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
Africa
Global Biodiversity Information Facility — Biodiversity Information for Development: Sub-Saharan Africa
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) invites proposals for project funding from Sub-Saharan Africa under the “Biodiversity Information for Development” program. GBIF offers support for four types of projects: (1) Institutional-level biodiversity data mobilization to strengthen institutional capacity and mobilize policy-relevant biodiversity data (maximum funding: €30 thousand); and (2) Multi-institutional biodiversity data mobilization to build or strengthen collaborations between institutions to mobilize data for research and policy addressing national or regional priorities (maximum funding: €60 thousand. Applicants must be legal entities such as government agencies, natural history museums, research institutes, universities, or NGOs located in an eligible African country. The deadline for submission of concept notes is 03 November 2025. BID Africa
AGNES-BAYER Science Foundation — Research Grant 2025
The AGNES-BAYER Science Foundation Research Grant enables doctoral students from sub-Saharan African countries to undertake research in biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. The Grant aims to support African PhD students to carry out activities that are part of the doctoral research, including but not limited to field experiments and data collection or laboratory studies. A maximum grant of €7,000 will be awarded to each successful applicant. All applications must be submitted online by 09 November 2025. Research Grant for Biodiversity Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture
African Development Bank — Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellowship 2026
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation financially supports the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship position in the African Development Bank. The Fellowship allows talented individuals to increase and enhance their professional capacity, with the intention of contributing to the governance and development of their countries. The Fellowship is for young professionals, mid-career, and/or new executives who are nationals of an African country, residing anywhere in the world. The application deadline is 20 November 2025. More
World Wildlife Fund — Faculty Fellowship
The Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program provides funding support to current and aspiring university faculty that are affiliated with or currently employed at African, Asian, and Latin American and Caribbean universities. Applicants may apply for up to three years of funding and request up to US$30 thousand per year. The deadline to apply is 18 December 2025. Faculty Fellowship
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 13 February 2026. Postgraduate Scholarships
UK PACT — Nature-Based Solutions in Kenya
The Kenya–UK PACT accepts proposals for high-impact, demand-informed Nature-Based Solutions projects that support Kenya’s just climate transition and align with national priorities. The call is open to not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks, NGOs, academic institutions, and community groups). Funding ranges from £400 thousand to £650 thousand per project. Proposals are due 26 September 2025. Kenya–UK PACT
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit — Investment in African Agribusiness
The GIZ ‘Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups’ (SAIS) Investment Readiness Program seeks to scale digital innovations developed by African start-ups that enable their users in the agricultural or food sector to increase their income. Participating start-ups will receive virtual coaching and training sessions, in-person workshops, and access to service providers. This opportunity is aimed at start-ups (for-profit businesses) registered in Africa with scalable digital solutions with a clear positive impact on income in the agricultural and/or food sector. Applications have to be received online by 28 September 2025. Find the GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Program
UK Department for International Development — Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2026
The UK Department for International Development (DFID) funds the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, to undertake full-time study at a UK university. Scholarships are awarded annually across all subjects, with priority for applications that demonstrate strong relevance to development. The program does not accept direct applications for these scholarships, instead all applications must be made through nominating bodies (named in the announcement). Candidates must apply to one of the nominating bodies by 14 October 2025. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2026
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office makes Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for full-time doctoral studies to citizens from least developed countries and fragile states who could not afford to study in the UK without this scholarship. Scholarships are awarded annually across all subjects, with priority for applications that demonstrate strong relevance to development. The program does not accept direct applications for these scholarships. Instead, all applications must be made through nominating bodies (named in the announcement). Candidates must apply to one of the nominating bodies by 14 October 2025. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships