Kenya

The Nature-First Innovation Lab (NFIL) is a 12-month accelerator programme designed to support African enterprises whose business models generate revenue directly from positive biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable natural resource management outcomes.

The programme aims to help nature-first businesses become investment-ready by providing catalytic capital, transaction advisory support, and structured engagement with investors.

The European Commission has announced a forthcoming Horizon Europe funding opportunity aimed at accelerating the adoption, testing, validation, and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions in low- and middle-income countries, with a strong focus on strengthening AI innovation ecosystems across Africa and other developing regions.

The European Commission has launched a Horizon Europe funding opportunity aimed at accelerating bio-based innovation through advanced biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts. The call seeks to support research and innovation activities that strengthen Europe's bioeconomy while contributing to environmental sustainability, industrial competitiveness, circularity, biodiversity protection, and climate action.

The EUNIC Spaces of Culture Fund 2026 is now open for applications, supporting innovative cultural relations projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme forms part of the wider Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture).

The fund aims to strengthen equitable partnerships between African and European cultural actors through collaborative projects that promote intercultural dialogue, mutual learning, co-creation, and shared capacity building.

The European Commission has announced a forthcoming Horizon Europe Cluster 1: Health funding opportunity aimed at accelerating the development of innovative antimicrobial therapies to combat antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Applications are now open for the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge, a regional entrepreneurship competition designed to identify, showcase, and support innovative green SMEs that are developing commercially viable solutions to sustainability and environmental challenges across Africa.

The initiative is implemented by GreenCape and Westerwelle Startup Haus Mombasa, in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).

Programme: Horizon Europe (HORIZON) – Cluster 1: Health
Topic Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-07
Type of Action: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
Funding Type: Horizon Europe Grant Funding
Opening Date: 10 February 2027
Closing Date: 13 April 2027 (17:00 Brussels Time)

Applications are now open for the Africa Business Accelerator (ABA) 2026, the flagship growth programme of the Africa SME Assembly designed to help African founders build stronger, more scalable, and investment-ready businesses.

The Africa Business Accelerator was established to address one of the biggest challenges facing African entrepreneurs: the lack of access to the business infrastructure, networks, mentorship, capital readiness support, and market access needed to grow sustainable enterprises.

Applications are now open for the Third Edition of the Presidential African Youth in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Competition 2026, a flagship continental initiative designed to advance Africa’s leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and emerging technologies.

Applications are now open for the Digital Energy Challenge 2026, an international innovation programme supporting SMEs developing digital and AI-enabled solutions that improve energy access, accelerate the energy transition, and enhance the operational efficiency of energy utilities across Africa.

The initiative is supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and partners and aims to help innovative companies scale proven digital technologies that address some of Africa's most pressing energy challenges.