Opportunities

Strategies for Surviving COVID

As a startup trying to master your new business at any time is quite a challenge but never more than now – here are some useful tips – https://vc4a.com/blog/2020/04/07/strategies-for-startup-entrepreneurs-keeping-your-business-alive-through-covid-19/

The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative

This prize was created by Alibaba founder Jack Ma after his first trip to Africa in 2017, and aims to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The first edition was won by Nigerian startup LifeBank in November last year. The 2020 prize will select 10 finalists to pitch for a share of an overall prize pool of US$1.5 million, up from $1 million last year. This year, the foundation will work with a select group of Anchor Partners, including Ashesi, Dalberg, Janngo and RiseUp to identify and support African entrepreneurs.  Applications are open until June 9, with semi-finalists announced in August and the top 10 finalists for 2020 unveiled in September. Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries are welcome to apply, with applications available in both French and English.

Volvo Environment Prize

The $150,000 prize for environmental scientists is now accepting nominations. (Deadline Jan. 10, 2021) http://www.environment-prize.com/the-prize/the-prize/

GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion.

Are you a start-up or SME in Sub-Saharan Africa? Are you helping people get online for the first time using mobile internet? You could be eligible to apply for an equity-free grant of between £100,000 and £250,000 to scale your innovation over a 15- to 18-month period. Find out more: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/gsma-innovation-fund-mobile-internet-adoption/

The AUC’s African Youth Charter Hustlers

The African Union Office of the Youth Envoy launched a new initiative: African Youth Charter Hustlers to empower a movement of Pan-African youth advocates. The initiative will engage 2 Hustlers per country, young male and female over a period of 2 years to lead continental, regional and national advocacy and accountability for the ratification and implementation of the African Youth Charter including progressive youth policies, youth funds and youth inclusion as well as the institution of effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms. The deadline for the African Youth Charter hustlers has been extended to 30 April 2020. English application https://auyouthenvoy.org/aych/ French application https://auyouthenvoy.org/aych-fr/

Universite Paris-Saclay Scholarship

Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarship Programme. Scholarships are on offer for highly-qualified international students looking to develop an academic project through research up to the doctoral level. (Deadline May 27). Apply  https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/admission/bourses-et-aides-financieres/international-masters-scholarships-program

Shopify

Digital products can be created and sold repeatedly to different customers without having to replenish your inventory, making them ideal for creatives, artists, educators, and freelancers looking for new income streams that require less effort to maintain. Here’s how you can start selling your own digital products, along with some ideas for businesses you can build around these intangible goods. Read more here – https://www.shopify.com/blog/digital-products?utm_source=exacttarget&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blog&utm_content=ecommerce_blog

Center for Study of African Economies Visiting Fellowship.

The programme offers a 2-month residency at the University of Oxford for Africans pursuing careers in Economics. (Deadline June 26) https://www.csae.ox.ac.uk/general/visiting-fellowships

The JEE Greenovation Challenge

Innovation for a green world seeks to support indigenous efforts to address climate change by encouraging providers and seekers of environmentally friendly technologies.

Supported by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the competition promises a seed grant of up to N1,000,000.

Apply now. http://www.jacksonettiandedu.com/greenovate/

Harvard Free Courses

Stuck at home? Want to learn something new? Harvard University is offering 67 courses for free during this pandemic.  https://online-learning.harvard.edu/catalog?keywords=&paid%5B1%5D=1&max_price=&start_date_range%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=&start_date_range%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=

Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship.

A fellowship program for African-born academics currently living in the US or Canada (deadline June 30) https://www.iie.org/AfricanDiaspora

The ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents

2020 Call for Applications http://www.anso.org.cn/programmes/talent/scholarship/