USD 500,000–USD 1 Million Funding for Women-Centred Digital Innovation
Accelerating Inclusive Digital Solutions Across Sub-Saharan Africa
Quick Highlights
Particulars
Details
Programme Name
SheConnects Digital Accelerator: Africa – Accelerator Round 2
Host Organization
CARE
Opportunity Type
International Grant Competition
Funding Amount
USD 500,000–USD 1,000,000
Grant Duration
18 Months
Eligible Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Target Reach
Minimum 50,000 Women
Application Mode
Online
Deadline
8 July 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)
Opportunity Overview
Particular
Details
Host Organization
CARE
Programme
SheConnects Digital Accelerator: Africa
Round
Accelerator Round 2
Funding Type
Competitive Grant
Implementation Period
18 Months
Target Beneficiaries
Women and Girls across Sub-Saharan Africa
Application Mode
Online
About Organization
CARE is one of the world's leading humanitarian and international development organizations, working across more than 100 countries to combat poverty, strengthen resilience, and advance gender equality.
Through the SheConnects Digital Accelerator, CARE supports organizations that leverage digital innovation to improve women's access to healthcare, education, livelihoods, and economic opportunities while reducing the gender digital divide.
About the Programme
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator: Africa is a competitive funding programme designed to identify organizations capable of delivering high-impact digital solutions that improve women's lives at scale.
Rather than funding digital access alone, the programme prioritizes solutions that demonstrate measurable improvements in health, education, nutrition, agriculture, household income, and economic resilience through technology-enabled interventions.
Funding Benefits
Benefit
Details
Minimum Grant
USD 500,000
Maximum Grant
USD 1,000,000
Implementation Period
18 Months
Technical Support
Yes
Large-Scale Deployment
Yes
International Recognition
Yes
Scalable Innovation Support
Yes
Long-Term Sustainability Focus
Yes
Programme Objectives
Objective
Details
Women Digital Empowerment
Yes
Improve Health Outcomes
Yes
Improve Educational Outcomes
Yes
Enhance Household Income
Yes
Increase Women's Economic Participation
Yes
Responsible AI Adoption
Encouraged
Sustainable Digital Solutions
Required
Priority Impact Areas
Sector
Supported
Women's Health
Yes
Child Health & Nutrition
Yes
Education
Yes
Agriculture
Yes
Livelihoods
Yes
Economic Inclusion
Yes
Digital Financial Inclusion
Yes
Eligible Applicants
Applicant Type
Eligible
Nonprofit Organizations
Yes
Civil Society Organizations
Yes
Mission-Driven For-Profit Organizations
Yes
Academic Institutions
Yes
Consortium Applications
Yes
Government Agencies (Lead Applicant)
No
Multilateral Organizations (Lead Applicant)
No
Eligible Delivery Models
Delivery Model
Description
Last Mile Service Providers (LMSPs)
Community Health Workers, Agricultural Extension Officers, Women's Groups, Local NGOs, Education Facilitators
Direct-to-Participant (D2P)
Direct digital delivery through mobile applications, digital platforms, and online services
Hybrid Model
Combination of LMSP and D2P approaches (Strongly Preferred)
Evaluation Criteria
Criteria
Weight
Digital Technology Integration
25 Points
Inclusive Design & Safe Use
25 Points
Partnership Networks
25 Points
Credible Pathway to Scale
25 Points
Total
100 Points
Digital Technology Requirements
Requirement
Details
Inclusive Digital Design
Required
Low Connectivity Compatibility
Required
Low Literacy Accessibility
Required
Disability Inclusion
Required
Responsible AI
Encouraged
Human Oversight
Required
Privacy Protection
Required
Safeguarding Requirements
Requirement
Status
Data Privacy Framework
Mandatory
Gender-Based Violence Safeguards
Mandatory
Online Safety Measures
Mandatory
Fraud Prevention
Mandatory
Complaint Mechanisms
Mandatory
Risk Management System
Mandatory
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
Requirement
Details
Monitoring Framework
Required
Outcome Measurement
Required
Learning Framework
Required
Open Data Compliance
Required
Knowledge Sharing
Required
Participant Impact Tracking
Required
Required Documents
Document
Required
Technical Proposal
Yes
Budget
Yes
Budget Narrative
Yes
Organization Registration Proof
Yes
English Proposal
Yes
Supporting Documents
As Required
Programme Timeline
Event
Date
Applications Open
Currently Open
Application Deadline
8 July 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)
Selection Notification
Mid-August 2026
Award Start
January 2027
How to Apply
Step
Action
Step 1
Visit the official SheConnects Digital Accelerator application portal.
Step 2
Carefully review all eligibility and programme requirements.
Step 3
Prepare the technical proposal, implementation strategy, and budget.
Step 4
Complete the online application and upload all required documents.
Step 5
Submit your application before 8 July 2026 (11:59 PM EDT).
NGOs, CSOs, social enterprises, academic institutions, and eligible consortiums.
How much funding is available?
Between USD 500,000 and USD 1 Million.
What is the implementation period?
18 months.
Can governments apply as lead applicants?
No, but they may participate as sub-grantees.
What is the deadline?
8 July 2026 (11:59 PM EDT).
CareerFlora Expert Insight
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator: Africa 2026 is one of the largest digital development funding opportunities currently available for organizations working on women's empowerment across Sub-Saharan Africa. Rather than supporting technology for its own sake, the programme focuses on measurable improvements in health, education, agriculture, and economic inclusion through scalable digital solutions.
Organizations with proven implementation capacity, strong partnerships, and evidence-based digital interventions have a significant opportunity to secure substantial funding while creating long-term social impact. Applicants should clearly demonstrate scalability, sustainability, safeguarding mechanisms, and measurable outcomes to remain competitive.
