Grants and opportunities for your next phase

Wema Bank SME Business School 2026 (Free Business

Call for Applications: Wema Bank SME Business School 2026 (Free Business Training for Nigerian Entrepreneurs)

Applications are now open for the Wema Bank SME Business School 2026 , a free capacity-building program designed to equip small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners with the practical knowledge and business management skills needed to build, grow, and sustain successful businesses. Organized by Purple Academy, Wema Bank’s corporate university, the SME Business School aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps affecting Nigerian businesses through expert-led training and practical learning sessions. About the Program The Wema Bank SME Business School is designed to strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs by providing practical insights into business management, strategy, digital transformation, funding, financial management, and sustainable business growth. The program is open to both Wema Bank customers and non-customers and seeks to help entrepreneurs improve business structure, productivity, profitability, and long-term competitiveness. Who Can Apply? The programme is open to: Advertisement Small and medium-sized business owners in Nigeria Entrepreneurs seeking to improve business performance Both Wema Bank customers and non-customers Individuals interested in acquiring practica

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Call for Applications: Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Internship 2026

Applications are now open for the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Graduate Internship 2026, offering recent graduates the opportunity to gain practical experience in international development, project management, and infrastructure delivery while working with one of the world’s leading multilateral development finance institutions. The internship is designed to provide graduates with hands-on exposure to development operations by supporting project coordination, research, reporting, and project management activities under the guidance of experienced professionals. Internship Areas Applications are invited from graduates in the following fields: Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Project Management Information Technology (IT) Business Administration and Management Other related disciplines Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Have graduated with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree within the last 12 months Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills Have good communication and teamwork abilities Be proficient in Microsoft Office applications Demonstrate organisational and project coordination skills Be fluent in English (knowledge of French is an added adv

Eligibility: Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Have graduated with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree within the last 12 months Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills Have good communication and teamwork abilities Be proficien

Deadline

July 29, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

Mastercard Foundation & WUSC Business Support Pathways to Scale

Call For Applications: Mastercard Foundation & WUSC Business Support Pathways to Scale Programme 2026 for Women-Led Businesses

Applications are open for the Business Slupport Pathways to Scale Programme 2026 , an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation and World University Service of Canada (WUSC) designed to support women-led businesses with the tools and resources needed to strengthen their operations and scale. The programme focuses on helping women entrepreneurs overcome business growth challenges through targeted business support, capacity building, and access to opportunities that can help them build more sustainable and scalable enterprises. Programme Benefits Selected businesses may receive: Business development support Capacity-building training Mentorship and technical assistance Support to strengthen business operations Guidance on business growth and scaling Opportunities to connect with relevant business support networks and resources Who Can Apply? The programme is designed for women-led businesses that meet the eligibility requirements stated in the official application form. Interested applicants should review the full requirements carefully before submitting their applications. Why This Matters Access to appropriate business support remains a major challenge for many women entrepreneurs. P

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

World Bank Group Africa

Call For Applications: World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program 2027 (Fully Funded to Washington, D.C. or a WBG Country Office)

Applications are now open for the World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program 2027 , a prestigious fellowship for talented African scholars pursuing or recently completing a Ph.D. in fields relevant to the World Bank Group’s work. The programme offers selected fellows a six-month, in-person assignment at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, D.C. , or a WBG country office, where they will gain practical experience in development research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations. Fellowship Benefits Selected fellows will receive: A six-month professional assignment with the World Bank Group Placement at WBG headquarters in Washington, D.C., or a country office Consultant fees for the duration of the fellowship Round-trip economy-class airfare to the assigned duty station Hands-on experience working on development research and policy Opportunities to work with World Bank Group experts and professionals Exposure to research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations. Who Can Apply? The programme is designed for: Nationals of Sub-Saharan African countries Ph.D. candidates who are completing their doctoral studies Recent Ph.D. graduate

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Deadline

August 25, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI) 2026 Offers

Call for Applications: Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI) 2026 Offers Training, Up to $5,000 in Matching Funds and Free Fiscal Sponsorship to African Organisations

The New Africa Fund (NAF) has opened applications for the 2026 Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI), a multi-stage capacity-building programme designed to help African organisations develop sustainable fundraising pipelines and strengthen their institutional capacity. The programme is open to organisations registered in any of the 54 African Union member states. The Africa Fundraising Incubator, previously known as the Africa Impact Fundraising Grant (AIFG), will equip participating organisations with practical skills, resources and institutional support to improve their fundraising efforts, broaden their reach and deepen their impact. What the AFI 2026 Programme Offers Selected organisations will participate in specialised online training focused on the foundational skills required to run successful small-donor fundraising campaigns. As part of the programme, participants will also take part in a 30-day fundraising challenge. During this period, organisations will launch live fundraising campaigns and have the opportunity to receive up to $5,000 in matching funds from the New Africa Fund. Advertisement Participating organisations will also receive 12 months of free fiscal sponsorshi

Eligibility: Eligibility for the Africa Fundraising Incubator The programme is open to organisations that are legally registered in one of the 54 African Union member states

Deadline

August 14, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

up to $5,000 in matching funds from the New Africa Fund

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Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) Research

Call for Applications: Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) Research Fund 2026 (Funding of Up to $ 22,000)

Applications are now open for the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) Research Fund 2026, an initiative supporting collaborative research led by Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from AHC member institutions. The fund aims to strengthen research capacity, foster international collaboration, and generate evidence that improves Health Human Resources Policy and Health Financing Policy in Primary Health Care across Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme encourages bilateral and multilateral partnerships among AHC member institutions, while promoting the involvement of master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral researchers in high-impact health systems research. Research Focus Areas Projects should address one or more of the following themes: Advertisement Primary Health Care Health Human Resources Policy Health Financing Policy Health Systems Strengthening Public Health Research Collaborative Research Research Capacity Development Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Be an Early Career Researcher (ECR) affiliated with an AHC member institution. Submit a collaborative proposal involving at least two AHC member institutions. Include master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral trainees in the research team. E

Eligibility: Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Be an Early Career Researcher (ECR) affiliated with an AHC member institution

Deadline

August 15, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

funding based on the type of collaboration: Bilateral projects: Up to USD 22,000 (USD 11,000 per participating institution) Multilateral projects: USD 11,000 per participat

YouthConnekt Africa Export

Call for Applications: YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026 Supports Young Entrepreneurs to Expand Across African Markets

Applications are now open for the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026 , a growth-focused programme designed to support young entrepreneurs with established businesses who are ready to expand beyond their domestic markets and explore opportunities across Africa. The Export Accelerator is designed to help youth-led enterprises strengthen their export readiness, improve competitiveness and overcome some of the challenges involved in expanding into new African markets. The 2026 programme is open to young entrepreneurs and youth-led businesses in Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, The Gambia, Zambia and Zimbabwe . The initiative is implemented by YouthConnekt Africa in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union (AU) and aligns with efforts to increase youth participation in intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). What the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator Offers Selected entrepreneurs will receive support designed to help them prepare their businesses for regional expansion and cross-border trade. Advertisement The programme will focus on helping participating businesses: Strengthen their export capacity

Eligibility: requirements

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

AGFUND Development

Call For Applications: AGFUND Development Programme 2026 for Diana Award Recipients in Africa

Applications are now open for the AGFUND Development Programme 2026 , a six-month leadership and capacity-building programme designed to support Diana Award Recipients across Africa in strengthening, sustaining, and scaling their social impact initiatives. The programme is delivered through a partnership between the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and The Diana Award . It combines expert-led learning, peer collaboration, and tailored development support to help young changemakers expand the impact of their social action projects. Programme Benefits Selected participants will receive: Six months of expert-led leadership and capacity-building sessions Personalized development support Peer learning and collaboration with fellow changemakers across Africa Opportunities to strengthen and scale social impact initiatives Access to a growing network of young leaders and development partners Professional and personal development opportunities. Who Can Apply? Applicants must: Be a Diana Award Recipient Be based in Africa Be between 16 and 25 years old at the start of the programme Be actively leading a social action project, initiative, or campaign Be seeking to strengthen, sust

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Deadline

July 31, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Award Recipient Be based in Africa Be between 16 and 25 years old at the start of the programme Be actively leading a social action pro

PIBBSS Winter

Call For Applications: PIBBSS Winter Fellowship Program 2026–2027 in South Africa ($3,000 Monthly Stipend, Free Accommodation, Flights, and Mentorship)

Applications are now open for the PIBBSS Winter Fellowship Program 2026–2027 , an intensive research fellowship hosted by the Principles of Intelligent Behavior in Biological and Social Systems (PIBBSS) initiative in South Africa. The fully funded programme brings together exceptional students and early-career researchers from around the world to explore the principles of intelligence across biological, artificial, and social systems. Fellows will participate in interdisciplinary lectures, research collaborations, workshops, and mentorship sessions with leading scientists and innovators. ( princint.ai ) Fellowship Benefits Successful applicants will receive: Monthly stipend of USD 3,000 Round-trip international airfare Free accommodation throughout the fellowship Meals during the programme Access to world-class lectures and workshops Mentorship from leading researchers and academics Opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaboration Networking with an international cohort of fellows. Who Can Apply? The fellowship is open to: Undergraduate students Master’s students PhD students Postdoctoral researchers Early-career professionals with a strong interest in intelligence resear

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Deadline

August 31, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

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African Union CIEFFA Online Capacity Building

Call for Applications: African Union CIEFFA Online Capacity Building Training 2026 (Free Digital Skills & Entrepreneurship Program)

Applications are now open for the African Union CIEFFA Online Capacity Building Training 2026 , organised in partnership with ImpactHER under the theme: “#AfricaEducatesHer – Digital Skills for All: Bridging the Gender Gap in STEAM, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship.” The programme aims to equip young people across all 55 African Union Member States and the African Diaspora with practical digital, entrepreneurial, and financial skills needed to succeed in today’s economy. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Be an African woman or man, including members of the African Diaspora. Demonstrate an interest in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Show strong motivation and leadership potential. Have access to a smartphone, computer, or other internet-enabled device. Be able to understand and communicate in English, French, or Portuguese. Training Structure Participants will be assigned to different training batches. Each batch will run for one month, beginning 31 August 2026 . Participants must attend at least 80% of all sessions to qualify for certification. Training Areas Participants will receive training in: Advertisement Gender Equality in and through Ed

Eligibility: Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Be an African woman or man, including members of the African Diaspora

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Funding varies

iDICE Startup Bridge Founders Lab Cohort 2 for Entrepreneurs (Up to ₦10 Million

Call For Applications: iDICE Startup Bridge Founders Lab Cohort 2 for Entrepreneurs (Up to ₦10 Million Grant)

Applications are now open for the iDICE Startup Bridge Founders Lab 2026 , an entrepreneurship acceleration programme designed to support innovative Nigerian startups with business development training, mentorship, investor readiness, and grant funding of up to ₦10 million . The programme is part of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative, which aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital and creative entrepreneurship ecosystem by helping founders build scalable, investment-ready businesses. Through the Founders Lab, selected entrepreneurs will receive intensive support to refine their business models, validate their solutions, and prepare for growth and investment. ( idicestartupbridge.ng ) Program Benefits Successful applicants will receive: Opportunity to win up to ₦10 million in grant funding Intensive entrepreneurship and business development training One-on-one mentorship from experienced founders and industry experts Investor readiness and pitch coaching Access to a network of investors, partners, and ecosystem stakeholders Business advisory and technical support Opportunities to showcase innovative solutions to potential funders and partners. ( idices

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Deadline

July 26, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

grant funding of up to ₦10 million

African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy

Call For Applications: African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy (AUCYE) 2026 (Annual Salary of Up to US$96,921)

Applications are now open for the 2026 African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy (AUCYE), an opportunity for outstanding young African leaders to serve as the African Union’s chief advocate for youth development, participation, and empowerment across the continent. The African Union is seeking to appoint the 3rd African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy for a two-year term (renewable), who will work closely with the AU Commission to amplify the voices of young Africans, influence continental policies, and strengthen youth participation in Africa’s development agenda under Agenda 2063. Why This Matters Young people are central to Africa’s future. The Youth Envoy serves as a bridge between African youth and the African Union, ensuring that young people’s aspirations, ideas, and concerns shape policies, programmes, and decisions that impact the continent. This role provides a unique platform to champion youth development, strengthen partnerships, and drive transformative change across Africa. Advertisement Key Responsibilities The successful candidate will: • Champion African Union youth policies and priorities • Promote meaningful youth participation in AU policy pr

Eligibility: Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Advertisement • Be between 18 and 35 years old throughout the appointment • Hold a Master’s degree with at least seven years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with at least ten years of re

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

up to US$96,921.34 (internationally recruited staff) • Opportunity to build partnerships that adva