Bank of Industry's (BOI) N10 Billion Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) Programme - 2nd Round

Bank of Industry - The Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) programme is an ambitious programme by the Bank of Industry (BOI) aimed at addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria which is currently over 50%. According to a 2013 survey by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), most of the capacity building programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment, have concentrated more on training without any tie-in to the provision of small business loans, which is a critical success factor to the establishment of small businesses. In addition, they hardly take care of the entire training value chain in terms of Entrepreneurship, Business Management and Technical Skills.

RAE Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2016/2017 (£25,000 Prize)

Description

Applications are invited from engineers in sub Saharan Africa who have developed an innovation that can provide scalable solutions to local challenges.

The Africa Prize encourages ambitious and talented sub-Saharan African engineers from all disciplines to apply their skills to develop scalable solutions to local challenges, highlighting the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development. Crucial commercialisation support is awarded to a shortlist of innovative applicants through a six-month period of training and mentoring.

The aim of the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is to stimulate, celebrate and reward innovation and entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be individuals or groups of no more than three people.
• Individual applicants must be citizens of a country within sub-Saharan Africa and currently reside there. For teams of two or three, the lead applicant must be a citizen of a country within sub-Saharan Africa and currently reside there.
• Applicants must have an engineering innovation and provide a letter of support from a university of research institution.
• Industrial researchers and establishments are not eligible.
• The applicant’s innovation can be any new product, technology or service, based on research in engineering defined in its broadest sense to encompass a wide range of fields, including: agricultural technology, biotechnology, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, design engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, ICT, materials science, mechanical engineering, and medical engineering. If you are in any doubt that your area of expertise would be considered engineering then please contact the Academy to discuss your application.
• Applicants should have achieved the development of, and be in the early stages of commercialising, an engineering innovation that:

1.     ​will bring social and/or environmental benefits to country/countries in sub-Saharan Africa;
2.     has strong potential to be replicated and scaled up;
3.     is accompanied by an ambitious but realistic business plan which has strong commercial viability.

The Prize

The overall winner will receive £25,000 (or local currency equivalent). Runners-up will also receive a cash prizeof £10,000 each.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted via the online Grant System.  You must register though the system before you are able to apply.
The application form has six sections to complete.

Required Document

A CV and letter of support are also required

Notification:

All applications will be acknowledged on receipt.
Selected applicants will be contacted by email in September 2016.

Apply Now

Visit the official webpage for more info

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2016 ICGEB Research Grants for Member States

Description:

Application is now open for research grants for projects in basic Life Sciences, Human Healthcare, Industrial and Agricultural Biotechnology and Bio-energy.


The programme aims to stimulate collaborative research in member states and with the ICGEB Component laboratories, to promote training of young scientists and to facilitate the creation of appropriate reseamrch facilities.

Course Level: 

Grants are available to for pursuing research programme.

Field(s) of study: 

The programme provides support for research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology and bioenergy.

Grant Value:

Grants are awarded to contribute to the implementation of outstanding scientific research projects. An important element of successful applications is the feasibility of the proposed project within the designated time-frame (maximum 36 months).

The maximum annual contribution from ICGEB is Euro 25,000. Funds can only be used to cover expenditures that are directly relevant to the project. This may include purchasing consumable items, scientific literature and basic standard laboratory equipment.

Travel and training costs can also be covered. Salaries of the Principal Investigators and infrastructural support (e.g., normal administrative and overhead expenses of the Institution, maintenance and rental of capital equipment, building, etc.) are not admissible and cannot be funded.

Place(s) of Research: 

Universities or Research Institutes in any of the Member States

Eligibility: 

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply for this grant:-

• Applicants for CRP – ICGEB Research Grant proposals should hold positions at Universities or Research Institutes in any of the Member States listed in Annex A. Active collaboration with ICGEB Research Groups is welcome but is not mandatory. Investigating groups do not qualify for submission of applications:
• if previously awarded projects have not been evaluated and satisfactorily concluded;
• if the University or Research Institute of the Principal Investigator is based in Italy. A special category of CRP-ICGEB Early Career Return Grants is intended to fund young researchers with an outstanding track record, who have spent a minimum of 2 years abroad and have recently returned to an ICGEB Member State to establish their own independent laboratories. Applicants for Early Career Return Grants should have taken up, or be about to take up, a position as an Independent Investigator in an ICGEB Member State (except Italy). Applicants who arrived in that country before 30 April 2014 are not eligible to apply for Early Career Return Grants.

Eligible nationality: 

Applicants of an ICGEB member state (Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, FYR Macedonia, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam) are eligible to apply for the grant.

Academic Requirement:

• A special category of CRP-ICGEB early career return grants is intended to fund young researchers with an outstanding track record, who have spent a minimum of 2 years abroad and have recently returned.
•  There is no age limit is set for the Principal Investigator for standard Research Grant applications. 
• Applicants for Early Career Return Grants should be no more than 40 years of age at the time of the application.

English language Requirements:

 Candidates must have a good working knowledge of the English language, supported by a proficiency certificate (TOEFL, Cambridge Certificate, or equivalent). Not required when scholastic education has been undertaken in English.

How to Apply and Supporting Material:

Applicants should submit their proposal by e-mail (as a pdf attachment) both to: the Liaison Officer of their country (refer to Annex A for the list of eligible countries and for full contact details) 2) the CRP-ICGEB Research Grant office (crp@icgeb.org). Check List for Principal Investigator:

• Have they completed all the sections of this application form in English?
• Have they signed Form A?
• Has the Legal Representative of thei Institute signed Form A1?
• Have they completed section 5 (e.g., Financial contribution requested from ICGEB) according to the Budget Guidelines?
• Is the budget expressed in Euro?
• The CRP-ICGEB Research Grant office (crp-at-icgeb.org).

Fill the Application Form to apply

Application Deadline: 30th April 2016.

 Visit the official webpage for more info 

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2016 Leading Change Journalism Bursary for Young Journalists from Commonwealth Countries

Bursary Description:

Five Leading Change Journalism Bursaries will be awarded to one young person aged 18-30 in each Commonwealth region, who is keen to develop their journalism skills and experience while building a portfolio.


Up for grabs in 2016 is up to £900 for each of five Commonwealth regions; Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, Caribbean and  Americas and Pacific. The regional groupings of Commonwealth Writers is used.

Selection criteria:

To be considered for the bursary, you have to stae you would use the money to create content for Leading Change – whether it’s written articles, photo-journalism, radio or video content. You can send your pitch in any format – from a Word doc to a short video.

Your pitch

It may help to bear in mind the following questions when you pitch:

•     What are the stories you’d like to cover?
•     Who are the people you’d like to feature?
•     Which places are you reporting from – and how will you give a sense of those places to people who’ve never been there?
•     How many stories can you produce, in what format and at what intervals between March and December 2016?
•     Why would these stories be interesting to young leaders in the Commonwealth?
•     What could people learn from these stories? And how might they inspire their audience?
•     What is the total bursary amount you are applying for and the breakdown of use?

How to apply:

Send your pitch in an email with the subject ‘Leading Change Journalism Bursary’ to Frances.Brown@ice.cam.ac.uk.

Applications close the 28th of February 2016.

For more information visit Leading Change Journalism Website

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Call for Proposals: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) Grants 2016

Description:

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is a grant making and advocacy foundation that is part of the global Open Society Foundations Network.
OSIWA works to support the creation of open societies in West Africa marked by functioning democracy, good governance, the rule of law, basic freedoms, and widespread civic participation.
Its headquarters is in Dakar and it has offices in Abuja, Monrovia, Freetown and Conakry.

OSIWA only supports innovative interventions with effective strategies that respond to the broader deep-seated political, justice and socio-economic roadblocks to open society in West Africa. We seek to seize new opportunities and deploy novel methods, including technology, to address open society challenges.

OSIWA seeks proposals aimed at achieving the following specific themes:

•  Economic Governance and Advancement – Strengthen food security system and agriculture in the context of climate change; Increase the effectiveness of natural resource management frameworks; Enhance citizens’ social demands for accountability and effectiveness in public service delivery in health and education; Strengthen regional economic integration processes as well as tax, investment and trade justice; Promote transparency & accountability in the public sector and support alternative, ICT and arts-based means for fighting corruption.
• Drug Policy – Reduce the impact of drug trafficking on governance and contribute to reducing the vulnerability of West African states to the threat and the impact of drug trafficking.
• Human Rights & Democratic Practice – Support civic engagement and inclusive participation in democratic governance; Strengthen electoral system; Ensure inclusive constitutional review processes and strengthen prevention and early warning information systems to reduce militancy and violence; Enhance citizenship and documentation of identity and promote the adoption, implementation and compliance of freedom of/right to information laws.
•  Justice Reform & The Rule Of Law –  Advance the inclusion and legal empowerment of women, youth and people with disabilities; Promote the use of transitional justice mechanisms; Improve criminal justice and the administration of justice.
• Journalism, Information & Digital Rights – Promote investigative journalism and free, quality & independent media.

Eligibility and Procedure:

• OSIWA primarily awards grants to local organizations based in West Africa. In rare and limited circumstances, it provides support to West Africa-based international organizations with a strong commitment to transfer knowledge to local groups they partner with.
• It provides grants to government institutions as well as regional and sub-regional organizations working in its core priority areas.
• OSIWA requires all organizations seeking funding to submit a complete proposal, budget, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and other relevant documents including leadership information (list of Board members, trustees and management staff who will be involved in the project), proof of registration and banking details.
• Applications that are not submitted with all the relevant documentation may be delayed.
• Former grantees of the Foundation are also encouraged to apply, provided that the report for the previous grant has already been submitted and approved.

Criteria For Selection

Selection criteria and process applications are evaluated on the extent to which the organization possesses the vision, drive, experience and skills required to create and sustain a project that will advance OSIWA’s objectives.

Questions used as criteria for selection:
 
ORGANIZATION

• Does the organization demonstrate the vision and skills, breadth of experience and discipline needed to accomplish the project with a high degree of success in a timely and cost-effective manner?
• Does the organization’s track record and recommendations distinguish the organization as one who will lend a new or important voice to the advocacy community and be an agent for change?
• Does the organization possess the leadership and analytical qualities needed to raise the level of local or national discussion and influence policy debate on the issues underlying the project?

PROJECT

• Is the project relevant to OSIWA’s strategic priorities?
• Is the project sufficiently innovative in its approach and sound in its strategy to have an impact on public opinion, policies, and/or reform activities at the national, regional or local level?
• Are the project goals and timeline realistic and manageable?
• Does the project budget speak to the activities?
• Is the Monitoring and Evaluation framework well defined?
• Does the project identify and build on existing efforts by organizations or individuals already working on the issue?
• Does the project have multiplier effects?

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS

1. OSIWA requires all organizations seeking funding to submit a completed proposal template, a budget,  and a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. The application should also include the following information as attachments:
2. Proof of registration and (if available) a copy of organizational statutes;
3. A list of board members, trustees and staff;
4. A list of current activities or (if available) a most recent annual report;
5. A current organizational budget and, if available, an audited financial statement;
6. A recent project or organizational evaluation (if available).

SUBMISSION AND DEADLINES

Proposals should be sent directly to: proposals@osiwa.org and will be accepted until April 30th 2016. OSIWA encourages the early submission of proposals. Submitted proposals will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The time required to review a proposal varies according to the complexity of the proposal, the problem being addressed, and the number of proposals being reviewed. Generally, it can take up to three to six months from the time a proposal is received to the date a final decision is made. OSIWA strives to be as expeditious as possible in its review of inquiries and proposals. Please keep this in mind when planning.

Submission deadline: April 30th 2016.

Visit the Official Website for submission

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Microsoft Affordable Access Initiative ($75,000 grant for ideas that connect rural people to internet)

Description:

Brilliant people like you are deploying technology and business models to help billions of people affordably engage online, and we want to help. Under the Affordable Access Initiative, Microsoft is providing grants to commercial entities for scalable

solutions that enable people in underserved communities to access the Internet and use cloud services. Your solution could be the one that connects the world.

The Challenge:

-Develop low-cost connectivity solutions, cloud-based services, and business models that bring the Internet to underserved markets. 

-The Microsoft Affordable Access Initiative seeks to nurture, grow, and scale innovative businesses like yours. We'll work with you to expand your online access and cloud services solution. 

-Companies selected for this program will receive grants averaging $75,000 to help you serve more customers.

Eligibility:

Solution must:

*Leverage low-cost forms of Internet connectivity

*Demonstrate innovative approaches to selling cloud services geared for underserved markets

*Integrate localized payment platforms and consumption models designed for customers in relevant markets

Applicants must:

-Be a commercial organization with two or more full-time employees (we will not accept applications from non-profits, government agencies, or academic institutions)

-Have a working solution

-Prove potential to scale to new markets and leverage partner distribution models

-Provide valid copies of licenses and authorizations

-Present a business plan free of legal and regulatory impediments

How to apply:

Fill the online application form

Application deadline: January 15, 2016

Visit the official page for more information and application

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African Peacebuilding Network Individual Research Grants ($15,000 funding)

Description:

The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) invites research grant applications from African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working on conflict and peacebuilding issues at universities and research institutions

or regional governmental and nongovernmental organizations in Africa.

The APN is interested in innovative field-based projects that demonstrate strong potential for high-quality research and analysis, which in turn can inform practical action on peacebuilding and/or facilitate interregional collaboration and networking among African researchers and practitioners.

Grant recipients will produce research-based knowledge that is relevant to, and has a significant impact on, peacebuilding policy and practice on the continent. For its part, the APN will work toward inserting the evidence-based knowledge that this group produces into regional and global debates and policies focusing on peacebuilding.

Grant provider(s):

The African Peace building Network (APN) of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

Number of awards: 

Up to fifteen (15) individual grants of a maximum of $15,000 will be awarded.

Research level: Post Doctorial. Grants are awarded for conducting research.

Research Subject(s): Grants are available to work on conflict and peacebuilding.

Research region: Africa

Eligibility:

-All applicants must be African citizens currently residing in an African country and either an academic or a policy analyst or practitioner.

-Academic applicants must hold a faculty or research position at an African university or research organization and have a PhD obtained after January 2000.

-Policy analysts and practitioner applicants must be based in Africa at a regional or subregional institution, a government agency, or a nongovernmental, media, or civil society organization and have at least a Master’s degree obtained before January 2011, with at least five years of proven research and work experience in peacebuilding-related activities on the continent.

What does it cover?

APN research grant awards vary depending on the research activities supported but will not exceed $15,000 for individual research projects. APN research grants cover necessary equipment (within reason), books and articles, research/fieldwork-related travel, conference costs and related travel, project design and development support, and editorial and professional/institutional support.

Selection Criteria: 

Grants are awarded on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis. APN research grant applications are reviewed by a selection committee drawn from the APN Advisory Board. Grants are awarded based on established peer-review procedures and standards. The APN Advisory Board is made up of internationally distinguished scholars, policymakers, and practitioners.

Application Process:

All applications must be uploaded through the online portal. 

Requirements

1) Completed application form
2) Completed proposal & bibliography
3) Two reference letters
4) Language evaluation(s) (if required)
5) Updated CV

Application deadline:

 All materials must be submitted no later than 5:00pm (EST) on January 15, 2016.

Visit the official application page for more information andapplication.

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Total Startupper of The Year Business Grant for Young Africans

Description:

In Africa as elsewhere, many young people aspire to start their own business and build a brighter future, which is why the Startupper of the year by Total challenge is created.

Ideas deserve support, especially great ones. And promising ideas deserve a helping hand.

Google, Facebook, Daily Motion, Twitter, Deezer, Airbnb and other leading names in the 2.0 economy all started as the brainchild of inspired young people. There’s no shortage of startuppers in Africa — iCow1, Afate 3D Printer2, CardioPad3, Obami4, Sense Ebola Follow up5 and M-Iouma6 are already shaking up the continent.

About grant provider(s):

Total is a leading international oil and gas company and ranks second worldwide in solar energy.

They are dedicated to helping fuel the dynamic growth that characterizes Africa and have made the continent a core focus of their activities, from Exploration & Production and Marketing & Services to Refining & Chemicals and New Energies.

Eligibility:

Are you under 35 years old? Do you want to create a business or develop one that is less than two years old? 

Are you a citizen of one of these 34 African countries: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe?* If so, this challenge is for you!

"We’re interested in all your projects, regardless of the type of business or activity, as long as they share the characteristics common to creative start-ups: innovation, competitiveness, growth boosting and job creation".

*The contestant must be a citizen of the country where its application is submitted in order to create or develop its project there. Only one application by contestant is admitted.

Selection Process:

In each of the 34 countries in which the "Startupper of the Year by Total" contest will be held, a jury of businesspeople led by a chairman will be created. It will have at least 10 members, including the CEOs of Total’s affiliates in the country. 

The jury will include managers from national and international companies drawn from a wide variety of business sectors (banking, finance, industry, service, etc.), representatives of public and semipublic organizations, officials from institutions, officials from national and international organizations and/or recognized experts and analysts.

The jury will receive, evaluate and select the projects.

On completion of the pre-selection stage, the jury in each of the 34 countries will select up to 10 finalists of the best projects submitted. 

The finalists will then be invited to present their project orally to the jury, which will select up to three winners.

How to apply:

To enter, create your profile through the link below and provide the required information online. To support, justify and illustrate your project, you can attach as many documents as you wish to your application.

Benefits:

To get their business project off the ground or develop a business less than two years old, each winner of the Startupper of the year by Total challenge will receive individual coaching. 

On completion of the coaching, Total will also provide financial support for their project.

Important tip(s):

Be clear, concise and efficient. Demonstrate your thoroughness, precision, knowledge and desire to be an entrepreneur. In each of the 34 countries, "Startupper of the year by Total" jury will evaluate the innovativeness, boldness and originality of your project, along with its social and economic impact, feasibility, sustainability and potential in terms of growth, development and employment.

Application deadline: 31st January, 2016

Visit the official application page for more information andapplication

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