Funding Opportunities

The Australian Embassy in Addis Ababa is accepting Expressions of Interest for its 2026–27 Direct Aid Program, offering grants of up to AUD 60,000 for practical, community-led development projects in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Djibouti and the Central African Republic. Priority areas include agriculture and food security, climate resilience, health and education, gender equality and disability inclusion, governance, peacebuilding and human rights.

NARO is inviting research proposals under Uganda’s Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project to develop climate-resilient and sustainable interventions across selected crop, fisheries and cross-cutting value chains. The call will support seven projects, with up to US$100,000 available per project for up to two years, targeting coffee, capture fisheries, beneficial insects and commodity-based agri-climate advisory models.

The Fund for Investigative Journalism provides grants to support high-quality, nonpartisan investigative reporting. The September 2026 cycle offers regular grants of up to US$10,000 for full investigations and seed grants of US$1,000–2,500 for preliminary reporting. Funding may cover reporting time, travel, research, records fees, document collection and other investigation-related expenses.

The Peg Johnston Innovation Fund supports bold and creative ideas that expand how people experience, understand and make meaning of abortion. Abortion Conversation Projects is offering US$5,000 Emerging Visionary Awards and US$10,000 Innovation Awards to individuals, grassroots innovators, researchers, artists, doulas, nonprofits and organisations worldwide developing new approaches to abortion support, care, counselling, storytelling, education, accompaniment and meaning-making.

WHO AFRO and TDR are offering grants of up to US$15,000 for public health-oriented implementation research addressing regional priorities in the African Region. The call supports research that strengthens health systems, improves delivery of health interventions, generates actionable evidence and addresses emerging challenges including digital transformation, climate change, One Health and infectious diseases of poverty.

The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has opened its 9th Call for Proposals for Country-led Projects, making approximately US$163 million in grant resources available to eligible low-income countries. The call supports country-owned investments that strengthen agriculture and food systems, improve rural livelihoods and food security, build climate resilience, improve nutrition and empower women and girls.

WHO AFRO and TDR are inviting applications for small implementation-research grants addressing major health-system and infectious-disease priorities in the WHO African Region. Eligible African institutions, including NGOs, universities, research institutes and health programmes, may request up to US$15,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months that generate practical evidence to improve health services, strengthen systems and influence policy or programme implementation.

The GEF SGP CSO Challenge Program is offering grants of up to US$300,000 to civil society organisations seeking to replicate or scale proven environmental solutions. The current call covers eligible GEF recipient countries across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific and Oceania, including Uganda. Projects may run for up to 24 months and must align with at least one of the programme's five environmental priority areas.

The United Nations Environment Programme is inviting registered local civil-society and community-based organisations working directly with mountain communities in East Africa and the South Caucasus to propose locally led climate-adaptation solutions. Grants of up to US$30,000 will support practical ecosystem-based and nature-based interventions that strengthen community resilience, livelihoods, food security and natural-resource protection.

Equality Fund’s CONNECT funding stream supports collaborations between feminist organisations and allied movements working together to advance gender equality, social justice and collective power in the Global South and East. Selected collaborations can receive CAD 500,000–1,000,000 per year, initially for two years, to strengthen cross-movement organising and coordinated responses to anti-rights, anti-democracy, anti-gender and authoritarian forces.

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) is offering Data to Evidence Grants of US$30,000–50,000 to researchers and institutions in low- and middle-income countries to conduct secondary analysis of existing ethically sourced data on violence against women and child sexual violence. The programme aims to generate new evidence that can strengthen policy, practice and the broader evidence base while building LMIC research capacity in secondary data analysis.

AAUW International Fellowships support academically outstanding women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are pursuing their first Master's or doctoral degree in an eligible STEM field. For 2027–2028, selected Master's students receive US$20,000 and doctoral students receive US$25,000 to support full-time graduate study, primarily at accredited institutions in the United States.

The Goethe-Institut, under the EU-funded Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: West Africa programme, is inviting medium-sized festivals in 15 West African countries to apply for grants of up to €50,000. The programme will support 42 festivals across cinema, audiovisual and animation, heritage, literature, music, performing arts and visual arts, strengthening regional cooperation, internationalisation, artist mobility and partnerships between African and European festivals.

The AU-EU Youth Action Lab Entrepreneurship Grants provide €31,500 to youth-led organisations in 12 African countries to strengthen economic opportunities for young people. In the third and final 2026 call, the grants focus specifically on advocacy for an enabling environment where young entrepreneurs can start and grow their businesses. Projects will run for 12 months from January to December 2027.

The AU–EU Youth Action Lab Innovation Grants provide €42,000 to youth-led organisations in 12 African countries to design, test, adapt, scale or improve innovative solutions addressing global challenges. Selected organisations will implement their projects for 12 months and receive mentorship, capacity development and opportunities to connect with peers and decision-makers across Africa and Europe.

The AU–EU Youth Action Lab is offering 13 Innovation Grants of EUR 42,000 each to eligible youth-led nonprofit organisations in 12 African countries, including Uganda. The grants support young people to design, test, adapt, improve or scale innovative solutions to global challenges while creating tangible local impact and longer-term systems, policy or practice change. Projects will run for 12 months from January to December 2027.

Africa No Filter, in partnership with Comic Relief, is inviting African journalists, content creators and other storytellers from 10 eligible countries, including Uganda, to participate in Voices for Climate Justice. Selected storytellers will receive grants of up to US$4,000, training, mentorship and content amplification to produce compelling stories connecting climate justice with gender, debt and fossil fuels in Africa.

The Science Granting Councils Initiative is inviting multi-country African research consortia to submit Expressions of Interest for major collaborative research projects supporting STISA-2034. Projects may focus on agriculture, health, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, energy or environment, with funding of approximately CAD 50,000–CAD 300,000 per participating consortium member for projects lasting up to 36 months.

MTN Uganda and WWF Uganda are inviting young Ugandan innovators, entrepreneurs, students and youth-led SMEs to apply for the 2026 PachiPanda Innovation Challenge under the theme “Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa’s Green Economy.” The challenge supports commercially viable solutions that combine nature, technology and entrepreneurship to address environmental challenges while creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods.

The SHARPER Consortium is inviting applications for its 2026 Catalyst Grants, offering US$15,000 in seed funding to early-career African researchers developing innovative ideas in epidemic and pandemic sciences. Up to eight grants will support six-month projects that strengthen Africa’s preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics.

The International AIDS Society’s CIPHER Research Grant Programme supports early-stage investigators from low- and middle-income countries to lead research addressing critical gaps in paediatric and adolescent HIV. Grants of up to US$140,000 over two years are available for studies focused on HIV prevention and co-morbidities, while helping emerging investigators build research leadership and compete for larger future funding opportunities.

SENSE Foundation Brussels is accepting applications from eligible nonprofit organisations worldwide for projects addressing health, nutrition, the environment, sustainable development, scientific research and related social needs. Grants generally range from EUR 5,000 to EUR 25,000, but SENSE funding may cover no more than 25% of the project's total annual cost. Projects benefiting women, minorities and other underrepresented populations receive particular attention.

UNESCO and the Government of Japan are offering 10 research fellowships of up to US$10,000 to young researchers from eligible countries, including Uganda and 46 other African countries. Fellows will undertake postgraduate research for three to nine months at a Japanese university or research institution in areas related to heritage conservation, sustainable development and artificial intelligence.

The African Centre for School Leadership is offering research grants to African researchers conducting practical, policy-relevant research on school leadership. Funding supports single-context and comparative studies that can strengthen leadership practice, education policy, learning outcomes and inclusive education systems across Africa.

The African Union Commission is selecting 100 youth- and women-led African enterprises for a 12-month business-acceleration fellowship. Participants will receive structured training, mentorship, intellectual-property support, AfCFTA market intelligence and market-entry assistance designed to strengthen cross-border growth and investment readiness.

The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is inviting applications under its 29th Call for Proposals from established enterprises, cooperatives, social enterprises, NGOs and other eligible entities developing commercially viable commodity-sector projects that improve smallholder livelihoods, strengthen local value chains and generate environmental and social impact. Regular projects may access up to US$1.5 million in impact financing, while Fast-Track projects may access up to US$300,000.

The UK Government's Chevening Scholarships are accepting applications from eligible Ugandan emerging leaders for fully funded postgraduate study in the United Kingdom in 2027–2028. Successful scholars undertake an eligible full-time taught Master's degree while receiving tuition, living, travel, visa and other scholarship support and joining Chevening's global leadership network.

Graduate scholarship and multidisciplinary leadership programme for applicants admitted to an eligible Stanford graduate degree.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is inviting French and locally governed civil society organisations to submit Expressions of Project Intentions for projects to be considered for financing in 2027 under the CSO Initiatives mechanism. The call supports civil society-led development initiatives contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, international solidarity, stronger local civil society and concrete benefits for communities in ODA-eligible countries.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities is offering seven Early Career Conference Grants of up to £2,000 each to help emerging researchers and academics at ACU member universities participate in international conferences in another Commonwealth country. Funding can support registration, travel, accommodation, visas and insurance for eligible researchers presenting their work or chairing a conference session.

Doria Feminist Fund has opened Grantmaking Cycle 7 to support new, emerging and established feminist groups and collectives working across the Middle East and North Africa. Applicants can seek flexible core funding, project support or knowledge production funding, with selected grantee partners also receiving accompaniment, capacity strengthening and networking support. Registered and unregistered feminist groups are eligible, and applications may be submitted in Arabic, English or French.

The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship provides CAD 20,000 annually to two outstanding international students entering their first undergraduate year in Fall 2027. The award may be renewed for three additional years, giving it a maximum potential value of CAD 80,000, provided the recipient meets the academic and international-student renewal conditions.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy is inviting eligible applicants to respond to specific addenda under the Advancing Global Health Annual Program Statement. The APS supports major global-health initiatives addressing country-specific and thematic priorities, with awards under the overall programme ranging from US$500,000 to US$250 million.

The Government of Japan, through the Embassy of Japan in Uganda, provides Grass-roots Human Security Project grants to eligible non-profit and development-oriented organisations implementing practical community projects in Uganda. Funding generally reaches up to approximately US$100,000 and prioritises construction, facilities and substantial equipment in areas such as education, vocational training, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and disaster reconstruction.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs is offering large-scale cooperative agreements of US$5 million to US$50 million under the U.S.-Africa Strategic Investment Program. The programme supports market-based, private-sector-led economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa through Critical Minerals Investment and Commercial Diplomacy Acceleration.

MTN Uganda Foundation has opened Phase 4 of its Changemakers Programme, committing UGX 500 million to support 25 community projects across Uganda. Individuals and organisations can propose practical community initiatives in areas including economic empowerment, education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, and environmental sustainability. Each selected project can receive in-kind support valued at up to UGX 20 million.

The SHARPER Consortium is offering three Research & Innovation Fellowship Grants of US$40,000 each to exceptional early-career African investigators developing high-impact research in epidemic preparedness, outbreak analytics and health-system resilience. The six-month fellowships combine research funding with scientific mentorship, institutional support, leadership development and collaboration across SHARPER’s Pan-African network.

The International Telecommunication Union is inviting capable public and private organisations, government institutions and ministries to organise national or regional Robotics for Good Youth Challenge events. The 2026–2027 edition focuses on robotics solutions for health emergencies, with winning national teams advancing to the Grand Finale at the 2027 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.

Africa CDC is inviting young African professionals to apply for the two-year Africa Epidemic Services Public Health Informatics Fellowship. The programme combines practical and classroom-based training to strengthen digital health, health information systems, data science and public-health informatics capacity across African health institutions.

The DIV Fund is accepting rolling applications for evidence-driven innovations that can cost-effectively improve the lives of people living in poverty. Funding ranges from up to US$200,000 for real-world pilots to US$1.5 million for proven innovations transitioning to scale, with opportunities open across sectors in low-, lower-middle- and upper-middle-income countries. Applicants must already have a post-prototype innovation that has been tested with real users.

The Van Doorn Foundation provides project grants of up to €5,000 to eligible educational institutions and local organisations in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia working to improve access to vocational training and employment opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 14–28. Funding can support training equipment and materials, disability-inclusive vocational training, tuition assistance, apprenticeships, internships and tools that help young people move into employment or self-employment.

Madica is a rolling pre-seed investment programme supporting promising technology-driven startups operating across Africa. Selected companies may receive up to US$200,000 in investment together with 18 months of mentorship, executive coaching, peer learning, investor access, immersion experiences and tailored company-building support. The programme particularly seeks to improve access to capital for underrepresented and underfunded African founders.

UNDP is inviting CreativeTech startups across Africa to join the timbuktoo Launchpad, a pan-African incubation programme supporting technology-enabled businesses in the creative economy. Selected startups receive structured incubation, mentorship, digital tools, investment-readiness support and access to founders, investors and innovation partners across Africa.

UNDP is inviting AgriTech startups to join the timbuktoo Launchpad, a pan-African venture-building and incubation programme supporting technology-driven solutions for Africa’s agricultural transformation. Selected startups receive incubation, mentorship, digital tools, investment-readiness support and access to a continental network of founders, investors and innovation partners.

The Fast Forward Accelerator supports early-stage tech and AI-powered nonprofits worldwide with USD 25,000 or more in unrestricted funding, expert mentorship and a three-month programme covering technology, fundraising and nonprofit growth. Applications for the 2027 cohort are expected to open in late July 2026, but the exact deadline and application form have not yet been announced.

FID provides year-round grants for innovative, evidence-informed solutions that reduce poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries. Funding supports projects at different stages, from preparation and piloting to impact evaluation, public-policy adoption and scale-up.

Fully funded postgraduate awards for exceptional candidates demonstrating academic excellence, character, leadership and commitment to service.

Small seed funding for early-stage, volunteer-led projects creating compassionate and practical community change.

Simple microgrants awarded by independent local and thematic chapters to make creative community ideas happen.

Staged grants for early-career conservationists carrying out practical, field-based nature conservation work in developing countries.

Rapid funding for African women human rights defenders, organisations and movements responding to urgent, unanticipated and strategic situations.

Rapid practical support for human rights defenders and organisations facing risks connected to peaceful human rights work.

Short-term advocacy and resilience support for civil society responding to unexpected restrictions, attacks or opportunities affecting civic and democratic freedoms.