Grant funding and Grant writing for social enterprises: Do’s and Don’ts

Online, 10-11 August 2021

Finding and securing the needed financial resources to start and scale initiatives for sustainable development can be difficult, particularly in African countries where there are many economic, social, and environmental challenges with limited resources available to tackle them. Grants have been one of the financial vehicles used by local and international organisations to support social enterprises addressing these issues in such contexts but are usually very competitive and requires certain skillsets and experience to successfully navigate its demands. While grantors are never short of applications for funding, majority of grant applications fail, creating frustration and despondency on the part of grant seekers as well as feedback and management pressures on grant makers. What do grant organisations expect from social and environmental entrepreneurs looking for funding and how should applications be tailored to increase their chances of success?

This is the focus of this two days’ workshop aimed at gathering grant makers and seekers to discuss expectations and issues around grant funding, while sharing procedures and tips for writing successful grant applications. Various grant organisations funding sustainability solutions and initiatives in Africa will be on ground to share insights about their programmes and take questions from participants. Also, experts and practitioners with a track record of successful grant applications will coordinate a workshop where participants can practically develop or complete a proposal they can use for future funding.

Participants will benefit from

A good understanding of different funding organisations and their aims, objectives, funding calls, and application success tips,
A template for developing high quality grant proposals,
An opportunity to network with other change makers and leaders alike.

Speakers are

Purity Kagwiria—Director, With and For Girls Fund Collective, Purposeful Productions
Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom—Grants Manager, African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)
Marjo Heinonen—Executive Director, Abilis Foundation
Ibironke Olubamise—National Coordinator, UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme
Ndifreke Okwuegbunam—Director, Programs and Grants, Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation
Sharon Collins—President, Nonprofit Grant Solutions
Khaita Sylla—Grants Manager, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
Professor Fergus Lyon—Deputy Director, CUSP
Mavis Gardiner—Finance Officer, African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)
Belvin Tawuya—Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, The Africa Centre
Adeyemi Adelekan—Convener

So, do you self-identify as a social/community enterprise? Do you have a core social and/or environmental purpose aside from commercial objectives? Are you actively running a social enterprise, or do you directly support them in and for African contexts? Then this workshop is for you. Visit the workshop website, to find out more and register: https://aseworkshop.com

WHERE

Online

WHEN

10-11 August 2021
12pm (GMT+1)

CONTACT

The event is organised by the Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) in collaboration with The Africa Centre, and is free of charge. You can register your seat via Google Forms. For enquiries, please email Adeyemi Adelekan.