The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) requests proposals for the USADF Off-Grid Energy Challenge. Selected African off-grid energy companies will receive funding in the form of grant capital of up to US$250 thousand. Applicants must be 100% African-owned and -managed to be considered for the Challenge. Applicants must submit the completed application before 12 December 2024. Off-Grid Energy
social enterprise
Cisco and Global Citizen — Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award
Cisco and Global Citizen invites applications for the Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award. The Award is made to a young individual (18-30 years) who has contributed meaningfully towards the goal of ending global poverty. Global Citizen accepts applications from individuals who have, or contribute to, a registered legal entity such as a non-profit, for-profit, or social enterprise. The award includes a US$250 thousand prize paid to the organization to which the individual contributes. Submissions will close on 18 December 2024. Youth Leadership Award
WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award — Award in Leadership
The WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award invites nominations to recognize leaders who dare to confront problematic structures and systems driving sustainable transformation in global development and serve as powerful role models. The nominees will have created change that inspires others and shown what measures are necessary. Candidates for the WIN WIN Award compete for SEK 1 million. Candidates for the WIN WIN Youth Award (between the ages of 13 and 29) compete for SEK 50 thousand. Any organization, movement, business, group of people, or individual can be nominated. Nominations must be submitted by 12 January 2025. Gothenburg Sustainability Award
University of Pennsylvania — Workshop for Social Entrepreneurs
The Global Social Impact House (GSIH) is a seven-day residential program in Costa Rica (June 2025) that provides social entrepreneurs with the training they need to advance their ventures. Workshops are customized to the needs of fellows. The Center for Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania will provide scholarships, which include accommodation and food. However, fellows are responsible for covering travel and visa-related expenses. The application deadline is 10 February 2025. Global Social Impact House
World Food Programme — Iraq Innovation Challenge
The World Food Programme (WFP) invites innovators, entrepreneurs, and organizations from Iraq to contribute solutions to strengthen the capacities of local communities to adapt to climate change and improve livelihood opportunities. WFP will provide comprehensive support to selected teams, facilitating the development and scaling of the most promising solutions. Selected innovation team will be eligible to receive up to US$25 thousand in equity-free funding. Eligibility extends to for-profit, not-for-profit, social enterprises. Applications can be submitted until 12 October 2024. Link
United Nations Development Programme — Energy Accelerator
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) seeks startups with a solution to solve Africa’s energy challenges. The GreenTech Hub aims to foster startups developing groundbreaking solutions in renewable energy tailored to African needs. The program provides technical support, mentorship, access to funding, and advocacy to support green enterprises to grow and scale their businesses. The most viable and high-impact startups selected from the program will receive long-term support for 6 months. Startups must be legally registered and operating within Africa. The deadline for applications is 20 October 2024. GreenTech Hub
Australian Government — Latin America Young Entrepreneur Award
The Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) invites applications for the Australia – Latin America Young Entrepreneur Award. The award consists of two awards (AU$5 thousand each) – one to a young Australian and one to a young Latin American entrepreneur. Applicants must be under 40 and demonstrate that they contributed to building an organization that enriches the relationship between Latin America and Australia. (Note. This may include one or more categories of the Terra Viva Grants Directory.) The closing date for applications is 25 October 2024. Find the call
U.S. Agency for International Development — Development Innovation Ventures
USAID sponsors Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) to identify, develop, test, and scale innovative approaches in development. DIV’s portfolio includes projects across the range of USAID’s program areas – including in agriculture, energy, climate change, water, waste management, and others related to natural resources and the environment. Applicants may apply for any of the three following stages: Proof of Concept (Up to US$200 thousand for up to 3 years), Testing and Positioning for Scale (US$200 thousand to $1.5 million for up to 3 years), and Scaling (US$1.5 million to US$15 million for up to 5 years). Proposals are accepted year-round, from any type of organization (including private businesses, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, foundations, civic groups, regional organizations, and international organizations), in any country. Link
Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs — Support for Young Social Entrepreneurs
Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs (RISE) is a project for the youth, willing to learn and change things for the betterment of the Western Balkans. RISE invites ideas or innovative solutions for a new and better way to approach education, women empowerment, culture, rural development, health or employment in regional communities. The program will support regional changemakers through tailor-made programs, mentorship, and training. Young people from 18 to 35 years old from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are eligible. Please note that Local Incubators may have different deadlines. Applications close on 20 September 2024. Link to RISE
Conrad Foundation — Spirit of Innovation Challenge 2024-2025
The Spirit of Innovation Challenge is a worldwide competition for youth ages 13-18 to create commercially viable products or services to address issues of global sustainability. Categories include “Energy and Environment”. Ideas are submitted by student teams, which can be international, if desired. There is a fee for team registration (discounted rates may apply for qualified title one schools or special circumstances). The winning teams are offered seed money to continue the development of their ideas. The application deadline for the activation stage (phase 1) is 01 November 2024. Link to the challenge