift norms and reduce corruption.
Illustrative Activities IR 2
Component 2.1: Enhanced institutional arrangements, including transparent policies, systems, and processes, to increase efficiency and effectiveness of integrated health system performance and accountability.
Improve coordination, planning, management, and performance monitoring arrangements between national and sub-national health authorities.
Support institutionalization of evidence-based policy processes and implementation at the national and sub-national level, including private sector providers.
Strengthen digital health governance including through alignment of digital-enabled activities to country plans and global digital health best practices.
Component 2.2: Improved community health system integration into health system architecture to accelerate achievement of primary health care and health system goals.
Enhance community-level governance structures that promote citizen voice, transparency and accountability in program planning and oversight.
Strengthen platforms for community engagement in local health center planning and oversight.
Strengthen community digital health systems and other relevant information systems that support integrated programming and health system decision making and quality care management, including both ongoingly and in response to changing environmental and political needs.
Component 2.3: Improved effective response and adaptation to both unanticipated shocks and ongoing health system stressors27 at all levels of the health system.
Identify and strengthen health system functions, policies, strategies, and capacities needed to address and mitigate climate and health risks, for example utilizing climate information services to improve health workforce management to utilize staff to meet evolving health needs.
Ensure effective use of data to inform contingency planning at the sub-national level, including to protect vulnerable populations in advance of possible disruption, and to strengthen early warning systems.
Support mechanisms for cross-sectoral coordination for continuity of care during emergencies and protracted crises, and for restoration and maintenance of routine service delivery.
Illustrative Activities IR 3
Component 3.1: Strengthened HSS monitoring and evaluation for program, country, and global needs through robust metrics, standards, systems, and approaches.
Improve availability, validation, and systematic use of globally-recommended and context-specific quantitative HSS metrics to monitor and evaluate health systems performance, and linkages to health outcomes.
Improve understanding and use of qualitative approaches and mixed-methods approaches, to help understand health system challenges, opportunities, and outcomes.
Leverage tools and approaches, including digital technologies, to support health system performance monitoring, data quality improvement, data availability, visualization and interpretation and use at all levels of the health system.
Component 3.2: Strengthened capacity of government, local and regional partners for monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) for health systems strengthening.
Develop training and resources on using context-appropriate methods and metrics in health system performance monitoring and evaluation, including complexity-aware mixed methods as appropriate.
Collaborate with local and regional partners to conduct timely implementation research that informs HSS practice and responds to context-specific evidence needs.
Build capacity of both local and regional partners and government entities across different health system levels, through specific capacity-strengthening approaches, to generate and utilize data and evidence to learn and adapt in response to new information and changes in the health system context.
Component 3.3: Increased knowledge synthesis, exchange, and collaboration to improve evidence translation and use by key audiences including USAID Missions and local, regional, and global HSS stakeholders.
Advance global and country HSS learning agendas, support knowledge partnerships and strengthen data and evidence utilization among researchers, implementers, civil society, and policymakers.
Improve existing networks and communities for HSS knowledge exchange to ensure that local voices are centered in HSS knowledge exchange agendas and can benefit from and/or lead knowledge exchanges to share and adapt local HSS knowledge.
Synthesize global, regional, and local learning into knowledge products that can be tailored to the differing needs of local, regional, and global HSS stakeholders and shared using tools and platforms that allow stakeholders real time access to HSS knowledge,
Geographic Focus
This activity will work at the global level, and in any country with funded activities. Anticipated regions of focus are Africa and Asia, with more limited activities in LAC, Middle East, and Europe and Eurasia regions. It is anticipated that this activity will annually be active in an average of approximately 15-20 countries and regional programs. While this is the anticipated geographic focus and number of countries, needs can arise in any country or region where USAID receives funding. The number of countries will be determined by programming needs and available funding.
Eligibility Criteria
USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
USAID welcomes applications from local organizations and/or consortiums that include local organizations. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:
Is legally organized under the laws of; and
Has as its principal place of business or operations in; and
majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and
managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.
Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.
For more information and how to apply, visit 👉 visit https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/354048
DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme 2024 for Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs
The DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme application period for 2024 is now open.
Capacity building is a core mandate of the Development Bank of Nigeria, and the DBN is committed to helping Nigerian MSMEs formalize, grow, and become more bankable, allowing them to easily access available credit.
This year, we will launch the DBN Learning Management System (LMS), a free learning portal featuring carefully curated self-paced courses.
The portal is open to all Nigerian MSMEs interested in gaining the necessary knowledge to succeed in doing business in Nigeria.
In addition, DBN will be selecting the best businesses to attend a face-to-face training.
This physical session would be an opportunity for businesses to practically apply important principles to their various businesses, discuss and receive business support in specific areas of need.
All businesses will be eligible to pitch their business value proposition and some businesses will be selected to receive grant funding.
Eligibility Criteria
Owner of business must be 18 years and above
Business owner must be a citizen or legal resident of Nigeria
The business must be based in Nigeria
The business must be for profit from any sector
Applicant must be available to commit to the training schedule once accepted
Selection Criteria
Bankability – Level of readiness to access credit
Feasibility and Sustainability of the business model
Scalability – Demonstrates potential for growth of business to create jobs
Training Format:
The programme takes a blended learning format approach of virtual and physical training.
Virtual Training: The Virtual training is a self-paced comprehensive curriculum of the basic business principles broken down into 9 modules and will be implemented using the DBN learning management platform of the BizAid App.
Onsite Training: This is a 5-day intense practical training and the curriculum is based on a needs assessment of the shortlisted businesses. A total of 350 businesses will be shortlisted for this to be trained in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Pitching Session: All businesses will be eligible to pitch their business value proposition and 25 businesses will be selected to receive grant funding of N500,000 each.
Activities Start and End Date
Registration and Online training on the DBN Biz Aid: Date: 06-May
Application process for face to face training: Date: 10 July – 17 July
Selection and announcement of selected candidates: Date: 24 July – 25 July
Face to face training in Abuja: Date: 31 July – 04 August
Face to face training in Lagos: Date: 14 August – 18 August
Face to face training in Port Harcourt: Date: 25 August – 01 Sept.
Application Process
All applications must be submitted online through the application portal.
Interested businesses must register on the DBN BizAid application and must complete a minimum of 4 mandatory courses on the BizAid Learning management platform and obtain an average score of 70%.The courses that must be completed are:a. Accounting & Bookkeeping,b. Sustainability for MSMEs,c. Marketing and Sales Techniques,d. Credit Management/Access to Finance.
All businesses who have completed the 4 courses by September 23rd will receive an email with a link to apply for the face-to-face training.
Upon submission of the application form, an email confirming receipt will be sent to the applicant within a 24-hour period.
Applicants will be screened and shortlisted from the close of the application based on the eligibility criteria.
Selection will be carried out using the defined selection criteria from the pool of shortlisted applications.
Communication with successful applicants shall be by email to the email address provided and a phone call to the phone number provided on the application form
Apply using the link below 👇
Flagship Fellowship (Watson Institute)
The Flagship Fellowship is a 16-week leadership and venture development program for impact-driven entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their ventures with access to a global network, training designed to strengthen skills, and mentorship with seasoned professionals, venture capitalists, and executives. The program will kick off with an in-person immersive in Boulder, Colorado in August 2024. The remainder of programming is virtual and provides award-winning training, committed mentorship, and a powerful community of peers for impact entrepreneurs to advance their ventures and lives. Preference will be given to entrepreneurs in the USA, China, Mexico, East Africa, Brazil and Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Funding up to $20,000
USE the link below 👇to apply
https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/regional-awards
You may be interested in CARTIER WOMEN'S INITIATIVE GRANTS
Open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact. up to $100,000
The Regional Awards of the Cartier Women’s Initiative are looking for women-owned and women-led impact-driven businesses. Entrepreneurs across all sectors and geographies are encouraged to apply.
To be considered for this award, the applicant and the applicant’s business must meet the following eligibility criteria:
For-profit: The business should be designed to generate sufficient revenue to support its operations and return some level of profit to its owners. Non-profit enterprises are not eligible. That said, the business does not have to be profitable at the time of application.
Early-stage: The business should have a proven business model and be in the initial phase of its development and growth (between 1 and 6 years of licensed/registered operations as of the date of application). This means that businesses applying to the 2024 edition must have been incorporated between June 2017 and June 2022.
Revenue generation: The business should be generating revenue from the sales of its products and/or services for at least 1 year as of the date of application, recurring according to your business cycle. For businesses applying to the 2024 edition, this means that they need to have been generating revenue since June 2022.
Fundraising: The business should not have raised more than US$2 million in dilutive funding as of the date of application. Dilutive funding is any kind of funding that requires you to give away a piece of your company, including not only future profits, but possibly control. The Regional Awards cap the funds raised in order to ensure that the businesses selected fall within a similar range of development. Please note that businesses that have not raised any external funding are also encouraged to apply.
Positive impact: The business should demonstrate that it has realized positive impact in its industry and that it has the potential to realize even more impact as it scales. It should contribute to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. The SDGs are a call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the environment. They cover a series of social, economic, and environmental development issues.
Leadership: The applicant must be a woman and she must fill one of the main leadership positions, for example as CEO, COO, CTO, General Manager, or Managing Director of the business.
Ownership: The business must be majority owned by its founders and team members at the time of application. The applicant must be part of the founding team. Moreover, one of the following conditions must be met: (1) a woman or multiple women are the largest shareholder(s) of founder equity (not total equity), or (2) the applicant owns a share greater or equal to that of each of her co-founder(s). Sole proprietorships are ineligible for the Regional Awards. A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business that is not a separate legal entity from the business owner. The business owner has unlimited liability (i.e. the business owner is personally liable for all the debts and losses of the sole proprietorship). It is also known as individual entrepreneurship, solo trader, or simply proprietorship.
Legal entry age: The applicant must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the application deadline (June 30, 2023).
English proficiency: A good command of the English language is required. We require the Common European Framework of Reference Level B2 or above. This level requires an understanding of the main ideas of complex text, technical discussion in business and your field of specialization, and an ability to interact with fluency and spontaneity with native speakers. English proficiency is important because this is the common language for the Cartier Women's Initiative team, its partners, the jury members and the overall community. Being proficient will allow the fellow to fully participate in the community and in the fellowship. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply, and every effort will be made to include them appropriately.
Time commitment: The applicant must commit to participating in the fellowship program from January 2024 to January 2025. Fellows will be expected to dedicate 1 to 3 hours/week virtually to the program from January 2024 to January 2025, as well as two days of on-site filming of the fellow and their business between the end of December 2023 and the start of January 2024. In addition to the virtual training, fellows will be expected to attend one week of in-person events in May 2024 in Shenzhen, China. Fellows will also be required to report their impact for three years after completing their fellowship.
Application: The applicant should be the author of the application. We accept only one application per business. Furthermore, a business will only be considered for one award category, so pick the category where your business fits the best: refer to FAQ. Businesses that submit applications to multiple award categories will be disqualified.
Apply using the link below 👇
https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/regional-awards
This is your year to be a change maker
Apply for BeChangeMaker 2024 before 25 May for a chance to turn your social business idea into real impact.
Applications are ongoing for social entrepreneurship programme! Powered by WorldSkills and the HP Foundation, and supported by UNESCO-UNEVOC, BeChangeMaker can help you accelerate your business idea and bring positive change into your community.
Thirty teams will be chosen to participate in the three-month programme and receive dedicated coaching and mentoring to transfer their technical skills into business ideas, as well as the opportunity to tap into a diverse global network of potential supporters and investors.
The programme includes online pitch competitions, which will lead the top five teams to a live pitch finale in Lyon, France during WorldSkills Competition 2024 in front of global audience made up of policymakers from education and industry.
Since 2017, BeChangeMaker has helped young skilled people from across the globe to turn their ideas into real impact.
“The BeChangeMaker programme helped us focus our skills and capabilities and to organize ourselves to develop our prototype,” said Johan Sebastián, co-founder of Bluecrops, a company implementing digital and technological tools for agriculture, and one of the finalists in last year’s edition.
“What we loved the most was the experience to connect with other inspirational teams from around the world and to receive motivation to continue to make an impact in our community,” he added.
Bluecrop is based on precision farming, involving a crop sensor that can measure levels of fertility, moisture, pH, and electrical conductivity to help farmers apply just the right amount of agrochemicals. Besides reducing farming costs, Bluecrops believes that their services could help farmers reduce 207kg of CO2 emissions per year.
Two friends from Nigeria are leveraging the power of AI technology to combat the distribution of counterfeit medication, a major public health threat in Africa, killing more than 1.5 million Sub-Saharan Africans every year. Their idea also made it to the final pitch in Dublin, Ireland in September 2023.
“Medvax Health is a mobile application connecting individuals and families to an extensive network of licensed and verified pharmacies,” said Dr Chioma Ozona, the CEO of the company, who adds that BeChangeMaker provided a launchpad into scaling their solution, and helped them with funding and mentoring.
The top five teams in BeChangeMaker 2024 will receive EUR 1,000 worth of customized post-programme training, and get an opportunity to be featured in UNESCO-UNEVOC‘s publications, and receive invitations to join UNESCO-UNEVOC events.
Additionally, the top three teams will each receive EUR 2,000 cash award.
Does your business idea have the potential to change the world? Follow these steps:
Make a team.
Share your challenge.
Submit your application before 25 May.
The list of selected teams will be made public on 31 May, with the programme starting on 3 June.
Inspire action and solve global issues
Apply using the link below 👇
https://worldskills.org/what/projects/bechangemaker/2024/apply/
Calling all changemakers and visionaries!
The Social Innovators Programme 2024 is now open for applications.
This opportunity is designed for passionate individuals driven to create positive social impact through innovative solutions.
If you have a groundbreaking idea to tackle pressing societal challenges, this is your chance to turn your vision into reality.
The Social Innovators Programme aims to strengthen and advance youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa through capacity building, catalytic funding, and access to networks that enhance the sustainability of social entrepreneurs.
Applications are encouraged from entrepreneurs in the following focus areas: Quality education, healthcare, affordable and clean energy, climate action, agriculture, technology, gender & social inclusion, and workforce development.
Eligibility Criteria:
Aspiring SIP fellows must be between 18 and 35
Aspiring fellows must be African or Nigerian citizens where the funder is insistent.
Aspiring fellows must be one of the social enterprise's primary decision-makers (Founder, ED, Co-Founder).
Aspiring fellows’ enterprises must address quality education, healthcare, affordable and clean energy, climate action, agriculture, technology, gender & social inclusion, and workforce development. Where aspiring fellow’s enterprise does not align with these specific impact areas, it must have a significant and measurable positive impact on communities or the environment.
Aspiring fellows’ enterprises must have a significant and measurable positive impact on communities or the environment.
Aspiring fellows must articulate the intended social outcomes and demonstrate an understanding of the target beneficiaries.
Aspiring fellows must be social entrepreneurs in the early and mid-stage of their enterprise (2-5 years), showing potential for growth and scalability and needing access to financing and capacity-building support to scale or sustain their enterprises.
Aspiring fellows must be able to commit their time and effort to participate fully in the fellowship, as it includes 100% mandatory attendance at workshops, mentorship sessions, and other programme activities.
Aspiring fellows enterprise is a mission-driven social enterprise, meaning that the sole objective is not just to make a profit but also to have a lasting impact on the community they serve.
If you meet the criteria above and are interested in participating in the 2024 cohort of the Social Innovators Programme, please use this this form to tell us about your enterprise and let us know why you would like to take part in the programme. All applications will go through a rigorous screening process after which the top 20 entrepreneurs will be selected.
Gain access to invaluable resources, mentorship, and a supportive community to propel your social enterprise forward.
Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the social innovators programme this year.
Apply using the link below👇 now and unleash your potential as a changemaker.
Call for Entries: D-Prize Challenge
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Entries are now open for the D-Prize Challenge that supports organizations in any low-or-middle income country where extreme poverty still exists.
D-Prize believes the world needs more social impact organizations, and they seed for profit ventures, NGOs and Charities.
D-Prize Challenges
° HealthSelf-Injectable Contraceptive Challenge: Can you distribute a self-injectable contraceptive, Sayana® Press, to underserved women through a private health network?
Oxygen Challenge: Can you develop a team of technicians to service and repair existing oxygen concentrators to improve access to medical oxygen?
Patient Identification Challenge: Can you develop a way to identify patients needing treatment for either obstetric fistula, cervical cancer, club foot, or cataracts, then connect them with existing treatment services in your area?
Maternal Health Challenge: Can you train birth attendants to administer misoprostol to prevent maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhaging?
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Challenge: Can you identify candidates for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) and connect those that opt in to existing health facilities to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition?
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Challenge: Can you counsel and motivate HIV-positive pregnant women to adhere to their ART regimen, and thus prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission?
Child Immunization Challenge: Can you direct caregivers to bring their infants to health facilities for routine immunizations that would otherwise not occur?
Sugar Daddy Awareness Challenge: Can you teach “sugar daddy awareness” to 8th grade classes to reduce unwanted teen pregnancies and HIV infections?
WaterClean Access to Water Challenge: Can you sell ceramic water filters to people in areas without access to clean water?
AgricultureQuality Inputs Challenge: Can you provide smallholder farmers high-quality inputs and training proven to increase their harvests?
Post-Harvest Support Challenge:Can you provide smallholder farmers post-harvest loans and storage technology proven to increase their incomes?
Propose Your Own Agriculture Challenge: D-Prize is specifically interested in distributing proven agriculture interventions to smallholder farmers. If you know of a highly-effective intervention that is backed by credible evidence, they want to hear what it is and see your plan to increase its distribution.
Propose Your Own Livestock Challenge: D-Prize is interested in distributing proven livestock interventions to smallholder farmers. If you know of a highly-effective intervention backed by credible evidence, they want to hear what it is and see your plan to increase its distribution.
LivelihoodsPoverty Graduation Challenge: Can you provide business coaching, capital, and social support to lift people out of ultra poverty?
Propose Your Own Financial Inclusion Challenge: D-Prize is specifically interested in distributing proven financial inclusion interventions to those in need. If you know of a highly-effective intervention backed by credible evidence, they want to hear what it is and see your plan to increase its distribution.
EnergySolar Lamp Challenge: Can you sell pico solar lamps to rural or slum-dwelling households without regular access to electricity?
Public ServicesGovernment Transparency Challenge: Can you monitor and report data to reduce corruption and improve public service?Road Safety Challenge:Can you reduce road fatalities by mobilizing the public with a proven public transportation safety campaign?
CustomPropose Your Own Challenge: D-Prize is specifically interested in distributing proven poverty interventions to those in need. If you know of a highly-effective intervention that is backed by credible evidence, they want to hear what it is and see your plan to increase its distribution.
Funding information
All winners will be awarded up to $20,000. The award is offered in the form of a convertible grant.
Eligibility Criteria
D-Prize challenges are open to anyone or any team. The sole restriction is that individuals and their immediate family on the judging panel may not participate as a contestants.
D-Prize is also open to any business model (for-profit, non-profit, and everything in between).
You are not competing against other applicants. They typically fund at least 15 proposals per competition, regardless of which challenge track was selected.
Deadline: 23-Jun-2024
Apply using the link below 👇
Calling young Entrepreneurs and CommunityLeaders From Marginalized and Displaced Communities!
Exciting news! The Western Union Foundation and Watson Institute are thrilled to announce the launch of a fully-funded Fellowship program for aspiring changemakers. If you are working with highly marginalized, refugee or forcibly displaced communities around the globe, this opportunity is for you!
Don’t miss out on the chance to join the 2024 cohort of the WesternUnionFoundationFellowship.
Applications are now open and the deadline to apply is June 1st, 2024. $36,000 in seed funding will be distributed among select fellows.
The program will be hosted virtually from August 8th, 2024 to November 19th, 2024, allowing you to participate from anywhere in the world, with a preference for individuals from the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Uganda, Pakistan, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Argentina, UK, Germany, Japan, Philippines, Lithuania, and Costa Rica. This is your chance to make a lasting impact and positive change.
Spread the word and share this incredible opportunity with your network!
Click on the link below👇 to learn more and APPLY
https://watson.is/western-union-foundation-fellowship/
EveryGirl; Girl Connect is a spinoff of the KSH Foundation flagship program EveryGirl aimed at increasing the number of young females in the tech industry.
EveryGirl; Girl Connect, however, focuses on increasing internet connectivity for young women between the ages of 17-21 in underserved communities to bridge the gender digital divide.
Girl Connect won the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge 2023 for the Community Enablement Concept.
What We Aim To Achieve
To enable young girls to become confident changemakers in their communities
How We Intend To Achieve It
Internet Literacy
Personal Development
Leveraging Online Opportunity
Carrer and LIvelihood Opportunity
How It Works
1. Virtual Phase
Participants will engage in courses designed to introduce and reinforce Internet literacy over the course of two weeks. This will run from the 20th May to 31st of May.
2. The Immersion
Utilizing internet platforms, participants will showcase why they should be selected to participate further. Selected participants will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Abuja for a 5-day immersion experience, a laptop device, and 90 days of mentorship.
Courses Offered
Cyber Wellness
Troubleshooting 101
Introduction to Copywriting
Utilizing Web Browsers and Social Media.
Sexual Health and Gender-Based Violence Prevention
Content Creation 101
Careers on the Internet and How to Begin
Introduction to Design Software and Tools
How to set up a Digital Business
Managing Digital Presence and Digital Promotions
Introduction to Internet Technology: structure, basic protocols, and fundamentals
Internet Communication Tools and Cyber consciousness ( internet safety and security)
Eligibility Criteria
Must be a female residing in Nigeria
Must be within the age 17-21 years
Passionate about the use of Internet for career development
Willingness and availability to be a part of the virtual training session
Availability to travel
Must possess a means of identification
Click on the link below 👇 to apply
About Her Microgrants
Micro grants are open to Caribbean and African women + women of African and Caribbean descent, who are entrepreneurs, creatives and non-profit founders, based in their home countries or anywhere around the world.
Applicants must demonstrate that their projects are positively impacting culture and community. Funding of $500.
The current micro grant window will close in June 2024 before we announce the recipient.
If you have been selected as a micro grant recipient, you will be notified via email before our official announcement is made on our website, newsletter and Instagram account.
Click on the link below 👇 to start your application
