The Citi Foundation is committing US$25 million to organisations helping young people from low-income communities prepare for a labour market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Through its Fourth Global Innovation Challenge: Preparing Youth for AI, the Foundation plans to select 50 community organisations, with each receiving US$500,000 to pilot or expand programmes that strengthen workforce readiness and economic mobility.
The call is open to eligible nonprofit organisations working in selected countries around the world, including a number of African markets.
What the Challenge Will Fund
Citi Foundation is looking for programmes that help low-income young people develop the skills, access and opportunities needed to participate in an AI-driven economy.
Proposed initiatives may focus on:
- Building AI and digital skills such as prompt engineering and digital content creation
- Strengthening human-centred skills including problem-solving and critical thinking
- Improving access to devices, software and other digital resources
- Connecting young people to employment opportunities
- Integrating AI tools into existing youth employment programmes
- Building partnerships between nonprofits, education providers, businesses and other organisations responding to changing workforce needs
Programmes should primarily serve low-income young people, particularly those aged 15–24.
Who Can Apply?
- Applicants must be registered nonprofit organisations whose mission or strategic priorities include serving low-income individuals or communities.
- The proposed programme must operate in or benefit at least one of Citi Foundation’s eligible target geographies.
- Organisations requiring a fiscal sponsor are not eligible. Applicants invited to the full application stage must also be able to provide qualifying externally audited financial statements covering at least part of 2024 or a subsequent year.
- An organisation does not necessarily have to be headquartered in the target country, but the proposed programme must deliver impact within an eligible geography.
Eligible African Countries
African target geographies for this call include:
Algeria | Cameroon | Côte d’Ivoire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Egypt | Gabon | Ghana | Kenya | Morocco | Nigeria | Senegal | South Africa | Tanzania | Tunisia | Uganda | Zambia
Application Process
- The application begins with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submitted through Citi Foundation’s online grant portal.
- Applications must be submitted in English.
- Following the first-stage review, selected organisations will be invited to submit a full application. An invitation to the second stage does not guarantee funding.
- Citi Foundation expects to announce successful recipients in 2027.