The SheConnects Digital Accelerator: Africa has officially launched its Request for Applications (RFA) for Accelerator Round 2, inviting organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa to compete for major funding aimed at expanding women’s digital empowerment at scale. The open competitive opportunity offers awards ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 1,000,000 over an 18-month implementation period.

The initiative is designed to support high-impact digital solutions that strengthen women’s participation in health, education, and agriculture-linked livelihoods, with a projected reach of more than 50,000 women users.

Funding Focus on Health, Education, and Economic Inclusion

The Accelerator prioritises digital interventions that demonstrate measurable improvements in women’s and children’s well-being. Successful proposals must clearly link technology use to real-world sector outcomes, particularly in:

Women’s and children’s health and nutrition improvements
Increased household income, resilience, and economic opportunity
Enhanced educational outcomes for children and youth

Applications that focus solely on digital access, device distribution, or general user acquisition without sectoral impact will not be considered eligible.

The programme emphasises practical digital solutions that are scalable, context-aware, and capable of functioning effectively in low-resource environments across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Programme Objectives and Expected Impact

The primary objective of the Accelerator is to identify organisations capable of deploying scalable, women-centred digital solutions that can reach at least 50,000 women within 18 months.

Key programme expectations include:

Strong alignment between digital tools and women’s lived realities
Evidence-based implementation models with proven track records
Scalable delivery systems that can operate across multiple geographies
Partnerships with trusted local or national delivery networks
Clear sustainability pathways beyond the funding period
Responsible use of artificial intelligence where applicable

The initiative also encourages applicants to demonstrate how their models can be adapted for integration into government systems, donor programmes, or long-term institutional frameworks.

Eligible Delivery Models for Scale

The Accelerator supports two primary delivery approaches, either independently or in combination:

Last Mile Service Providers (LMSPs)

LMSPs are frontline actors already embedded within communities and trusted by women beneficiaries. These may include:

Community health workers
Agricultural extension officers
Women’s associations and savings groups
Local NGOs and education facilitators

These providers play a critical role in onboarding, trust-building, and ongoing participant support.

Direct to Participant (D2P)

D2P models deliver services directly to women through digital platforms without relying primarily on intermediaries. These approaches must clearly define:

User onboarding strategies
Engagement and retention mechanisms
Safeguards for privacy and protection
Digital support systems for low-connectivity environments

The strongest applications are expected to combine both LMSP and D2P approaches for maximum reach and effectiveness.

Evaluation Criteria for Funding Selection

Applications will be assessed based on a 100-point system, distributed equally across four core criteria:

Digital Technology Integration (25 Points)

Projects must demonstrate practical and inclusive use of digital tools that address barriers such as connectivity, affordability, literacy, and disability inclusion. Responsible AI use with human oversight is strongly encouraged.

Inclusive Design and Safe Use (25 Points)

All solutions must be women-centred, with strong safeguards addressing:

Privacy and data protection
Gender-based violence risks, including technology-facilitated abuse
Accessibility for low-literacy and multilingual users
Social norms affecting participation

Partnership Networks (25 Points)

Applicants must demonstrate strong collaboration with governments, private sector actors, or civil society organisations that support outreach, service delivery, and long-term sustainability.

Credible Pathway to Scale (25 Points)

Proposals must show realistic strategies to reach 50,000+ users, supported by evidence of implementation capacity, cost efficiency, and sustainable growth planning.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organisations, civil society groups, mission-driven for-profit entities, academic institutions, and collaborative consortia. Government agencies and multilateral institutions are not eligible as primary applicants but may participate as sub-grantees.

Applicants may submit only one proposal as a lead organisation, though they may participate in multiple partnerships.

Required submission materials include:

Technical application form
Detailed budget and narrative
Proof of organisational registration
English-language proposal documentation

Funding cannot be used primarily for infrastructure, device distribution, or digital literacy curriculum development.

Safeguarding, Risk Management, and MEL Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate robust safeguarding systems to mitigate risks such as:

Gender-based violence (online and offline)
Data privacy violations
Fraud, harassment, and retaliation risks

A Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework is also required, focusing on both implementation performance and measurable participant outcomes.

Awardees must comply with open data and knowledge-sharing requirements aligned with international development standards, including responsible data protection practices.

Timeline and Submission Deadlines

Key procurement milestones include:

Application Deadline: July 8, 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)
Notification of Selection: Mid-August 2026
Award Start Date: January 2027

Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals early and ensure compliance with all eligibility and technical requirements.

Strategic Significance of the Accelerator

The SheConnects Digital Accelerator represents a targeted investment in closing the gender digital divide across Sub-Saharan Africa. By prioritising scalable, women-centred digital solutions, the programme aims to strengthen economic participation, improve access to essential services, and enhance resilience among women and their communities.

The funding opportunity reflects a broader shift toward integrated digital development models that combine technology, partnerships, and local delivery systems to achieve measurable social impact at scale.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.