Opportunities
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
What are you looking for today?
Powered by CopilotKit
$50K – $5M (challenge funds); larger through institutional programs
Sida funds development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, civil society, private sector partnerships, research, and governance programs in low- and middle-income countries. Eligible applicants include civil society organisations, multilateral organisations, Swedish public agencies, companies and private sector organisations, research institutions, and institutions in low- and middle-income countries for International Training Programmes. Existing data indicates typical challenge fund ticket sizes of $50K-$5M, with larger amounts available through institutional programs. Relevant strategy periods include humanitarian assistance and civil society cooperation for 2025-2029.
Development cooperation
Sida works to create better living conditions for people living in poverty and under oppression.
Humanitarian assistance
Sida runs partnership processes within the strategy for humanitarian assistance (2025-2029).
Civil society
Sida's work with civil society is guided by the Swedish Government's Strategy for Sweden's Development Cooperation with Civil Society 2025-2029.
Private sector and sustainable development
Sida partners with companies and private sector organisations that contribute to economic, social and environmental sustainable development.
Research
Sida supports research in and by low-income countries to reduce poverty and build sustainable societies.
Governance and public administration
International Training Programmes support transparent, efficient and democratic state administration under the rule of law.
Sweden's development cooperation agency. SEK 50B+ annual budget (~$4.7B). Significant Africa portfolio. Works through Swedfund (DFI), challenge funds, and partner organizations. Strong gender equality mandate — Sweden leads globally. Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) challenge fund supports inclusive businesses.
Multi-year grants, policy dialogue, Swedish business networks, challenge fund design
Government agency — bureaucratic. Primarily non-profit focused. Challenge funds more accessible for startups.
Match your application clearly to one of Sida’s current strategy areas, such as humanitarian assistance, civil society, research, or private sector and sustainable development. Be explicit about your organisation type and eligibility route, especially if applying through an International Training Programme or a partnership process. If your work is tied to Liberia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Bolivia, account for the bilateral strategy phase-out and the 31 August 2026 end date for those initiatives.
1965
Active Since
Yes
Deploying
Hundreds of programs across East and Southern Africa