Apply Now: Joint Innovation Facility Offers €100,000–€250,000 for Climate-Focused Digital Innovation Projects in Africa

The Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) invites innovation consortia led by African partners to apply for non-dilutive funding up to €250,000 for climate-positive, digitally enabled projects. Apply by September 15, 2025.

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Overview

The Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) is a newly launched initiative under the Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB 2.0), aiming to drive forward climate-positive, digitally powered innovations across Africa and Europe. Co-developed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the European Union, JIF seeks to empower African-led innovation by providing both funding and support to scale high-impact solutions.

JIF is jointly implemented by GIZ and HAUS, leveraging their international cooperation experience to foster meaningful cross-continental partnerships and support ecosystem growth.

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Funding & Benefits

Selected consortia will receive:

• Non-dilutive funding between €100,000–€250,000, delivered via milestone-based grants.

• Access to the JIF Project Studio, which includes:

  • Mentorship from seasoned experts and investors

  • Investment readiness support

  • Technical advisory services

  • Networking and peer learning opportunities

• Strategic visibility and alignment with the EU–Africa partnership goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063

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Focus Areas

Projects submitted must demonstrate climate-positive outcomes in at least one of the following areas:

• Climate mitigation

• Climate adaptation and resilience

Key sectors include:

• Blue Tech

• Mobility

• Energy

• Smart Cities

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Eligibility

To apply, innovation consortia must:

• Be led by an African partner from one of the 14 priority countries:
  Benin, DRC, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

• Consist of at least two partners (cross-border collaboration between Africa–EU or Sub-Saharan countries)

• Have a tested and scalable innovation that integrates digital technologies (AI, IoT, etc.)

• Present solutions that are gender-responsive, regionally embedded, and commercially viable

• Include teams with proven technical expertise and a strong impact track record

Eligible applicant types:

• Small Growing Businesses (SGBs) & Startups (Pre-Seed or Seed Stage)

• Applied research organizations

• Digital Innovation Hubs & Innovation Support Orgs

• Civil society organizations

• Public sector partners

• Larger companies

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Application Process

 Application Timeline:

• Launch: July 17, 2025

• Deadline: September 15, 2025

Two-Stage Application Process

Stage 1:

• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the online form

• Meet all eligibility requirements

• Undergo a due diligence phase assessing operations, governance, and compliance

Stage 2:

• Shortlisted applicants submit a full grant proposal

• Final selection based on alignment with JIF goals, eligibility, and due diligence findings

All supporting documents and the completed application form should be submitted to:
jif@giz.de

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Why Apply?

The Joint Innovation Facility is more than a grant—it’s an opportunity to:

• Scale your climate innovation with expert backing

• Access international networks and learning platforms

• Align your project with strategic global partnerships

• Contribute to building an inclusive, sustainable digital future

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Don’t miss your chance to lead Africa’s climate-positive digital future. Apply now before September 15, 2025.

For more opportunities, visit opportunitiesforyouth.org