GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action seeks to help accelerate the testing, adoption and scalability of digital innovations that leverage mobile digital technology to help anticipate potential humanitarian impacts and enable effective early response. Successful projects will receive an equity-free grant of between £100 thousand and £250 thousand to scale their innovation over a 15 to 18 month period. Start-ups, small and medium enterprises, social enterprises, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Applications close on 19 January 2023. GSMA Innovation Fund
Africa
InfoNile — Editors’ Biodiversity Program
InfoNile invites applications from editors from Uganda for an editors’ biodiversity training program. In addition to training with biodiversity and journalism experts, the program will incorporate field visits to conservation projects and natural sites. The workshop will have a focus on reporting on wildlife trafficking and poaching. After the training, editors will pair up with reporters in their media houses to report an in-depth story on biodiversity and/or wildlife trafficking to be published in their media houses, supported by small story grants. Applications are open until 06 January 2023. Link
Curtin University — PhD Stipends in Marine Bioacoustics
The Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University offers 4 PhD stipends in marine bioacoustics. The stipends are part of a 4-year research project entitled “The Quieter Western Indian Ocean” (QWIO). Each stipend includes an international tuition fee scholarship for 3.5 years. In addition, the stipend covers annual living costs (total €31 thousand). Students would ideally be citizens of Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, or South Africa. However, applicants from the broader Indian Ocean will be considered. Applications close on 31 January 2023. Information
Horticulture Innovation Lab — Horticulture Research Projects West Africa
The Horticulture Innovation Lab seeks applications for West Africa regional horticulture research projects. The Horticulture Innovation Lab is currently soliciting applications from regionally-based organizations to conduct research to improve the affordability and availability of healthy diets (in particular consumption of horticulture crops) in the West Africa sub-Region. The selected research projects will be funded at US$250 thousand up to US$750 thousand. The Horticulture Innovation Lab seeks research applications led by local organizations that are relevant to smallholder farmers and disadvantaged populations. Applicants can be from academic institutions, government sectors, private entities, or other community based organizations. Applications are due 10 January 2023. Horticulture Innovation Lab West Africa
Horticulture Innovation Lab — Horticulture Research Projects East Africa
The Horticulture Innovation Lab seeks applications for East Africa regional horticulture research projects. The Horticulture Innovation Lab is currently soliciting applications from local organizations to conduct research focused on: pre-harvest and post-harvest management to reduce post-harvest losses; and enhanced marketing and market access of vegetables in the East Africa region. The selected research projects will be funded at US$250 thousand up to US$750 thousand. The Horticulture Innovation Lab seeks research applications led by local organizations that are relevant to smallholder farmers and disadvantaged populations. Applicants can be from academic institutions, government sectors, private entities, or other community based organizations. Applications are due 10 January 2023. Horticulture Innovation Lab East Africa
Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund — Blue Economy in Kenya
Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) seeks to contribute to economic empowerment of women enterprises in the Blue Economy in Kenya. The funding window is available for commercial private sector enterprises that economically empower women and young women in the Blue Economy. Total grant funds requested from AECF must be between US$50 thousand and US$400 thousand. The application window will close on 20 January 2023. Link
European Commission — Civil Society Development
The European Commission (EC) aims to promote capacity development of local civil society in Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe. The action aims to contribute to an inclusive and independent civil society which engages in decision making in the areas of economic development, environment, and food security. Applicants may request up to €300 thousand (Gabon) or €700 thousand (São Tomé and Príncipe) in project funding. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations established in the European Union, Gabon, or São Tomé and Príncipe. The deadline for submission of concept notes is 31 January 2023. More information
Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation — Prize in Green Energy
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy is a global competition to reward entrepreneurs and innovators working to address the most pressing and immediate challenges related to access to green, renewable energy. Registration is free and open to anyone, with a US$1 million grand prize available for the winning team, and US$1 million in additional prizes. Teams from anywhere in the world can register and submit designs and business models. An independent panel of expert judges will select semi-finalist teams to receive US$20 thousand each. In the finalist round, teams develop their prototypes and conduct field tests in vulnerable communities in Africa. To compete, green energy designs to be registered by 01 March 2023. Prize in Green Energy
UNICEF Venture Fund — Climate Tech Solutions
The UNICEF Venture Fund provides up to US$100 thousand in equity-free investments to provide seed funding to for-profit technology start-ups developing software solutions using frontier technologies for climate action. The Fund only accepts submissions from companies registered in UNICEF program countries. Only private companies are eligible. The submission deadline is 09 January 2023. Link to the UNICEF Venture Fund
European Commission — Sustainable Food Production
The European Commission (EC) seeks to promote sustainable food production of socially and environmentally inclusive agriculture value chains targeting local markets in Rwanda. The priority of this call for proposals is to promote actions aiming at enhancing food production and availability by Rwandan local producers and cooperatives, including women farmers and women cooperatives. Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between €500 thousand and €700 thousand. The lead applicant must be a local authority and be established in Rwanda. The deadline for submission of concept notes is 10 January 2023. Link