Africa Energy Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders (AFYEL) is a capacitation program for early-career energy leaders working on sustainable access to energy and ultimately a zero-carbon Africa. The fellowship includes expert training sessions to enable participants to get empowered and gain clarity to create solutions in the area. The program is open to The ambition of the Program is to recent graduates of Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Building / Construction Engineering, Physics, Economics, Mathematics, Accounting, Finance and Solar Energy. The application deadline is 04 September 2026. Details here
Africa
Next Einstein Forum — Africa Energy Innovation Challenge
The Africa Energy Innovation Challenge (AEIC) invites young African energy entrepreneurs to submit early-stage prototypes that address energy needs across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transport, or AI-powered energy management. Applicants (aged between 18 and 35) form teams to co-develop and pitch their innovations, competing for support that may include funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Proposals have to be submitted by 10 September 2026. Link to AEIC
Rainforest Trust — Creating New Protected Areas
The Rainforest Trust partners with local conservation organizations to create new protected areas and expand existing ones for Critically Endangered and Endangered species. The Initiative invites applications for conservation partnerships from nonprofit entities and NGOs for projects in tropical Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Applying organizations may submit proposals for either a land purchase or a protected area designation. Applications to create new protected areas are reviewed three times per year. The next application deadline is 01 October 2026. Applications for less than US$250 thousand may be submitted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Link
Beit Trust — Postgraduate Scholarships
The Beit Trust Scholarships offer postgraduate (Master’s) funding exclusively to nationals and permanent residents of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. For 2026, it will award scholarships at UK and South African partner universities. Eligible candidates must not already be enrolled in a course, and preference is given to those with strong academic records, relevant professional experience, leadership potential, and alignment of study fields with developmental needs. The scholarship covers full tuition, living allowance, travel, visa and health fees, and additional allowances. The application deadline is 12 February 2027. Postgraduate Scholarships
Water Witness International — Fair Water Action Fund
The Fair Water Action Fund supports civil society organizations, journalists, and researchers in the Global South—especially in Africa—to promote water justice and hold governments and corporations accountable for water security. Grants range from £3,000 to £36,000 for projects up to 12 months that focus on advocacy, community monitoring, investigative reporting, and systemic change. Eligible applicants include grassroots networks, NGOs, academic centers, and independent media. Priority is given to countries facing water scarcity and governance challenges. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Fair Water Action Fund
Farm Radio International — Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio
Farm Radio International invites applications for the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, which recognises radio programs serving women listeners across sub-Saharan Africa. The program need not focus exclusively on gender equality; any subject qualifies, provided the show demonstrably serves women, whether through health, education, agriculture, or another topic combined with attention to women’s experiences, concerns, or the role of men in gender equality. Any Farm Radio International broadcasting partner in sub-Saharan Africa may apply, and the award goes to the full programme team. The winning team receives a certificate and a prize of CA$1,000. The deadline is 21 August 2026. Liz Hughes Award
Earth Journalism Network — Investigative Reporting Grants on Biodiversity in West Africa
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) invites applications for story grants supporting in-depth journalism on biodiversity in West Africa. EJN will award five grants averaging €1,000 to €2,000 each, plus mentorship from an experienced editor throughout the reporting process. Applicants must be journalists based in West Africa — Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, or Togo — with preference given to those based in Francophone West Africa. Freelancers and early-career journalists are welcome. The application deadline is 21 August 2026. Investigative Reporting Grants
Earth Journalism Network — Virtual Media Workshop on Mining, Environment and Human Rights Reporting in Africa
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) invites applications for a three-day virtual media workshop on mining, environment, and human rights reporting. The workshop is open to journalists in any medium and social media content creators with experience covering mining, environmental, or human rights issues, who are based in Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or South Africa. EJN will offer a limited number of communications stipends to participants with unstable internet access, and all who complete the workshop receive a certificate. Following the workshop, EJN plans to award ten story grants of US$2,000 each to journalists and content creators for in-depth reporting on mining, environmental degradation, and human rights in Africa, funding travel, reporter stipends, and multimedia elements, alongside one-on-one editorial mentorship. The deadline is 06 September 2026. Know more
Nigeria Energy Forum — Africa Energy Innovation Challenge for Youth-Led Energy Solutions
The Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF) invites proposals for the Africa Energy Innovation Challenge (AEIC), themed “Accelerating Value Addition, Youth Innovation & Community Action.” The competition mobilises young, early-stage energy entrepreneurs across Africa to develop, prototype, and scale innovative devices, equipment, and digital solutions across four tracks: youth employment and green jobs, agribusiness and waste-to-energy, local manufacturing and value addition, and AI and connectivity. Applicants must be aged 18 to 35 and apply as teams of at least three people, with each team required to include at least one woman and one man. Up to twenty or more shortlisted teams receive complimentary passes to the 11th Nigeria Energy Forum (November 2026). Winners share cash prizes of up to US$10 thousand, present their prototype at the Forum, and receive business development mentorship and incubator support valued at over US$15 thousand. The deadline for initial proposal submissions is 10 September 2026. Africa Energy Innovation Challenge
United Nations Environment Program — Mountain Community Resilience Grants in East Africa
The UN Environment Program invites community-based organisations in the East African Community to apply to the first call for proposals of the Mountains ADAPT small grants project. The grants support ecosystem-based approaches that help mountain communities respond to climate change impacts, protect their natural environment, and improve livelihoods, funding activities such as ecosystem restoration, rainwater harvesting, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster preparedness. Grants provide up to US$30 thousand each toward design and implementation. This first round will fund up to fifteen projects across Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Eligible applicants are locally based, formally registered non-governmental organisations. The application deadline is 15 September 2026. Mountain Community Resilience Grants