Hindsight Ventures invites applications for the AFRISE Challenge accelerator program. This initiative supports young African founders between the ages of 18 and 35 who are developing scalable solutions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and financial services. Eligible applicants must be based in Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, or Senegal. Participants receive a four-week virtual bootcamp, mentorship from industry experts, and access to more than US$600 thousand in technology credits from partners like AWS and Microsoft. The program concludes with an international demo day where the top 15 startups can pitch for grant and equity-based funding. The application deadline is 27 March 2026. Know more
training/education
Village Capital — Reshaping Food LATAM
Village Capital supports startups tackling food loss and waste across Latin America. The 2026 program specifically targets eight early-stage startups using data and AI to optimize food distribution, prevent loss in production, or empower consumers to reduce waste. Eligible applicants must be legally incorporated as for-profit entities in at least one Latin American country. While the primary value of the program lies in intensive investment-readiness training, mentorship, and access to a Mexico City summit, participants also receive milestone-based funding, which in previous cycles has been approximately US$4,400 per startup. The application deadline for the 2026 cohort is 27 March 2026. Link
United Nations Environment Programme — Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) offers a course focused on international environmental law-making and diplomacy. The 2026 session focuses on the special theme of “Critical Energy Transition Minerals.” Candidates from developing nations or economies in transition can apply for partial or full fellowships to help with costs. This course is designed for experienced government officials. Additionally, representatives from non-governmental organizations, the private sector, as well as researchers and academics specializing in international environmental law, are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted by 27 March 2026. Details
OPEC Fund for International Development — Young Professional Development Program
The Young Professional Development Program (YPDP) is a two-year program designed to prepare young professionals from OPEC Fund member countries for a career in global development. The themes include poverty reduction, energy and sustainable development, environment, and other related science and technology fields. YPDP offers training, coaching and mentoring, the opportunity to experience different departments and access to professional networks. To be selected for the program, applicants must be 30 years of age (or younger) and hold a Master’s degree. The deadline for applications is 11 April 2026. More about the YPDP
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development — Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) manages the Women in Agriculture Leadership Program to strengthen the leadership and research skills of female scientists working on climate-responsive agriculture. This two-year, non-residential fellowship is open to mid-career women scientists who are nationals of and reside in Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, or Sierra Leone. While the program does not provide direct cash grants to individuals, it is a fully funded fellowship that covers all costs for high-level leadership training, science mentoring, and professional development workshops. The deadline for applications is 26 April 2026. GRASP Fellowship
Australian Government — Australia Awards Africa
The Australian Government invites applications for the Australia Awards scholarships to provide mid-to-senior-level professionals from eligible African countries the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in Australia. The program targets individuals from 25 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa, who work in priority sectors such as agriculture, climate change, and international security. Applicants must be at least 25 years old and possess five years of relevant post-graduate work experience. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, return air travel, a one-off establishment allowance, and a contribution to living expenses for the duration of the study. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2026. Australia Awards Africa
World Bank Group — Youth Summit 2026
The World Bank Group hosts the Youth Summit Pitch Competition to support young innovators developing solutions for the future of work. Individuals or teams of up to five members, aged 18 to 35, from World Bank member countries are eligible to apply with projects focused on education, entrepreneurship, or agriculture. While there is no direct cash prize, finalists receive travel support to present their ideas at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., along with specialized coaching and post-summit mentoring from International Finance Corporation (IFC) experts. The deadline for applications is 11 March 2026. Know more
United Nations University — PhD Internships in Economics
UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) invites applications for its PhD research internship program in Helsinki, Finland. Preference is for applicants who live or work in developing countries, and who are in the later stages of their PhD. Program themes in WIDER include the economics of energy, climate change, food security, and others. UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant and a monthly stipend of €1,850 during the period of the fellowship. Deadlines for submission of applications are 31 March and 30 September each year. Know more about the program
United Nations University — Visiting PhD Fellowship
The Visiting PhD Fellowship Program gives registered doctoral students the opportunity to utilize the resources and facilities at UNU-WIDER for their PhD dissertation or thesis research on developing economies. Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD program and have shown the ability to conduct research on developing economies. NU-WIDER provides a travel grant and a monthly stipend of €1,850 to cover living expenses in Helsinki during the period of their fellowship. The deadline for submission of applications is 31 March 2026. UNU-WIDER Visiting PhD Fellowship
Aspire Institute — Leaders Program for First-generation University Students
The Aspire Leaders Program provides academic and professional development resources to students who are from backgrounds of social and financial adversity. All applicants must be between the ages of 18-26, come from a low-income background and be the first generation to attend university. Through the program, students will gain access to fully-funded HarvardX courses and participate in live seminars with Harvard University. Eligibility extends to students from all around the world as long as they are enrolled in an undergraduate program or have recently graduated (within three years). The application deadline is 13 April 2026. Aspire Leaders Program