Innovation opportunities

Find verified grants, fellowships, accelerators and support for African founders working in Innovation.

10 open opportunities, 3 closing within 7 days

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timbuktoo Green, Climate and Energy Hub photograph
OpportunityCloses 15 Nov

timbuktoo, United Nations Development Programme

timbuktoo Africa UniPods Mentor Network 2026

timbuktoo, the UNDP pan-African innovation initiative, is recruiting mentors for its university UniPod network across more than 20 African countries. Volunteer role, apply by 15 November 2026.

Eligibility: Experienced professionals able to offer guidance in artificial intelligence, technology, business or a related field

Deadline
November 15, 2026
Location
Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda
Funding or benefit
Volunteer pro bono mentorship role, no stipend or fee
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ITU Gender Champions Programme banner
FellowshipCloses 15 Nov

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU Gender Champions Programme 2026 to 2027 for Young Women Leading Digital Change

ITU is looking for up to four young women leaders, aged 18 to 25, who are using technology to create positive change in their communities. The inaugural cohort joins a global network of experts and policymakers, takes part in the AI for Good Global Summit 2027 in Geneva, and may receive support for a community project advancing digital inclusion for women and girls.

Eligibility: Young women aged 18 to 25

Deadline
November 15, 2026
Location
Global
Funding or benefit
No cash award is published. The programme covers participation in the AI for Good Global Summit 2027 in Geneva, and subject to sufficient available funds, selected champions may receive support to implement or strengthen a community project on digital inclusion for women and girls.
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Agroecology farm for girls led by an endorsed initiative of the UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development
OpportunityCloses 15 Nov

UNESCO

UNESCO International Decade of Sciences: Fourth Call for Initiatives

UNESCO has opened the fourth global call for initiatives under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, which runs from 2024 to 2033. It invites the global scientific community and partners across every sector to submit proposals that turn research into action, and submissions are open until 15 November 2026. African institutions, researchers and cross-sector partners are expressly welcome.

Eligibility: Open worldwide with no country restriction, and African institutions, researchers and partners are expressly welcome under the Decade's Priority Africa focus.

Deadline
November 15, 2026
Location
Africa
Funding or benefit
Funding varies
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Orange Corners Nigeria cohort event photo
AcceleratorOpen

Orange Corners Nigeria (FATE Foundation)

Orange Corners Nigeria Incubation Programme Cohort 16 for Young Entrepreneurs

Orange Corners Nigeria, implemented by FATE Foundation with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is selecting Cohort 16 of its six month incubation programme for young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35. Participants get enterprise training, advisory, mentorship and access to up to 30,000 euros in funding support for prototype development and testing.

Eligibility: Aged 18 to 35

Deadline
November 30, 2026
Location
Nigeria
Funding or benefit
Access to up to 30,000 euros in funding support for prototype development and testing.
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European Prize for Women Innovators: Up to €100,000 for Women-Led Innovation opportunity
CompetitionOpen

European Commission

European Prize for Women Innovators: Up to €100,000 for Women-Led Innovation

The EU's annual prize for women founders is open, with up to €100,000 and three prizes in each category for women whose innovations benefit people and the planet. Deadline 1 December 2026.

Eligibility: Women legally residing in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories) or a Horizon Europe associated country

Deadline
December 1, 2026
Location
European Union, Horizon Europe associated countries
Funding or benefit
Up to €100,000, three prizes awarded in each category
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Journalists listening during a session at the Nieman Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts
FellowshipOpen

Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship in Journalism Innovation at Harvard, a Nine-Month Paid Fellowship Open to International Journalists

The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, together with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, is taking applications for the Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship in Journalism Innovation, a nine-month paid fellowship at Harvard beginning around mid-August 2027 for a working journalist who wants a year to develop a specific project on journalism’s digital transformation. It is the only named fellowship the foundation currently designates, and its own page states that it is open to both U.S. and international applicants, so a Nigerian or any other non-U.S. citizen journalist applies in the international category, including one already working in the United States. Every applicant needs at least five years of full-time media experience, and the international round closes on 1 December 2026. A fellow receives a stipend of USD 87,500 paid over nine months to cover living costs, with separate health insurance and child-care supplements.

Eligibility: A working journalist with at least five years of full-time media experience, freelancers included

Deadline
December 1, 2026
Location
Africa
Funding or benefit
A stipend of USD 87,500 paid over a nine-month period to cover living costs. Fellows also receive a health insurance supplement of up to USD 6,250 each for the fellow and a spouse and up to USD 3,750 for each child younger than 18, plus a child-care allowance for children aged 12 or younger of USD 10,500 for one child, USD 12,500 for two, USD 14,750 for three and USD 16,750 for four or more, with an additional USD 10,500 for a child aged 3 or younger. All figures are per fellowship year and subject to change. Fellows are not eligible for health insurance through Harvard University, and Nieman covers the cost of attending Harvard classes for fellows and their spouses or partners.
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St. Gallen Global Ideas Competition logo on a deep blue background
CompetitionOpen

International Students' Committee, St. Gallen Symposium

St. Gallen Global Ideas Competition 2027, A Free Global Student Contest Where Graduate Competitors Win Fully Funded Places At The Symposium And Share A CHF 20,000 Prize Fund

The International Students' Committee at the St. Gallen Symposium is running its 2027 Global Ideas Competition for graduate and postgraduate students anywhere in the world. Selected competitors attend the 56th Symposium in Switzerland in April 2027 with travel, board and lodging covered, and the three best ideas share a prize fund of CHF 20,000. Submissions close on 1 February 2027.

Eligibility: You are enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme at master level or higher, in any field of study, at a regular university

Deadline
February 2, 2027
Location
Africa
Funding or benefit
Participation in the 56th St. Gallen Symposium is free for selected Leaders of Tomorrow, and the International Students' Committee covers travel, board and lodging. The three best ideas share a prize fund of CHF 20,000.
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Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition 2027 for high school founders worldwide
CompetitionOpen

Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurs Corporation

Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition 2027 for High School Founders Worldwide

A free global virtual pitch competition that asks high school students to build an original business idea using Blue Ocean Strategy tools and present it in a video of under 5 minutes. Registration is open now, pitches are due by 21 February 2027, and the 2027 awards run to USD 1,000 for first place plus regional, People's Choice and teacher prizes.

Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or an equivalent pre-university level when you register, such as secondary school, GCSE or IGCSE, O-Level or A-Level study, or the International Baccalaureate

Deadline
February 21, 2027
Location
Worldwide
Funding or benefit
2027 awards: 1st place USD 1,000, 2nd place USD 750, 3rd place USD 500, and a People's Choice award of USD 750 for the Top 100 pitch with the most likes and comments on YouTube. Regional winners in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Middle East each receive USD 500, and three participating teachers each receive USD 500 as Blue Ocean Teacher Champions. Certificates are awarded to all winners.
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Maple Global Innovation Fellowship 2026
FellowshipOpen

The Maple Awards

Maple Global Innovation Fellowship 2026 for Entrepreneurs, Researchers and Technology Professionals

The Maple Global Innovation Fellowship 2026 is a selective international network that brings together entrepreneurs, researchers, engineers and AI and robotics professionals who want to support emerging innovators across the global ecosystem.

Eligibility: Entrepreneurs and startup founders

Deadline
Timeline not announced
Location
Africa
Funding or benefit
Funding varies
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RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation expression of interest banner
GrantOpen

Research and Innovation for Climate (RICH) Hub

RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation Expression of Interest 2026 for African Innovators

An open call for African led or Africa based climate AI innovations that have already reached pilot stage, with technical support, coaching, ecosystem connections and potential scaling grants of up to USD 200,000 for selected innovations.

Eligibility: African led or Africa based innovations

Deadline
Timeline not announced
Location
Africa
Funding or benefit
Potential scaling grants of up to USD 200,000 for selected innovations, alongside technical support, coaching and partnerships.
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