UNIDO seeks readily deployable and scalable solutions to address the adverse effects of climate change and ultimately contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development. Priority will be given to applications with solutions for: decarbonizing growing urban environments, generating and distributing clean energy, recycling for more climate-cautious consumption, and innovative solutions for sustainable land management. The call is addressed to private sector entities (micro, small, medium, and large companies & startups). Twelve winners will have the opportunity to present their innovative solution to a large audience during the Global Call award ceremony and will benefit from promotional and networking support. The application deadline is 02 August 2021. Link
business/enterprise
Access Bank W Initiative — Support for African Female Entrepreneurs
Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton Africa is a women-in-business support initiative that provides financial grants and MBA certifications to women entrepreneurs in Africa. The program invites female entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Zambia, Sierra-Leone, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique and Congo to apply to the next pitching competition. Eligibility extends to female business owners from all sectors. Participants have the chance to win ₦5 million (approx. US$12 thousand) in support of their business idea. Applications have to be submitted by 13 August 2021. Womenpreneur
Total S.A. and others — Energy Access Booster 2021
TotalEnergies, Enea Consulting and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) launch the Energy Access Booster 2021 – a call for projects to support entrepreneurs in the field of energy access in Africa and Asia focusing on sustainable mobility. Five selected entrepreneurs will receive up to US$50 thousand and expertise support as well as mentorship. The deadline for applications is 15 August 2021. Energy Access Booster 2021
Empower a Billion Lives — Solutions to Energy Poverty
IEEE Empower a Billion Lives is a global competition aimed at fostering innovation to develop solutions to electricity access. Solutions are expected to be scalable, innovative and sustainable. The competition is open to student groups, companies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Winners of the regional round will be provided enough funding to complete a 2-month long field pilot. Global final winners will receive up to $1 million in prize monies. Teams must present their solution concept and a three-minute pitch video until 31 October 2021. Link
Youth in Agroecology and Business Learning Track Africa — Business Accelerator
The YALTA Business Accelerator calls upon SMEs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to submit their agroecological ideas for a sustainable, healthy and diverse food system. 10 selected participants will benefit from skills training, innovation jams and coaching to improve their ideas and turn them into a plan. Three winners will receive a matching grant of up to US$5 thousand to start implementing their ideas. Eligibility extends to young entrepreneurs in agriculture, food and nutrition who manage a local business. Applications have to be submitted by 30 June 2021. YALTA Business Accelerator
UK Government — Reducing Plastics Pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
The Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Program calls for concepts for research and development projects that have the potential to bring new solutions into the plastics value chain upstream of the end-of-life solutions. The program has an investment fund of up to £20 million to be disbursed over a 5 year period with up to £5 million for this call. Eligibility extends to NGOs, UK-based non-profit organizations, companies, and educational institutions. Priority will be given to projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The deadline for submitting applications is 02 July 2021. Plastics Call
Startup Africa — Next Generation Africa
Next Generation Africa is an accelerator program for African startups, innovators, makers, and young innovators who intend to develop products or services for the local economy. The accelerator will select 20 startups to participate in a boot camp week in Kampala, Uganda (August 2021). The project should fit in one of 6 social-impact topics, including Agribusiness & Agritech (farming systems, alternative feed supplies, agri-data business for monitoring and/or planning, new tools for farming and breeding etc.), among others. The startup can be based anywhere in the African continent but its product/service must have potential application in the East African region. The application deadline is 08 July 2021. Know more
African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement — Waterbird Conservation Award 2021
The AEWA Waterbird Conservation Award honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution towards long-term conservation and sustainable use of waterbirds in the African-Eurasian region. The Award is conferred every three years in two categories, institutional and individual. Please note that the AEWA Award 2021 will not be accompanied by a cash prize due to the lack of funding. The deadline for nominations (English, French) is 10 July 2021. AEWA Award
EIT Climate-KIC — Climate Action Citizen Engagement
The European Commission launches the design phase of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. EIT Climate-KIC calls for climate innovation in public space through citizen engagement. Projects should mobilize citizen-driven initiatives and ideas all across-Europe and bring together cities, regions and social engagement innovators to empower civil society and drive climate action. EIT Climate-KIC will select three proposals and will grant a maximum of €30 thousand per proposal to develop a public space co-design activity in a city or region with civil society leadership. To be eligible, applicants must be a private or public legal entity. The call closes 09 August 2021. Cross-KIC New European Bauhaus
European Joint Programme — Sustainable Agricultural Soils
The Agence Nationale De La Recherche (ANR) and European Joint Programme (EJP) launch “Towards Healthy, Resilient and Sustainable Agricultural Soils”, an integrated framework for agricultural soil research in Europe. The objective is to foster holistic agricultural soil management practices which will assist in making a shift to diversify farming. The maximum project budget is €200 thousand. The countries participating in this call are: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Universities, public research institutions, private non-profit organizations, and private companies can apply. The submission deadline for pre-proposals is 25 June 2021. SOIL