Sahara Foundation Opens Entry For 2023 Impact Fund Programe

Sahara Foundation has called on all social innovators and entrepreneurs across Africa for registration for its Sahara Impact Fund (SIF), programme.

 LEADERSHIP reports that the SIF is open to African social enterprises and entrepreneurs between the ages of 25 and 40 years. 

Also, organisations seeking to participate must have been in existence for at least one year and must submit social solutions within the Foundation’s key focus areas of Clean and Affordable Energy and Sustainable Environment.  

In a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP, the foundation called on innovators ame entrepreneur in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Zambia to participate.

It was gathered that the initiative, a strategic partnership between Sahara Foundation and LEAP Africa aims to provide 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” Ejiro Gray, director, Sahara Group Foundation said. 

The guidelines released by the foundation, however, disclosed that nonprofits or social businesses must be registered with their country’s relevant regulatory and government bodies as the foundation said funding would not be given to cater for such registration.

“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, etc must be documented and shared during the application. Innovations must show sustainability and scalability. 

“SIF applications end April 30, 2023 and all entries for this fund must be in English or French while only one entry will be accepted per organization and once an entry has been submitted, no further changes will be accepted. 

“No entry fee, or payment of any kind is required and winners will be announced via our social media channels and awards will be given at our offices in the countries where the competition is held,” the statement read.