Deadline: September 10, 2014
Women Enhancing Technology (WeTech) invites Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), voluntary organizations and individuals working to increase the access of computer science related training, jobs and leadership roles for women and girls in Africa to apply for the Women Enhancing Technology (WeTech)’s Seed Fund for Women + Girls in Computer Science in Africa.
The Seed Fund provides small grants to support civil society organizations (non-governmental agencies) and individuals to play a role in increasing the access for women and girls to computer science-related training, jobs and leadership roles.
Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate;
- A collaborative approach
- Plans for sustained engagement with women and girls involved in initial project activities
- An innovative use of technology
- Realistic plans for expansion and growth
- Volunteer-led organizations are encouraged to apply
Projects eligible for grant funding include, but are NOT limited to
- Mentoring programs
- Early incubation of female tech entrepreneurs
- Programming and app development training programs
- Hackathons and coding camps for women and girls
- Networking events for women in computer science or STEM fields
- Computer science workshops and trainings for women and girls
- Community education among parents and educators to generate support for girls to pursue computer science or STEM related opportunities
- Facilitating access to new information and resources
- Sponsorship of a Technovation team
Grant Range
- $2,000-$5,000 for individuals and volunteer-led or smaller organizations
- $5,000-$20,000 for organizations with an annual operating budget of at least $25,000
Eligibility
- Applicant can be from any country in the African continent.
- Applicant must be an individual working independently (minimum 18 years old), or a representative of a non-governmental organization (NGO), social enterprise or educational institution based in Africa.
- Applicant must be able to demonstrate previous experience conducting high-impact activities supporting women and girls in computer science or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.
- Applicant must be able to demonstrate leadership potential.
- Application must be made in English language.
- Applicant must be committed to developing and contributing to a virtual community for WeTech Seed Fund grantees
- Applicant must be committed to report quarterly on their progress and also participate in and contribute to a virtual community of fellow grantees.
Activities and items not eligible for grant funding include
- Projects that focus strictly on computer literacy and basic computer education for women and girls will not be considered
- Participation in international conferences or events will not be funded
- Office supplies and equipment should not exceed 30% of the total grant request amount
- Staff and administrative costs should not exceed 25% of the total grant request amount
- Governmental departments and Ministries are not eligible to apply
Application process
The ONLINE application includes the following sections;
- Basic Information: applicant information, organization name and focus area
- Project Information: project lead biography, project objectives, beneficiaries, project activities and other project details
- You will be required to upload a CV
- Financial Information
- You will be required to upload a project budget
- Additional Information
- You will be required to provide the name and email address for someone who can complete a brief recommendation on your behalf. Please inform this person in advance that they will serve as a reference since we have a tight timeframe for the recommendation letter.
- Applications should be as specific and detailed as possible.
For more information, visit Women Enhancing Technology.
