Opportunities for African women

Application Deadline: November 21st, 2024

Applications for the 2025 Aurora Tech Award, a global initiative for women tech founders supported by inDrive, are now open. To qualify, your startup must be woman-led, have a functional product prototype, be under 5 years old, and fit within an investment limit of $4 million, including seed funding. The award offers a total prize fund of $85,000, with cash prizes of $30,000 for first place, $20,000 for second, $15,000 for third, and $10,000 each for fourth and fifth places.

 Additionally, participants will benefit from a strong educational program and networking opportunities within the IT community. Key dates include the longlist announcement on December 20, 2024, shortlist announcement on February 26, 2025, and winners reveal in Spring 2025. For more details, visit the Official Webpage of the Aurora Tech Award.

Application Deadline: January 7, 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme, which offers around 80 fully funded scholarships for international students to pursue postgraduate degrees at the University of Cambridge. Established by a $210 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, the programme has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries. 

Eligible applicants must be citizens of countries outside the UK and apply for full-time or part-time PhD programs, MLitt, or select one-year postgraduate courses. The scholarship covers tuition fees, a maintenance allowance (£21,000 annually for 12 months), airfare, visa costs, and health surcharge. Additional funding options are available for academic development, childcare, fieldwork, maternity/paternity, and hardship. Selection criteria include outstanding academic ability, course motivation, commitment to improving lives, and leadership potential. For further details, visit the Gates Cambridge website.

  Application Deadline: November 1, 2024, at 5 PM EAT

Applications are now open for the NED Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program, a fully funded, five-month residency in Washington, D.C., for democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars. This program, honoring NED’s founders Ronald Reagan and Dante Fascell, enables fellows to conduct independent research on democracy issues while benefiting from a collaborative and intellectually enriching environment at the National Endowment for Democracy. 

Eligible applicants must demonstrate English proficiency and propose a project focusing on the democratic development of a specific region. Practitioners should be mid-career professionals with significant experience in promoting democracy, while scholars need to possess a doctorate and a record of published work. Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, basic health insurance, and roundtrip travel to Washington, D.C. 

To apply, create an account on the online portal and submit your applicant information, project proposal, letters of recommendation, and resume/CV. The application deadline is November 1, 2024, with letters of recommendation due by November 8, 2024, at 5 PM Eastern. For more information, please visit the NED website.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2025 CSIR-SASOL Foundation Bursary Programme, which provides financial support to full-time, unemployed South African students pursuing qualifications in priority areas identified by the CSIR. The program aims to enhance the participation of women, Black individuals, and people with disabilities in science, engineering, and technology.

Eligible applicants can apply for honours, masters, or doctoral bursaries in various fields, including Physics, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, and many more. Requirements include South African citizenship, plans to enroll full-time at a South African university in 2025, and a strong academic record. Masters and doctoral candidates must possess good writing, organizational, and communication skills.

The bursary covers all study-related costs, including registration, tuition fees, accommodation, and living allowances. Applicants must submit an updated CV, certified ID, latest academic record, and proof of completed degrees for master's and doctoral candidates. For additional details, please visit the official CSIR-SASOL Foundation Bursary Programme webpage.

 Application Deadline: October 3, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 Women and Clean Energy in West Africa (WOCEWA) Scholarship and Green Jobs Program, funded by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) with CAD 1.5 million from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). This initiative aims to increase women's participation in the energy sector by offering scholarships to six young West African women pursuing master's degrees in energy-related fields, along with internship placements at ECOWAS energy institutions.

Eligible applicants must be female citizens of ECOWAS member states, aged 32 or younger by the end of 2024, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5/5 in STEM disciplines focusing on energy. The scholarship provides up to US$3,200 per year for tuition and health insurance, a laptop, and a six-month internship with a monthly stipend of $800.

To apply, candidates must submit a detailed CV, proof of registration for their master's program, academic transcripts, and a motivation letter (300-500 words) by October 3, 2024, via email to scholarships@ecreee.org, with "WOCEWA SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM" in the subject line. For further inquiries, contact Prisca Zidago at pzidago@ecreee.org or Erica Flan at eflan@ecreee.org. For more information, visit the official WOCEWA program webpage.

 Application Deadline: September 11, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2025 University of Johannesburg (UJ) Artists in Residence Programme. This initiative, running since 2022, aims to promote arts practice as research for artist-academics across various disciplines. The programme welcomes emerging and established artists globally, preferably those with a connection to Africa, who do not have affiliations with other South African tertiary institutions and possess a relevant post-school qualification.

Eligible disciplines include Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, Dance, Design, Film and Television, and Literary Arts. Artists must complete at least one creative output project within 12 to 24 months, depending on their discipline. 

Successful applicants will receive a monthly stipend of R10,000, but no additional funding for travel, accommodation, or per diems will be offered. Both remote and physical residency options are available, though space is limited. Selection is competitive, based on the applicant's track record and residency proposal.

For inquiries, email air@uj.ac.za. For more information, visit the official UJ Artists in Residence Programme webpage.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs DR Congo (AWE DRC) program. The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa invites established female entrepreneurs aged 25-45 from Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Bukavu to apply for this second cohort of the AWE program, a U.S. Department of State initiative operating in over 100 countries.

The six-month training includes three months of formal instruction followed by three months of mentorship and business linkages, culminating in a graduation and pitch session. Outstanding participants may compete in a pitch competition, receive grant funding, and potentially earn an opportunity to travel to Harvard University for advanced training.

Eligibility includes being an established Congolese female entrepreneur with a post-revenue business, good English proficiency, and a commitment of six hours per week to the program. Basic computer skills and access to the internet are also required.

Training will take place online and in-person at American Spaces from late November 2024 through April 2025. 

For more information, visit the official AWE DRC program webpage.

 Are you a citizen of a member state of the African Union (AU) and want to contribute to the creation of the Africa we want? Below is a list of professional opportunities to work for the AU. Apply now. 

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