5 Grant Opportunities African SMEs Can Apply for Right Now

A quick guide to non-repayable funding opportunities across the continent.

Grants are one of the most powerful tools for growing a business without giving up equity or taking on debt. The challenge? Many SMEs miss out because they don’t know where to look or how to apply. We’ve rounded up five grant opportunities available now (and in upcoming cycles) that every African entrepreneur should consider.

Here are some of the most common and prominent ones available:

1. Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)

• Grant: $5,000 seed capital + mentorship/training
  
• For: African entrepreneurs (≤5 years old), especially in AI or green sectors
  
• Apply: tonyelumelufoundation.org
  

2. Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH)

• Grant: $100K–$300K + training, mentorship, exposure
  
• For: Established SMEs (≥3 years old) in any sector
  
• Apply: africabusinessheroes.org
  

3. US African Development Foundation (USADF)

• Grant: Up to $250,000 + capacity building
  
• For: Youth- or women-led enterprises in agriculture, energy, or food security
  
• Apply: Rolling calls at usadf.gov
  

4. Village Capital & AADP

• Grant: $10K–€250K for agritech, climate, and fintech
  
• For: Startups solving sustainability or food security challenges
  
• Apply: Check vilcap.com and enterprise-ireland.com for cycles
  

5. Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP)

• Grant: Cash awards for social innovation ventures
  
• For: Social entrepreneurs in tech, agriculture, or services
  
• Apply: Mid-year deadlines at orange.com

Conclusion.

Winning a grant isn’t just about eligibility, it’s about alignment. Be clear, show measurable impact, and tell your story in a way that resonates with the funder’s mission. Funders back causes they believe in - prove you’re part of that vision.