As October 2024 approaches, young Africans seeking transformative opportunities across the continent and beyond have several prestigious programs to consider. Whether you aspire to lead impactful social enterprises, tackle climate challenges, or drive trade and investment, there are key initiatives available this month to help propel your career and make a difference.
From the Global Pathbuilders Fellowship, which offers the chance to launch Christel House schools in Ghana and Kenya, to multiple USAID-backed grants targeting climate finance, biodiversity, and gender empowerment in East and West Africa, these programs offer financial support, mentorship, and the platform to scale your vision. With deadlines fast approaching in mid to late October, now is the time to explore the opportunities below and apply.
The Global Pathbuilders Fellowship [Round 1 Deadline: October 15]
The Global Pathbuilders Fellowship is a prestigious, two-year, fully paid program aimed at identifying visionary leaders in Ghana and Kenya, among others. The strongest candidates from two of these countries will be selected to receive support to launch new Christel House schools and transition into the role of Chief Executive Officer for Christel House in their country.
Eligibility Criteria:
- 10+ years of professional experience, including at least five years in a leadership role within the social impact sector or private sector.
- Strong entrepreneurial skills with a successful track record in fundraising.
- Passion for improving life outcomes for children and families in low-income communities.
- Must be a citizen, permanent resident, or have strong ties to one of the target countries: Ghana, Kenya, Colombia, Peru, Nepal, or Bangladesh.
Program Duration: Two years, with comprehensive benefits including work-related expenses, travel allowances, and health insurance.
Key Deadlines:
- Expression of Interest Deadline (Round 1): October 15, 2024.
- Expression of Interest Deadline (Round 2): December 1, 2024.
You can either express your interest or nominate a fellow for this transformative opportunity.
USAID Climate Finance for Biodiversity in East Africa [Deadline: October 15]
USAID Kenya and East Africa seeks innovative regional private sector solutions to mobilize private finance for climate and nature based solutions that maximize both climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation benefits. Projects should aim to support sustainable practices, have multiple benefits in biodiversity conservation and natural climate solutions, and be designed to help the East Africa region adapt to the effects of climate change.
Who Should Apply:
- Businesses, financial intermediaries, or funds based in East Africa.
- Entities with a demonstrated pipeline of SMEs and growth-oriented businesses that provide biodiversity benefits through climate finance.
- Concepts that propose innovative solutions to crowd-in private sector financing for greater and more sustainable impact.
Grant Size and Type:
- Performance-based grants ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
- Preference will be given to proposals that include partial repayment if the project is successfully implemented.
Geographic Scope: The project focuses on East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan). Applications should be regional or have the potential to scale for regional impact.
Who Can Apply:
- Local (Africa-based) and international firms.
- Non-U.S. NGOs (for-profit or nonprofit) that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.47.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Entities that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.70.
Closing Date for Applications: October 15, 2024.
USAID Innovative Market-Led Approaches to Empowering Women to Adapt to Climate Change in Northern Kenya [Deadline: October 15]
USAID Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA) and The USAID Africa Trade and Investment will support private sector initiatives that empower women and youth in northern Kenya to improve their resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change by creating/expanding income generating opportunities. USAID/KEA is currently inviting concepts from businesses that will address the following priorities.
- Create jobs and increase income for women, particularly in conservancies, to reduce their dependence on natural resources and strengthen their resilience to the effects of climate change.
- Enhance women’s capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change in Northern Kenya.
- Address harmful gender norms and gender-based violence.
Grant Size: $400,000 to $750,000
Geographic Focus: The program targets conservancies in the following 10 counties in Northern Kenya: Samburu, Isiolo, Laikipia, Marsabit, Tana River, Garisa, Meru, West Pokot, Lamu, and Baringo. Proposals do not need to cover all counties but should focus on one or more within the region.
Who Can Apply:
- Local (Africa-based) and international firms.
- Non-U.S. NGOs (for-profit or nonprofit) that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.47.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Entities that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.70.
Closing Date: October 15.
USAID Reducing Plastic Pollution and Creating Economic Opportunities for Women in East Africa [Closing Date: October 15]
USAID Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA) seeks innovative regional private sector solutions to reduce plastic pollution, advance the circular economy, and create economic opportunities and better conditions for women in the plastic value chain in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan).
Priority focus areas:
- Improve solid waste management, collection, disposal, reuse, recycling, circular economy (CE)
- Improve the enabling environment (i.e. policies, regulations, etc.) for CE
- Increase investment in recycling and CE
- Reduce generation of plastic waste (via alternatives)
- Create opportunities for women in Solid Waste Management
- Improve livelihoods of vulnerable populations associated with Solid Waste Management and recycling
Grant Size: $500,000 to $1,000,000
Geographic Focus: The project focuses on East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Applications must either be regional or demonstrate potential for regional scaling and impact.
Who Can Apply:
- Local (Africa-based) and international firms.
- Non-U.S. NGOs (for-profit or nonprofit) that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.47.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Entities that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.70.
Closing Date for Applications: October 15, 2024
USAID Africa Trade Investment Activity (ATI) for Private Sector in West Africa [Closing Date: October 31]
USAID Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA) and The USAID Africa Trade and Investment seek to engage private-sector partners, including buyers/aggregators, processors, manufacturers and investors, to co-invest in innovative activities designed to significantly increase two-way trade between the United States and West Africa, as well as intra-regional trade among West African economies.
Overarching Priorities:
- West Africa’s trade and investment within the region, continent, and with the U.S. increased.
- Access to finance created and/or expanded, particularly for youth and women.
- Skills matching investment and market needs developed and cultivated,
- Farmers access to productivity-enhancing technologies and inputs, increased.
- Capacity of firms in manufacturing, and processing in West Africa increased.
- Access to markets and capital expanded and deepened, resulting in significant growth in exports, sales, and investment.
- Sustainable jobs for youth and women created.
- Sustainable farmers’ incomes/economic freedom increased.
- Access to education, essential health services and commodities, including access to water and sanitation services increased.
Grant Size: US$500,000 to $1,000,000 (Smaller or larger amounts may be considered based on the proposed activity).
Geographic Focus: This activity will be managed from West Africa in the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, as well as Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritania, São Tomé, and Príncipe.
Who Can Apply:
- Local (Africa-based) and international firms.
- Non-U.S. NGOs (for-profit or nonprofit) that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.47.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Entities that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.70.
Closing Date for Applications: October 31, 2024
