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).

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.

AgDevCo is inviting applications for its 2026 Agribusiness Financing Opportunity, providing long-term debt and equity investment support to scalable agribusinesses operating across sub-Saharan Africa.

The financing initiative is designed to support commercially viable agricultural enterprises that are driving food systems transformation, improving rural livelihoods, strengthening agricultural value chains, and creating sustainable economic impact across the continent.

FCI4Africa — Fair food and trade systems for Africa through food convergence innovation is a Horizon Europe-funded project responding to the growing demand for sustainable, fair, and just food trade between Africa and Europe.

About the Grant

The Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer (JWO) Research Grant is a prestigious funding opportunity awarding one grant of USD 150,000 to a single successful applicant to support a biodiversity and conservation-focused research project or programme based in or focused on Africa. The grant supports research over a period of up to three years and is designed to advance scientific knowledge while generating real, scalable solutions to African conservation and biodiversity challenges.