Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Young Leaders Development Funds 2023/24 ($1 million in funding)

Background

The Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) seeks grant applications from qualified individuals and organizations for the 2023/24 youth leaders’ development funds. The grant aims to strengthen, support, and promote youth ecosystem building in the country. The grants will be awarded to individuals and organizations working in line with the thematic areas of interest.

About the NYFF

The Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) is a five-year collaborative program of LEAP Africa, MacArthur Foundation, and Ford Foundation that seeks to strengthen youth leadership in Nigeria through outcomes-driven policy engagements and inclusive resourcing that help youth shape the future long-term development plans of the country. The NYFF is anchored on three core components which include:

1. An Imaginative Futures Working Group at the national and regional levels to mainstream youth ideas within the long-term planning process
2. Youth Leadership Program: This pillar seeks to build the capacity of young leaders and youth lead organizations while also providing grants for young people/organizations working on the identified thematic areas.
3. Online and Media engagement: The fund seeks to strengthen the voices of young Nigerians through policy advocacy, debates, online campaign, and so on toward the realization of  #theNigeriaWeWant.

Grant Thematic Areas

The Youth Leadership Development fund will prioritize the themes described below, the themes are in line with the Youth agenda that emerged from the visioning exercise of the NYFF. Click here, the Nigeria We Want Report, to read about the report. It is imperative for the applicants to submit concepts/proposals, in line with the themes, that are capable of driving social change within their community.

Facilitate Good Governance: Applicants are expected to submit Youth development projects proposals that seek to support the National short-term and long-term development plans that promote;

• Active Citizenship and Leadership Development
• Policy Development, Advocacy, Executive and Legislative Reforms at various tiers of Government (National, State, and Local Government).
• Institutional Strengthening, Transparency, and Accountability.

Resolve Fundamental National Questions: Applicants are expected to submit Youth development projects proposals that seek to support the National short-term and long-term development plans towards the following;

• Peace Building
• Equity, Social Inclusion, Cohesion, and Justice
• Promotion of National Values including Patriotism, Unity, and Empathy within the country.

NB – Proposals that leverage Media, Art, Entertainment, Creativity, and Technology to drive any of these pillars are also encouraged. Organizations can also apply as a cluster.

Grant Structure

Eligibility Criteria for Individual and Organization 

Individual-level 

• The applicant must be a Young activist (aged 15- 35 years) with a proven track record, working on a Youth development project capable of social change across any of the thematic areas.
• The applicant must demonstrate a good understanding and experience in strategic planning, project management, and implementation.
• The applicant must demonstrate experience and knowledge of community or team building following principles of honesty and integrity.
• The applicant must have genuine means of identification or attached to an institution.
• The applicant must provide 2 reputable referees.

Organization Level

• Applicant must be registered with the corporate affairs commission of Nigeria or any authorized state/local level commission. The evidence of registration must be provided.  Otherwise, unregistered organizations can form a cluster and apply through a registered organization.
• Applicant must have a physical address, a corporate account with good financial standing, and records
• Applicant must be open to partnering with the other Youths and the NYFF community when implementing the project.
• Applicant must have good antecedents and proper track records.
• Applicant must provide 2 reputable referees.
• Catalyst grant applicants must be civic hubs into Youth-driven activities within the region where the organization is based.
• Catalyst grant applicants must have partnership capacities in all the states of their geopolitical region.
• Catalyst grant applicants must have the capacity to support other organizations in the areas of capacity building and institutional strengthening.

Guideline for Application Submission

Please visit https://www.nigeriayouthfund.org/ to read more and apply for the grant. The application steps consist of the following:

• Filling of Pre-application questions

• Proposal Submission: Applicants should submit a concept note/proposal, not more than 3000 words, following the stated guidelines and proposal template. Click here for Individual/Development Grant Proposal Template & Catalyst Grant Proposal Template

  • Section A: This consists of the Individual/organization background, challenges identified, initiatives to be implemented, and scope of work

  • Section B: This section consists of the Monitoring and Evaluation framework showing the expected inputs, outputs, and outcomes of the project

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  • Sections C: This section consists of the project work plan, showing the activities to be performed, the timeline, and the budget for each line item.

• Submission of Organization/individual identification document:

  •  Small/Individual Grant: NIN certificate or equivalent.

  • Organization Grant (Development & Catalyst Grant): CAC registration, Organizational document, and other documents such as certificate of recognition by previous funders, SCUML, etc., in a single PDF.

• Filling of the Referees’ information: Name, Organization & Portfolio, Phone Number & Email address