Opportunity Type: Awards / Competition / Startup Development / Acceleration
Geographic Scope: ECOWAS Member States
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Opportunity Overview

The 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards is a regional initiative of the ECOWAS Commission designed to identify, recognise and support high-impact startups contributing to digital transformation, regional economic integration and sustainable value-chain development across West Africa.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has opened its 2026 Call for Expressions of Project Intentions (AMI) under the CSO Initiatives (CSO-I) mechanism, inviting civil society organisations (CSOs) to submit project intentions for initiatives to be co-financed in 2027.

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Space Infrastructure Hub (SIH) and South African National Space Agency (SANSA), is inviting applications for the Space Innovation Initiative Call for Proposals.

The call aims to strengthen South Africa's capabilities in Space Science and Technology by supporting the development and commercialisation of locally developed, sovereign space innovations.

C3 EmpowerHer Climate 2026 is a six-month programme supporting women-led and women-benefitting climate resilience ventures across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Funded by the Resilient Futures Fund (RFF) and delivered by C3 – Companies Creating Change, the programme combines business support, technical expertise, mentorship, market access and catalytic funding to help early-stage climate resilience ventures strengthen their solutions and become investment-ready.

Applications are now open for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy, a global innovation prize that seeks to identify and support high-growth, technology-enabled companies transforming circular economy practices across Africa.

With US$2 million in total prize funding, the competition recognises commercially viable businesses that reduce waste, extend the lifecycle of materials, and create measurable environmental, economic and social impact through circular business models.

Applications are now open for TerraFoundry Cohort 2, a six-month climate-tech accelerator designed to support high-potential startups developing innovative solutions for South Africa's green economy.

Delivered by French South African Tech Labs (FSAT Labs), the programme helps Western Cape-based startups strengthen their products, validate their markets, prepare for investment and access regional and international growth opportunities.