Gender equality remains a critical issue in Africa, despite some progress made so far. This has made every opportunity to empower and support women-led organizations and startups increasingly important. New grant funding opportunities specifically for women-led organizations, entrepreneurs, and leaders aim to reduce the gender gap in business and innovation.
These grants not only provide essential financial resources but also offer strategic support, mentorship, and networking opportunities. By promoting an inclusive environment, these initiatives are paving the way towards greater diversity and fairness. Here are some of the most promising opportunities for women-led organizations and startups committed to supporting communities in need.
Giving Joy Grant Program for Women
- Deadline: 31 July 2024
- The Giving Joy is seeking applications for its grant opportunity to women-led initiatives—providing women entrepreneurs with critical resources to start businesses, acquire skills, sustain operations, or improve their ideas worldwide.
Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards 2024
- Deadline: 21 July 2024
- Together with the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC), WECF International is happy to announce that the call for applications for the annual Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards is now open.
Climate Change XX: Women’s Health in Focus
- Deadline: 7 July 2024
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with academic partners, is launching the Research Challenge: Climate Change XX: Women’s Health in Focus.
Women Creating Wealth – Intergenerational (WCW-I) Edition
- Deadline: 12 July 2024
- The Graça Machel Trust is excited to announce the Women Creating Wealth -Intergenerational (WCW-I) edition in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator Program (US and Canada)
- Deadline: Ongoing
- The Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator is investing in up to five companies per year led by women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color.
Western Balkans Media for Change
- Deadline: 31 December 2024
- Aiming to support quality, engaging, and innovative content production, local and regional collaboration, professional development, internships, networking, mobility, and validation of business ideas, the Western Balkans Media for Change project announces grant-funding opportunities for individuals, media outlets, associations, and other organizations from the Western Balkans.
Fearless Innovators Grant – Australia
- Deadline: 1 August 2024
- Applications are now open for the Fearless Innovator Grants program to help innovative South Australian women access the capital they need to grow their businesses into national and global enterprises.
Rosa’s Stand With Us Fund – United Kingdom
- Deadline: 30 July 2024
- Rosa has announced the Stand With Us Fund to address the critical lack of investment in frontline organizations supporting women and girls who experience male violence.
Pacific Environment Grant Program – United States
- Deadline: 31 July 2024
- Does your organization work within communities impacted by ship and port pollution? If yes, then apply for Pacific Environment’s grant!
PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS
- Deadline: 31 July 2024
- The U.S. Embassy Kampala/PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants Office announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for a community grants program to combat HIV/AIDS.
AICCRA Zambia Accelerator Program
- Deadline: 19 July 2024
- AICCRA Zambia seeks small and medium enterprise (SME) partnerships to scale bundles of climate-smart agriculture innovations in Zambia.
Promoting Understanding Science in Austria
- Deadline: 15 August 2024
- Do you want to make science understandable for a broad audience? If you want to simply explain topics from the field of MINT (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology) and organize an event, the Understanding Science funding is suitable for you.
Funding to Promote Quality of Life in Vienna
- Deadline: 31 August 2024
- By promoting Quality of Life Vienna, Wirtschaftsagentur Wien supports small and medium-sized companies and founders in quickly implementing new ideas for a sustainable world.
Grants for Promotion of Creative Industries Project – Austria
- Deadline: 31 July 2024
- Do you design fashion in Vienna? Are you developing games or a service that improves the work of creative professionals? With the creative industries project funding, you can realize your project.
Wirtschaftsagentur Wien Healthcare Funding – Austria
- Deadline: 31 July 2024
- Are you implementing a research project in human health? Submit for the Healthcare funding if you would like to develop processes or services for the production of pharmaceuticals or offer innovations in diagnostics and medical technology.
Female Founders Co-Investment Fund (Australia)
- Deadline: 25 November 2024
- The Female Founders Co-Investment Fund aims to support eligible innovation-driven enterprises founded and led by women to secure new early-stage investment through a capital raise.
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Ukraine (2024)
- Deadline: 14 July 2024
- The Embassy of Canada in Ukraine is pleased to launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
ygap Agripreneur Accelerator Program – South Africa
- Deadline: 31 July 2024
- ygap South Africa Agripreneur Accelerator Program is providing support for entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their impact-focused venture.
Nature2Nature Gender-Smart Program (Philippines)
- Deadline: 14 July 2024
- Nature2Nature is a first-of-its-kind gender-smart program for nature-based enterprises creating biodiversity positive impact across the blue economy and green economy.
Content Vienna: Competition for Digital Design (Austria)
- Deadline: 18 September 2024
- Are you a game developer looking for support for your unfinished prototype? Are you designing creative digital projects in the areas of extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, or animation? With Content Vienna, the Vienna Business Agency supports you in realizing your ideas.
These grant opportunities are critical in supporting women-led organizations and startups, helping to bridge the gender gap and promote innovation. By providing essential resources, mentorship, and networking, these programs are setting the stage for a more inclusive and diverse future.
