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.
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.
Funding & Benefits
Selected consortia will receive:
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Non-dilutive funding between €100,000–€250,000, delivered via milestone-based grants.
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Access to the JIF Project Studio, which includes:
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Mentorship from seasoned experts and investors
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Investment readiness support
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Technical advisory services
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Networking and peer learning opportunities
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Strategic visibility and alignment with the EU–Africa partnership goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063
Focus Areas
Projects submitted must demonstrate climate-positive outcomes in at least one of the following areas:
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Climate mitigation
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Climate adaptation and resilience
Key sectors include:
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Blue Tech
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Mobility
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Energy
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Smart Cities
Eligibility
To apply, innovation consortia must:
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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)
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Have a tested and scalable innovation that integrates digital technologies (AI, IoT, etc.)
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Present solutions that are gender-responsive, regionally embedded, and commercially viable
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Include teams with proven technical expertise and a strong impact track record
Eligible applicant types:
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Small Growing Businesses (SGBs) & Startups (Pre-Seed or Seed Stage)
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Applied research organizations
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Digital Innovation Hubs & Innovation Support Orgs
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Civil society organizations
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Public sector partners
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Larger companies
Application Process
Application Timeline:
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Launch: July 17, 2025
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Deadline: September 15, 2025
Two-Stage Application Process
Stage 1:
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Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the online form
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Meet all eligibility requirements
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Undergo a due diligence phase assessing operations, governance, and compliance
Stage 2:
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Shortlisted applicants submit a full grant proposal
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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
Why Apply?
The Joint Innovation Facility is more than a grant—it’s an opportunity to:
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Scale your climate innovation with expert backing
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Access international networks and learning platforms
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Align your project with strategic global partnerships
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Contribute to building an inclusive, sustainable digital future
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
