Call for Applications: Pave Her Way Women’s Grant Programs 2026 (Up to $90,000 in Funding)

Applications open for the Pave Her Way Women’s Grant Programs, a global funding initiative designed to empower women through financial support, mentorship, leadership development, and access to a network of change makers.

The program supports women at different stages of their personal and professional journeys, whether they are established leaders creating impact, innovators developing transformative ideas, or women seeking financial assistance to advance their education or careers.

Who Should Apply?

The programme is open to women who:

Have demonstrated leadership in their communities or professions

Are developing innovative projects benefiting women and girls

Need financial support for education or career advancement

Face financial barriers to achieving their goals

Want to scale their impact and expand their leadership

Are committed to empowering women and creating positive social change.

Applicants from all sectors are encouraged to apply, including education, healthcare, business, technology, science, journalism, social entrepreneurship, arts, environmental conservation, government, and community development.

Funding Opportunities

1. Change Agent Prize

This award recognizes accomplished women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable impact in improving the lives of women and girls.

Funding:

Up to $90,000

Additional Benefits:

Optional mentorship

Cohort learning experience

Networking opportunities

Access to a global community of women leaders

2. Disruptor Award

The Disruptor Award supports women with innovative projects or ideas that have the potential to create meaningful change for women and girls.

Projects may focus on:

Women’s economic empowerment

Education

Healthcare

Technology

Entrepreneurship

Leadership development

Gender equality

Climate resilience

Financial inclusion

Social innovation

Community development

Funding:

Up to $90,000

Additional Benefits:

Mentorship

Cohort-based learning

Professional networking opportunities

3. Financial Aid Program

This programme provides financial assistance to women facing economic challenges that limit their ability to pursue education, professional development, or opportunities for personal growth.

Funding may be used to:

Continue education

Access professional development opportunities

Overcome financial hardship

Invest in career advancement

Funding:

Up to $30,000

Additional Benefits:

Optional mentorship

Optional cohort experience

Networking opportunities

Programme Benefits

Successful applicants may receive:

Funding of up to $90,000

Leadership mentorship

Professional development opportunities

Cohort learning experiences

Global networking opportunities

Access to an international community of women leaders and changemakers

 

Application Timeline

Applications Open: August 2026

Application Deadline: To be announced

Application Timeline

Applications Open: August 2026

Application Deadline: To be announced

APPLY HERE

Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) Young Innovation Challenge 2026 for young Innovators.

Application Deadline: 31st August 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) Young Innovation Challenge. Through strategic partnerships, KCDF has expanded the programme’s reach, enabling more innovators to access critical funding and technical support. In 2026, we are pleased to partner with I&M Foundation to implement the Young Innovators Challenge (YIC). While the name has evolved to reflect a broader innovation agenda, the Challenge remains committed to supporting youth-led solutions that address sustainable development challenges.

By combining resources and expertise, KCDF and I&M Foundation aim to award a total of 16 innovators (10 organisations and 6 Individuals) in this edition, seeking to strengthen their enterprises and accelerate scalable solutions that contribute to Kenya’s green transition. The finalists will be unveiled in 2027.

Awards Categories

Category 1: To award six Young Innovators 

Grant Amount: Up to KES 1,500,000

Eligibility: Individual youth (aged 15–35) with tested and impactful environmental innovations. (i.e an Individual or a group of individuals not formally registered)

Category 2: To award 10 Youth-led Organisations    

Grant Amount: Up to KES 5,000,000

Eligibility: Registered youth-led organisations/companies with scalable sustainable solutions. (i.e Civil Society organisations, Company Limited with shares, Company limited by Guarantee e.t.c) 

Timelines

Applications Open: 31st July 2026

Applications Close: 31st August 2026

Information Session: 19th August 2026 @10.00 am

Review & Site Visits: By December 2026

Notification of Awards: By January 2027

Only innovators residing in Kenya and whose actions are implemented in Kenya are eligible to apply

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted via the links provided below:

You will need to submit:

A technical application

A high-level budget

Any supporting documents, such as videos or pictures

APPLY HERE

Call For Applications: Women at the Front of Digital Space Fellowship 2026 (Cohort I)

Applications are now open for the Women at the Front of Digital Space Fellowship 2026 (Cohort I), a capacity-building programme designed to empower women with practical digital skills, leadership training, mentorship, and career development opportunities.

The fellowship aims to increase women’s participation and leadership in the digital ecosystem by equipping participants with the knowledge, networks, and tools needed to thrive in technology and digital innovation.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will have access to:

Comprehensive digital skills training

Leadership and professional development sessions

Mentorship from experienced professionals

Networking opportunities with women in technology

Practical learning and collaborative projects

A community of women advancing digital innovation and leadership.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to women who are interested in building careers and leadership in the digital space, including:

Students

Recent graduates

Early-career professionals

Entrepreneurs

Digital creators

Technology enthusiasts

Women seeking to develop digital and leadership skills.

Applicants should review the official application form for the complete eligibility requirements.

Programme Focus

The fellowship is designed to help participants:

Strengthen digital and technology skills

Build leadership capacity

Expand professional networks

Develop career opportunities within the digital ecosystem

Contribute to inclusive digital transformation.

Why This Matters

Although women’s participation in the digital economy continues to grow, they remain underrepresented in many technology-related fields. Programmes like the Women at the Front of Digital Space Fellowship help bridge this gap by providing mentorship, practical training, and a supportive community that enables women to build successful careers in digital innovation.

APPLY HERE

Call for Applications: Lagos Youth Climate Action Fund 2026 for Youth-Led Climate Projects (Up To $5,000 Grants)

Young people in Lagos with innovative solutions to climate change can now apply for grants of $1,000 to $5,000 through the Lagos Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), an initiative supported by the Lagos State Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The program is designed to fund youth-led projects that promote a greener, cleaner, and more climate-resilient Lagos by supporting practical and innovative environmental solutions.

 

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

Be part of a youth-led group.

Be between 15 and 24 years old.

Have an innovative climate action project

 focused on addressing environmental challenges in Lagos.

Grant Amount

Successful youth groups will receive microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to implement climate action projects across Lagos State.

Project Focus

The programme seeks projects that contribute to:

Climate action

Environmental sustainability

Community resilience

Green innovation

Youth-led environmental solutions

Pre-Launch Webinar

Interested applicants are required to attend a mandatory information webinar where organisers will explain the eligibility criteria, application process, funding requirements, and project expectations.

Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026

Time: 11:00 a.m.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

Register for the pre-launch webinar: 

APPLY HERE

Complete the registration form with their first name, last name, and email address.

Attend the webinar to receive guidance on the application process.

Prepare a youth-led climate action proposal once the official application portal opens.

 APPLY HERE

Call For Applications: Smart Africa & FAO Innovate Africa Challenge 2026 (3rd Edition)Up to US$50,000

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Applications are now open for the Innovate Africa Challenge 2026 (3rd Edition), an innovation challenge launched by Smart Africa in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that address Africa’s agricultural and climate challenges.

Under the theme “From Ideation to Deployment,” the challenge seeks AI-powered innovations that can improve climate-smart agriculture, enhance resilience, and deliver measurable impact for farmers across Africa.

Challenge Benefits

The winning team will receive:

US$50,000 to support the deployment, validation, and scaling of its AI solution

Technical support and validation in real-world farming environments

Exposure to leading partners in agriculture and technology

Opportunities to scale solutions across Africa

Increased visibility within the African innovation ecosystem.

Who Can Apply?

The challenge is open to:

Startups

AI innovators

Technology companies

Agritech entrepreneurs

Researchers

Organisations developing AI-powered agricultural solutions

Applicants must:

• Be a legally registered for-profit entity in one of the 39 Smart Africa Alliance member countries
• Have been operational for at least six months
• Be willing to deploy their solution in at least one of the focus countries if selected
• Develop an AI-enabled solution addressing climate-smart agriculture or related climate challenges.

Focus Areas

Eligible solutions may address areas such as:

Climate-smart agriculture

Crop monitoring and yield prediction

Precision farming

Smart irrigation

Pest and disease detection

Water resource management

Climate resilience

Sustainable food systems

Other AI-enabled agricultural innovations.

APPLY HERE

Call for Applications: African Union CIEFFA Online Capacity Building Training 2026(Fully Funded)

DEADLINE: 31, July , 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 African Union CIEFFA Online Capacity Building Training, a fully funded virtual programme designed to equip young Africans with practical skills in digital technology, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and gender-responsive leadership.

Organized by the African Union International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA) in partnership with ImpactHER, the programme supports the African Union’s vision of promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development while closing the gender gap in ICT across the continent.

The training will be delivered entirely online, allowing participants from all African countries to learn remotely and connect with experts and peers across Africa.

Training Areas

Participants will receive training in:

Gender Equality in Education

Digital Skills

Entrepreneurship

Financial Literacy

Eligibility Criteria

Be an African woman or man.

Be between 18 and 35 years old.

Demonstrate leadership or active involvement in democratic governance, youth participation, peace and security, elections, or related fields.

Be affiliated with youth-led organizations, civil society organizations, government institutions, or initiatives focused on governance, human rights, leadership, or youth development.

Be committed to participating throughout the programme.

Commit to replicating the knowledge gained within their communities or organizations after the training.

Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Successful participants will receive:

Fully funded online training and mentorship.

Practical skills in digital technology, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.

Industry-relevant knowledge to improve employability and business growth.

Certificates in Digital Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy (participants must attend at least 80% of sessions in each programme).

Access to the African Union CIEFFA and ImpactHER professional networks.

Increased opportunities to participate in future fully funded in-person African Union programmes and activities.

Networking opportunities with participants and experts from across Africa.

APPLY HERE

Call for Applications: GET Compass SMEBusinessGrant 2026 (Up to ₦2 Million in Funding)

   DEADLINE:  Aug 20, 2026

Applications are now open for the GET Compass SME Grant 2026, an initiative by the Grooming Endowment Trust (GET) designed to support early-stage small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria with grant funding of up to ₦2 million.

Beyond financial support, the programme equips entrepreneurs with business development training, mentorship, and practical knowledge to help them scale sustainably and improve their operations.

Eligibility Criteria

Be 18 years or older

Be Nigerian citizens

Own a business that is not more than three years old.

Have a registered business (including CAC registration or other recognised business registration)

Show evidence that the business is operational.

Be available to attend the mandatory two-week workshop in Lagos.

Grant Benefits

Successful applicants will receive:

Up to ₦2 million in SME grant funding

A two-week business development workshop in Lagos

Business advisory and mentorship

Capacity-building sessions to strengthen business operations

Support to improve business growth, expansion, and sustainability.

APPLY HERE

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