Open Funding Calls

Active and accepting applications. Last updated: March 19, 2026.

9 Urgent

Closing Soon — Act Now

GSMA Innovation Fund 2026

Grant

GSMA

Amount: £100K-£200K grants

Deadline: April 6, 2026

Sector: Clean energy, climate, digital inclusion

Eligibility: For-profit, ≤250 employees

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TWAS Seed Grant 2026

Grant

TWAS / UNESCO

Amount: Up to $15,000

Deadline: March 31, 2026

Sector: Science, Engineering, Tech Research

Eligibility: Early-career researchers at African institutions

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AFRISE Challenge 2026

Grant

Hindsight Ventures

Amount: $25K + $600K tech credits

Deadline: March 27, 2026

Sector: AgriTech, HealthTech, Fintech

Eligibility: Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire

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IBM Impact Accelerator 2026

Credits

IBM

Amount: Tech resources + support

Deadline: March 25, 2026

Sector: AI, sustainability

Eligibility: Orgs developing AI solutions

AGRA — Inclusive Agricultural Market Systems Kenya

Grant

AGRA

Amount: $1M-$1.3M

Deadline: March 27, 2026

Sector: AgriTech, Agriculture, Climate Adaptation

Eligibility: Agribusinesses & NGOs legally operating in Kenya

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Digital Inclusion Fund

Grant

Various

Amount: $10,000-$100,000

Deadline: March 30, 2026

Sector: Digital Inclusion, Health, Employment

Eligibility: Community development orgs

UNICEF Salt Iodization & Nutrition Program

Grant

UNICEF

Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 20, 2026

Sector: Nutrition, Child Health, Research

Eligibility: Nutrition and health orgs

VivaTech Startup Challenge

Grant

VivaTech

Amount: Prizes + exposure

Deadline: April 13, 2026

Sector: AI, Innovation

Eligibility: Global startups

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Black Women Photographers x Nikon Grant

Grant

Black Women Photographers / Nikon

Amount: $1,000-$10,000

Deadline: March 22, 2026

Sector: Creative Arts, Photography

Eligibility: Women photographers globally

Closing Next Month — April 2026

Africa's Business Heroes 2026

Grant

Jack Ma Foundation

Amount: $1.5M prize pool (Winner: $300K)

Deadline: April 28, 2026

Sector: General

Eligibility: All African countries

Apply →

Katapult Africa Accelerator 2026

Equity

Katapult / Tony Blair Institute / Norrsken

Amount: $150K-$500K

Deadline: April 25, 2026

Sector: AgriTech, ClimateTech

Eligibility: African-based startups

Apply →

Spencer Foundation — Racial Equity in Education

Grant

The Spencer Foundation

Amount: $10,000-$100,000

Deadline: May 4, 2026

Sector: EdTech, Education, Racial Equity

Eligibility: Global researchers with doctoral qualifications

Apply →

Harmony in Diversity Fund

Grant

AVPN / Temasek Foundation / Silent Foundation

Amount: Grants (varies)

Deadline: April 24, 2026

Sector: Social Cohesion, Community Development

Eligibility: Nonprofits and social enterprises in Asia

Apply →

La Francophonie avec Elles Fund (7th Edition)

Grant

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

Amount: $100,000-$500,000

Deadline: April 26, 2026

Sector: Women Empowerment, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship

Eligibility: Orgs in Francophone countries

Impact Seed Fund

Grant

Various

Amount: $1,000-$10,000

Deadline: April 19, 2026

Sector: Climate, Labor Rights, Youth Empowerment

Eligibility: African country initiatives

Research Development Fellowship (Africa-wide)

Grant

Various DFIs

Amount: $10,000-$100,000

Deadline: May 8, 2026

Sector: Health Research, Innovation

Eligibility: Health researchers across Africa

Rolling & Open Applications

Program	Funder	Amount	Model	Deadline	Sector	Apply
LEAP-RE EU-AU Joint Research	EU-AU Partnership	Up to €1.5M per consortium	Grant	Open	Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen	Apply
SIPRA Challenge Fund	MetaMeta	$100K-$500K	Grant	Rolling	AgriTech, climate-resilient food	—
Scalar Botswana (SBIP)	BIF + Scalar International	Access to $150M fund	Equity	Open	Climate tech, digital technology	—
Catalyst Fund	BFA Global / JPMorgan / Gates	$100K-$500K grants	Grant	Open	Financial inclusion fintech	Apply
AECF Challenge Funds	AECF	$100K-$1.5M grants	Grant	Rolling	AgriTech, renewable energy	Apply
Microsoft for Startups	Microsoft	Up to $150K Azure credits	Credits	Rolling	Cloud, AI, Enterprise	Apply
AWS Activate	Amazon (AWS)	Up to $100K AWS credits	Credits	Rolling	Generalist	Apply
ShEquity TA Facility	ShEquity	Pre-seed + catalytic support	Grant	Rolling	Gender-lens, climate, SME	Apply
Mastercard Foundation	Mastercard Foundation	Varies	Grant	Open	Youth, EdTech, fintech	Apply
GIZ Make-IT Africa	German Government	Grants	Grant	Rolling	Social enterprise	Apply
Film and Video Arts Scholarship	Various	$1,000-$10,000	Grant	Open	Media, Film, Creative Arts	—

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