Fire Africa Grants for Innovative Technologies Focusing on Women Challenges 2018

The FIRE Africa program will be offering three awards for three selected projects that highlight women’s contribution to the internet sector in a few days.

Application Timeline:

• Call for project proposals opens: 22nd March 2018
• Final deadline for submitting project proposals: 6th April 2018
• Selection process:  9th April – 30th June 2018
• Announcement of successful projects: 1st August 2018

Eligible Countries: African countries

About the Award: The Fund for Internet Research and Education (FIRE) is a grants and awards programme designed to encourage and support the development of innovative solutions to address the information and communication needs in the African Region, and emphasizing the role of the Internet in the social and economic development for the benefit of the African community.

An Award is a prize for a job well done. The FIRE Africa Awards seek to acknowledge innovative initiatives in Africa that have made concrete contributions through the use of information and communications technologies and have had a proven impact on the region’s social and economic development.

There is only one funding category for the 2018 Awards

1. Internet for social inclusion: Successfully completed IT related projects led by Female entrepreneurs focusing on using technology to address the specific challenges faced by women and girls, and these projects still have a potential for growth. Such entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the $3000 cash prize at the FIRE Africa Awards sponsored by the IDRC. The Awards ceremony will be at the IGF meeting later this year. Initiatives related to freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy, security, consumer’s rights, new forms of intellectual property in the digital environment, and a wider range of issues related to Internet and human rights.

Grants will be provided to project proposals to be implemented in a period of 6 to 12 months for up to USD 10,000 that are aligned with the funding categories and eligibility criteria.

Type: Award, Entrepreneurship

Eligibility: The FIRE Africa Awards will be presented to ongoing initiatives or completed projects that submit concrete evidence of their impact. Projects pending execution or which are about to begin will not be accepted.

Selection Criteria: Selected projects must meet three main criteria.

• All project proposals must have a technological component through which they seek to solve development issues.
• Proposed solutions must be innovative, i.e., they must present new strategies, notions, ideas, methods and processes that respond to social needs and can broaden and strengthen communities.
• Finally, successful initiatives must have a proven impact, i.e., they must submit indicators and evidence that support the creation of value for the target communities.

Number of Awards: 3

Value of Award: The FIRE prize includes a cash prize of USD 3,000 plus airfare and the cost of accommodation included for one representative from each project to attend the Internet Governance Forum IGF 2018 awards ceremony and participate in the sessions that are held.

How to Apply:  Submit project grant proposals that tackle challenges faced by women and girls.

Before submitting your proposal, we invite you to read the faq

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Award Providers: FIRE Africa