List of Scholarships for African Women
A number of organisations encourage women empowerment through education at different levels by offering specific scholarships for African women from Africa and developing countries. Although women looking for scholarships can as well apply for other scholarship programmes that are non-gender specific, there are sponsorship programmes that reduce the competition by offering their scholarship programmes solely for women. From the archives of AfterschoolAfrica, below is an updated list of scholarships (undergraduate, Masters, MBA and PhD) that are open for women from African and developing countries. Some of these scholarships are for international students but are also open for the said demography.
Amnesty International Researcher – Democratic Republic of Congo
As Amnesty International’s lead expert on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or other geographical or thematic areas, to lead on the development and implementation of overarching research and campaigning strategies to deliver impact in relation to agreed priorities, providing research expertise, research management, political judgment and analytical, communication and representational skills. You will lead on the development and implementation of overarching research and campaigning strategies to deliver impact in relation to agreed priorities on the DRC, including strategies to identify the most effective ways to address human rights concerns. You will also monitor, research, investigate and analyze human rights-related developments in order to provide timely, accurate, independent and impartial assessments and expert advice on the human rights situation in the DRC.
Atrocities Watch Africa Researcher – Burundi
Researcher will initiate and conduct research analysing the root causes behind the human rights violations being reported in Burundi –which may provide important learnings for accountability for human rights protection in Burundi today. The researcher will have primary responsibility for initiating, conducting the research, producing a research report for publication under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer. The researcher will also assist with the production of any communication documents such as press statements, news updates, social media updates and alerts working with the social media volunteer.
Deadline: 20 January 2016
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme for Emerging African Entrepreneurs
The Tony Elumelu Foundation announces TEEP 2016, the second annual round of the Naira 17bn (US$100m equivalent) Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) for emerging African entrepreneurs.
- In 2015, TEEP empowered 1,000 African entrepreneurs, selected from over 20,000 applicants, with start-up investment, active mentoring, business training, an entrepreneurship boot camp and regional networking across Africa.
- Entrepreneurs, with an average age range of 21-40, from 51 African countries completed the programme and received $5,000 in seed capital for their start-up businesses.
- The Tony Elumelu Foundation invested a total of $4,860,000, including $1,405,000 in agriculture; $410,000 in education and training; and $365,000 in manufacturing. The sector-agnostic programme funded start-ups across a further 20 industries, all based in Africa.
TEEP opens for entries at 00:00am WAT on 1st January 2016 and will accept applications until midnight WAT on March 1st, 2016. To be eligible, entrepreneurs must complete the online application form with questions on their background, experience and business idea, plans for growth and proposed pan-African impact.
Deadline: 1 March 2016
Search for Common Ground Head of Office – Democratic Republic of Congo
The position will be responsible for all aspects of programmatic, financial and administrative coordination of the office and various programmes. Principle tasks will be to oversee the entire Provincial portfolio, determine appropriate implementing mechanisms to achieve projects’ strategic goals, serve as the primary program liaison for donors, partners and stakeholders in the province, oversee provincial level planning and budgeting, and reporting/evaluations, ensuring compliance with management and financial procedures. The position will report to the DRC Country Director. Working language for this position is French and English.
- At least five years of work experience, preferably in conflict resolution, protection, development, or communications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related area
- At least five years’ experience managing a team of local staff in a conflict zone, preferably Africa
- Experience in working in an unstable environment
- Excellent coordination, communication and networking skills
- Strong report writing, fundraising and proposal writing skills.
- Strong financial management and accounting skills
- Cross-cultural experience and sensitivity, and experience living and working in developing countries
- Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level officials to community leaders
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel
- Professional-level competency in French and English, both orally and in writing.
- Strong ability to multi-task and work independently
- Ability to work to strict deadlines, and coordinate and compile information from various sources
- Willingness to regularly travel on short notice around the country
Deadline: 21 January 2016
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa Grant Applications
OSISA supports innovative programmes working towards open society ideals and which advocate for these ideals in southern Africa. The programmes we support will look beyond immediate symptoms and seek to address structural problems that reproduce poverty, inequality, exclusion and discrimination.
For the 2016 strategy year, OSISA invites proposals from civil society, community or state actors from our region for the following programme priority areas: –
- Human Rights, Access to Justice and the Rule of Law
- Democracy and Governance
- Social and Economic Justice
- Natural Resources Governance
- Youth Arts and Culture
- Women’s Rights
Deadline: 31 March 2016
King Baudouin African Development Prize
The King Baudouin African Development Prize (awarded every other year) aims to reward individuals or organisations who are making an outstanding contribution to development in Africa. The Prize pays particular attention to initiatives which stand out as the best in their fieldm significantly improve the quality of life of the populations they serve, and empower local communities to take development into their own hands.
The submission of a candidate’s file may only be undertaken by a nominator. The selection committee will not consider applications by individuals who are applying for the Prize themselves or for an organization within which they are active.
The Prize will be awarded to Africans or organisations which are founded and led by Africans.
Deadline: 15 March 2016
Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Awards
This year, nominations are open for Youth Activists, Individual Activists, Civil Society Organisations, and for the first time ever, we are opening nominations for donors under a new category: Brave Philanthropy.
We want to hear about individuals, organisations, and donors that have inspired you through their activities promoting positive social change.
The winners will be notified in the last week of February 2016. The two activist and organisation category winners will receive a grant to the value of $1,500 and a fully-funded trip to attend International Civil Society Week (ICSW) in Bogotá, Colombia from 25-28 April 2016 to receive their award, which will provide an opportunity to network and showcase their work. The Brave Philanthropy winner will be invited to attend ICSW, with the cost of attendance of the conference waived.
Deadline: 17 January 2016
GSMA Market Engagement Manager – Nairobi, Kenya
The GSMA Connected Women programme works with partners to deliver socio-economic benefits to women and the broader mobile ecosystem through greater inclusion of women. It is focused on closing the gender gaps in both mobile connectivity and mobile money in order to deliver increased digital and financial inclusion for women. The initiative aims to equip mobile network operators and their partners with the knowledge needed to take action to reduce this gender gap and overcome barriers to women’s use of mobile phones. For more information, please visit the GSMA Connected Women website at: www.gsma.com/connectedwomen.
The GSMA Connected Women Market Engagement Manager would consult to mobile industry and partners in the wider mobile industry and development community in Africa to help them recognize and realize opportunities arising from delivering mobile connectivity and mobile money to underserved women. Key roles and responsibilities include the following:
- Provide advisory services to mobile industry and their partners. The consultant would be responsible for cultivating and supporting a portfolio of mobile operators interested closing the gender gap in mobile connectivity and mobile money. This will include providing thought leadership and advisory support to analyse market opportunities, conduct consumer insights research, design products and services, launch and scale existing initiatives, and monitor commercial and social results. The consultant would be expected to respond to adhoc requests for advisory support from industry partners.
- Manage Connected Women projects and partnerships in Africa. The consultant would be responsible for managing and supporting the delivery of projects which support the achievement of the objectives of the programme in Africa.
- Support advocacy activities in Africa. The consultant would help disseminate findings from research projects through channels such as workshops, seminars, events and meetings
- Collaborate with other programmes in Africa. The consultant would be expected to collaborate with other programmes in the Public Policy and Mobile for Development departments, so as to maximise the impact of GSMA’s activities for low-income women in Africa
- Generate and share insights. The consultant would be expected to collect and analyse data and document insights and learnings. This would include producing blogs and case studies.
During this 2-month advanced training program, you will hone your vision for change and your expertise in digital communications. You’ll do this together with other change leaders from across the world, and you’ll receive support and guidance from a mentor and World Pulse staff.
You’ll also learn how to create new opportunities for yourself, including:
- Getting your writing published on World Pulse;
- Getting people excited about your vision;
- Inspiring people to join your cause, obtaining funding, and expanding your organization;
- Creating improved digital access for others;
- The chance to have a digital campaign created by you be globally supported and promoted on World Pulse with a $1,500 USD monetary prize!
We are looking for 30 women leaders of all types: quiet leaders, outspoken leaders, those who are taking charge, and those who are placing others in front.
Deadline: 31 January 2016
Saferworld Country Manager – Sudan
The Country Manager will be responsible for further developing Saferworld’s Sudan country strategy and programme, leading the implementation of current and future activities and developing and managing relationships with international and national actors working towards a peaceful Sudan.
The post-holder will also be responsible for overall team management and security, managing and monitoring programme delivery against objectives, managing and monitoring programme expenditure, fundraising, and networking with and reporting to donors.
Deadline: 31 January 2016
Namati Program Officer – East Africa
Namati’s Community Land Protection Program (CLPP) is seeking a committed, experienced professional to support our community land and natural resource protection work in East Africa. The ideal candidate will be an expert in land tenure security, natural resource management and community empowerment. The candidate will have significant project management experience and a fieldwork-based understanding of how to facilitate authentic, community-driven land and natural resource protection efforts. The ideal candidate will also be a creative, self-driven problem-solver with exceptional interpersonal skills and a passion for justice. The East Africa Program Officer will report directly to the Community Land Protection Program Director.
Deadline: 31 January 2016