Africa grants

Purposes of funding

Trustees would like to focus their limited funds on economic development rather than service provision. Trustees favour work such as small business support and training, and microfinance in both urban and rural settings. Applications in support of initiatives that are building sustainable futures in the semi arid areas of Africa are especially welcome. Trustees also welcome appeals that support and protect street children, and help them find safe and sustainable livelihoods.

The Trust would welcome applications that enable successful practical solutions to be replicated or that aim to bring about relevant policy change through effective advocacy. They would also welcome applications that demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community based organisations and ensuring the voice of poor and marginalised women and men are properly heard and respected.

Geographical focus:

The Trustees fund work in Africa. At present they favour projects based in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan. Within these areas, priority will be given to work with communities living in urban slums and semi-arid regions where economic hardship is most extreme.

Amount and duration of grants:

• The maximum grant is £5,000 per year for up to three years.

The criteria used to assess appeals:

Trustees expect to see a strong relationship between the applicant organisation and the community that will benefit from the grant. This is demonstrated when the applicant shows a clear understanding of the economic, environmental and social issues facing the community. Trustees like to see practical ways in which communities will be strengthened by the work they fund and, especially, how women and girls will be empowered.

Your appeal is more likely to be successful if you are able to briefly describe:

1. How you identified the need for your proposal
   

2. Your track record in doing related work
   

3. How you will know that your project has benefitted, or will benefit, the communities with whom you work
   

4. How you ensure the safety of the people you are supporting while you are working with them

5. You will need to show that you have been operating as a registered organisation for more than three years

6. It is very helpful to let us know about the other organisations that are funding your current work.

7. It is very helpful to let us know your website address as we use online searches to verify your application.

Exclusions:

In addition to our list of general exclusions please note that grants are not made for:

• any work outside the areas listed in ‘Geographical focus’, above

• buildings

• expeditions, exchanges, holidays, study tours, visits

• HIV/AIDS programmes

• grants are not made to INDIVIDUALS for any purpose

• organisations set up primarily to treat medical conditions, physical disabilities or mental health issues

• schools, including school infrastructure and teaching equipment

• vehicles

Who can apply?

Trustees tend to offer grants to smaller, grass-roots organisations and do not generally respond to appeals from large and well-supported charities. The Trustees welcome applications from diaspora led organisations based and registered in the UK .

The Trust is willing to consider direct applications from registered civil society organisations in Africa or UK based charities which might be diaspora organisations based in the UK . Applications need to be made in English.

Timetable:

Applications can be made at any time. It can take up to six months to assess an application. Successful applicants will be informed in writing. The Trustees’ focus on allocating as much as possible of their limited funds for grant-making and limiting administrative expenses means that applications are not acknowledged and no replies are sent to unsuccessful appeals. The Trust will not discuss applications on the telephone or correspond about rejected appeals.