Sahara Foundation, the corporate citizenship vehicle of Sahara Group, is calling on all social innovators and entrepreneurs across Africa including Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon, Tanzania and Zambia, for registration for its Sahara Impact Fund (SIF) programme.
The initiative is a strategic partnership between Sahara Foundation and LEAP Africa that aims at providing support to business ideas and solutions, which will increase access to clean energy and promote sustainable environments.
“The aim of the programme is to better equip the young social entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses which will, in turn, grow their respective economies, contributing to the growth of the continent at large. We believe that entrepreneurs and game-changing business owners are the backbone of the African economy and are essential to its growth and development.
“Therefore, our goal is to provide the resources and support they need to succeed while improving lives and livelihood within their communities and across the Africa continent as a whole,” Director, Sahara Group Foundation, Ejiro Gray, said.
SIF is open to African social enterprises and entrepreneurs across the following benefiting countries between 25 and 40. The organisations are expected to be in existence for at least one year.
“Organisations must submit social solutions within the Foundation’s key focus areas of Clean and Affordable Energy and Sustainable Environment. Nonprofits or social businesses must be registered with their country’s relevant regulatory and government bodies as funding will not be given to cater for that, or to individuals in their personal capacity.
“Only technology based innovative solutions with measurable community impact will be considered. Submissions must show evidence through provision of web links and other online presence.
“All submitted social solutions must have been implemented, must be at the growth stage and have direct beneficiaries. Evidence of claim through pictures, news releases and others must be documented and shared during the application,” the entry document stated.
Entry for SIF ends April 30, 2023, and is expected to be in English or French.
