Grant opportunity for African journalists

Announcment courtesy of NGOpulse.org:

FAIR Small Grant Guidelines for African Investigative Journalists

Opportunity type: Grants

Opportunity closing date: Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) is offering investigative journalists the opportunity to apply for a grant that intends to help further their research on a particular investigative story of their choice. Two grants of up to €3 000 each and eight smaller grants with a value of €500 each, are funded by Freevoice, and are intended to be used by a journalist for an investigative story that would not otherwise be published.

Application Information

Applications are open to all investigative journalists based, working, and operating in Africa. Applications must be accompanied by a 1 page summary in English, French, or Portuguese. The summary is of extreme importance since the initial shortlist of 20 applications will be compiled on their basis and only the applications that make the shortlist will be considered in full.

The application must contain the following:

• Subject;
• Envisaged methodology (source-building, data to access, testing of obtained info in order to reach conclusion);
• Reason why this subject was chosen;
• Media house that has undertaken to publish (the acceptance letter from the editor is to be attached);
• A paragraph about earlier publications by the journalist; and
• Budget (expenses only).

If an investigation topic is of such a sensitive nature that the applicant does not want the topic to be known to others, he/she should state this in the application. In this event, the applicant and the advisory council will come to an agreement on a suitably neutral/general description of the nature of the investigation, which description will be used when the award is announced.

The applications must be sent by email or fax - preferably along with a hard copy, to the contact details below.

Submission deadline: 31 July 2010

For more information or to submit entries, click here.

Radio for Peace Building Africa

I receive notices from Radio for Peace Building Africa, which is a project that supports educative and collaborative radio initiatives. Founded under Search for Common Ground, the goals for RFPA are as follows (as quoted from their website):

• To increase the knowledge and skills of radio broadcasters, and particularly youth radio broadcasters, in covering issues with multiple perspectives;
• To encourage key government officials to communicate effectively with their constituents;
• To improve the communication flow between policy makers and civil society members and radio broadcasters.

The notices that RFPA sends by e-mail to me may be useful to some of our readers, so I would like to share two particular notices I received this week (quoting directing from their e-mail):


Graca Machel Scholarships

The 'Graça Machel Scholarship Programme' will provide scholarships over an initial 3 year period and aims to empower disadvantaged women from Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa by providing them with an opportunity to further their professional development and thus play a constructive role in the development of their country. Scholarship applications are now available and will be open until 11 August, 2010. To download an application and learn more, visit: http://www.canoncollins.org.uk/scholarships/index.php

If you know of any new funding opportunities that we could advertise, please feel free to send us your suggestions to the following web address: rfpa@sfcg.org.

REMINDER: ACCRA Conference

18th -20th August 2010, Accra - Ghana: The Africa Media & Democracy Conference invites papers for its annual Africa Media and Democracy Conference. The theme for the Conference is: "Mediating Democracy in Africa".

ABSTRACTS & PAPERS: Please email abstracts (maximum one page) along with contact information and a 500-word bio to: info@amdmc.org.

All Abstracts must be in English, full papers may be submitted in either English or French.

· Deadline for receipt of abstracts: 30th April 2010

· Notice of acceptance of abstracts: 5th May 2010

· Deadline for receipt of full papers: 30th May 2010

For further information and other enquiries please contact Conference Team.

ENQUIRIES HOTLINE 24HRS: MOBILE: +233 54 3793228

For more information, please visit the Radio for Peace Building Africa website. They also have a Swahili version here.

The Question of Foreign Aid

Many of you may have heard of Dambisa Moyo, who has written extensively on the consequences of foreign aid.

I came across this video today which is a brief look into her work. She discusses how foreign aid is not successful in reducing poverty and in some instances inflicts further incentives for corruption in Africa.



Dambisa brings up important questions for Tanzania and greater East Africa: How are we using regional ties to use foreign aid efficiently? Where else can money go other than the government?

Funding Platform, "Kickstarter.com"

Social entrepreneurs interested in the arts and media, do you need help funding your project? Get on Kickstarter.com now and request an invite.

I found out about the funding platform Kickstarter.com through a friend. The way it works is simple. Someone who needs funding for a project requests an invite (NOTE: Invites are only available to folks with a U.S. address and bank account). Upon receiving an invite, you post about your project and set a deadline for funds. People from anywhere around the world can pledge to your project. If you receive enough pledges by the deadline to fund your project, the folks who pledged will get a charge on their credit card for the amount they pledged. If your project does not meet the deadline, the pledges will NOT get charged. That simple.

For more information be sure to check out their website.

Changing the World with Your Vision

At some point in our lives, we all go through a phase where we want to “change the world.” It could be anything small, big, in between. No matter what it is, for many of us, that is exactly what keeps us going. Given the ever rising population of youth, there are all kinds of youth movements taking place in the world. Youth who are trying to make their dreams of changing the world a reality.

Do you have an idea for a project that works toward your vision of change?

The International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) just opened their Young Visionaries contest, which aims to celebrate, acknowledge and support the exceptional and ongoing work of young people. The contest encourages youth to share their visions for young people and for the future.

Until March 25, 2010 youth between the ages of 18 and 30 can share their visions for a just and healthy life, and get a chance to win a $1000 grant from the IWHC to fund a project that works toward this vision. If you have an idea for a sustainable project for instance, something that can help people and improve their quality of life, get involved. If you are actively engaged in shaping a world where women and young people are free from discrimination, sexual coercion, and violence; where they make free and informed choices about sexuality and reproduction; or where health information and services are available to help them lead safer and healthier lives….this contest is right for you.

For more information, visit the IWHC website by clicking here.

Read more:

Contest Rules

Meet some young visionaries

IWHC and Young People

Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship

The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship provides funding and technical assistance to entrepreneurs who have "the potential for large-scale influence on critical challenges of our time: tolerance and human rights, health, economic and social equity, peace and security, institutional responsibility, and environmental sustainability."

Awards are given to "to help organizations expand their programs and capacity to deliver long-term, sustainable equilibrium change", and usually look for projects that have been functioning for no less than three years. More eligibility criteria here.

Deadline for the next round of applications is February 17, 2010.

Read more:
Skoll Awards guidelines
Eligibility
How to apply

Youth to Youth Fund

The Youth Employment Network (YEN), a product of a partnership between the International Labor Organization, the World Bank and the United Nations, has a Youth to Youth Fund dedicated to providing resources to young entrepreneurial adults.

The YEN mission statement (from YEN website):
"YEN works to engage, educate and motivate actors to provide improved employment opportunities for youth. It is a platform and service provider focusing on policy advice, innovative pilot projects, knowledge sharing, and brokering partnerships. YEN makes use of its core agency partners’ know how and resources and ensures youth participation in delivering its services."

The Youth to Youth Fund goals (extract from website):
"The Youth-to-Youth Fund supports innovative youth-led (15-35 years) employment projects in the 4 Mano River Union (MRU) countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone) and East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). In difference to other programs, the youth themselves will be asked to submit proposals. The major outcome is the identification and support of small scale innovative ideas at the grass-roots level in youth employment. The Fund uses an open, transparent, and competitive process ensuring local ownership."

Eligibility to apply to the Youth to Youth Fund:

• For official registered organizations in above listed target countries
• Must be led by youth (ie: Board and/or management committee must be youth - 15 to 35 years)
• Main purpose of organization must be youth employment creation
• Proposals must be from organizations, not individuals
• One application per organization
• Grants are awarded in following focus areas: Community projects and services; Youth entrepreneurship; Transition from school to work; Vocational training; Sport and youth employment.
  

Read more:
About YEN
Youth to Youth Fund homepage

We're creating a "Resources" section

Hello young social entrepreneurs! After a few months of putting mostly written content out through our blog, we have been able to identify some key funding and technical assistance resources that are provided from year to year to small and medium enterprises.

Since such resources - organizations like Echoing Green, YouthActionNet, YOSEFO and the Unreasonable Institute - take applications in on a regular basis, we want to set up a page where all their information is consolidated to speed up your logistical planning.

If there is anything else that you think we can set up as static information as opposed to rolling news and updates, let us know! Drop a line to admin (at) vijanafm (dot) com and tell us what what information you would like to see more on Vijana FM.

Cheers,
Operations @ Vijana FM

YOSEFO: Financial services for Tanzanian entrepreneurs

We've talked about Tanzania-based Youth Self Employment Foundation (YOSEFO) here at Vijana FM before, but we just wanted to reiterate that YOSEFO is out to financially support entrepreneurs.

YOSEFO is focused on supporting everyone - youth, women and men - who have an interest and some experience in starting sustainable business. Over 70% of YOSEFO's clients are women.

Their vision: "To be a leading microfinance institution in Tanzania serving urban and rural entrepreneurs, while operating on the commercial principles of performance and sustainability."

Read more:
YOSEFO homepage
About YOSEFO
Social Edge blogpost on one YOSEFO client (by Jennifer Gong)

Green VC

Green VC provides information that supports environmentally-friendly and social ventures run by students.

It partners with funders, conferences and media outlets to provide more access to entrepreneurial resources that would be of use to young innovators, especially students in the United States.

Read more:
Green VC homepage
About Green VC
Funding resources

Reminder: Echoing Green App due December 2

Further to our previous posts, we'd just like to remind our readers that the Phase 1 of the Echoing Green Fellowship application is due December 2nd!

cash4africa

Cash4Africa is a money transfer service operating in Africa. It is a subsidiary of Roraima Financial Services (RFS) based out of Nevis, West Indies.

Considering the flows of diverse capital throughout the African continent, this would be a valuable service to entrepreneurs who are thinking of scaling up.

Read more:
Cash4Africa homepage
About Cash4Africa
Security

William James Foundation business plan competition

The William James Foundation has opened up its business plan competition. Winners are eligible to different brackets of funding to jump-start their projects. A key process of the competition is feedback.

The Foundation provides feedback on the following, according to their website (extracted from Competition Guidelines):

• How you described your of products or services, and the problems they solve
• How you are thinking about your market targets, promotion, and market testing
• Your assessment of risks, competitors, substitute products or services, and your competitive advantage
• Your timeline
• Your analysis of your cash flow needs, and the sources and uses of funds
• Your management team strengths and needs, and organizational structure
• The overall viability of your business from a financial profit point of view
• The value and feasibility of your social and/or environmental goals

In order to apply, entrepreneurs need to send a "Intent to Compete" e-mail to competition(at)williamjamesfoundation(dot)org with a short paragraph about their idea and contact information. Thereafter, executives summaries are to the same e-mail address due by December 4, 2009. There is a application processing fee which may be waived in advance.

Read more:
About the William James Foundation
About the competition

The Unreasonable Institute

The Unreasonable Institute hosts an intensive 10-week Summer Institute for social entrepreneurs around the world, with the possibility of funding thereafter.

An excerpt from their website:
The purpose of the Summer Institutes are to provide: "personal & entrepreneurial skill development, intensive collaboration & work-shopping, and involved guidance from mentors. Additional support includes website design & development, premier research access, and free legal consultations. Each Unreasonable Fellow will graduate the Institute with a viable business plan that is purposeful, sustainable, scalable, and replicable."

Following the 10 weeks, entrepreneurs then talk about their developed proposals at a Pitch Fest hosted by investors. Proposals also get posted onto the Institute's online marketplace network.

Applications for the Institute open November 15, 2009 and are due by December 15, 2009.

Read more:
The Unreasonable Institute homepage
About the Institute
About the Summer Institutes
Application process

EG Fellowship: Phase 1 due December 2

Phase 1 applications for the Echoing Green Fellowship are due December 2nd!

Don't forget to get your application for a groundbreaking, innovative and sustainable idea in.

Read our previous post on Echoing Green's Fellowship.

Other links:
Echoing Green homepage
Application procedures
Last year's Fellows

YOSEFO: Micro-lending in Tanzania

The Youth Self Employment Foundation (YOSEFO) is dedicated to providing microfinancing services to young men and women in Tanzania "so that they can create jobs, educate their children, live a healthy life and improve their overall standard of living."

YOSEFO is heavily supported by the Tanzania Investment Bank and the National Microfinance Bank (NMB). This year alone, YOSEFO disbursed about TSH 3.2 billion (about $3 million) between January and September. According to an article on YOSEFO's achievements since its inception 12 years ago, about 70% of this year's beneficiaries were women, and 48% lived in rural regions.

Read more about YOSEFO's financial services:
The Citizen - Article on YOSEFO
YOSEFO homepage
YOSEFO news resources

Tanzania Business Plan Competition

The Business Development Gateway is an initiative in Tanzania funded by the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation, the National Microfinance Bank (NMB), the Peoples Bank of Zanzibar and ZAIN Telecom.

The initiative has opened up its application process for the Business Plan Competition.

Eligibility rules are as follows:

• You are a national of the United Republic of Tanzania and you live/work on the mainland, Zanzibar or Pemba.
• You apply as an individual.
• You are 18 years or older.
• Your business concept or idea is potentially viable and legal and concerns the expansion of an existing business or the start-up of a new business based in Tanzania.
• You have a registered for-profit business or you plan to register a for-profit business.
• You have a privately-owned business. If your business is a joint venture, it has majority ownership by Tanzanians.
• Your business idea is in one of the following sectors: agriculture and processing, manufacturing, tourism or services.
  

Applications are due by Friday 13th November 2009.

Read more:
Business Development Gateway homepage
About the Business Development Gateway
Business Plan Competition Eligibility
Other Business Plan Competition guidelines

Microfundo: "a Kiva.org for music"

Microfundo is using a new, simple and collaborative model to keep music artists inspired and fans satisfied.

By creating a profile through Microfundo, music artists can be financially supported through loans from fans. Once an artist's financial goal is reached, Microfundo gives them their funds in bulk, and then helps the artist repay the loans back to the fans with money raised from music sales online.

Since this is a global scheme, artists anywhere who have a following can use Microfundo to take their projects to the next level.

Read more:
Microfundo homepage
About Microfundo
Microfundo on Twitter

Teach a man to fish

Teach A Man To Fish - a UK-based charity - is holding their third annual Pan African Awards for Entrepreneurship in Education (2009).

Teach A Man To Fish is an organization that works "to broaden access for the poor to a high quality education combining vocational training and entrepreneurship by supporting institutions working in this field to increase their financial self-sufficiency."

The Pan African Awards for Entrepreneurship in Education are given to create incentive in small business ventures that increase value in society. An excerpt from the Competition Guidlines:

"The competition is open to all organizations based in Africa working in education, from primary through to tertiary, as well as in non-formal and adult education.

"As well as a first prize of $10,000 and two runners-up prizes of $5,000, there are up to 50 awards of $1,000 available for the best entry from every country on the continent.

"The top three award-winners will be sponsored a trip to South Africa for the awards presentation and peer learning visits to key Educating Africa and TeachAManToFish partners."

The deadline for the 2009 application is December 31st, 2009. Entries may be submitted online, via e-mail, or via post.

Read more:
Teach A Man To Fish homepage
Competition Guidelines
Teach A Man To Fish on Twitter

YIPE: Focussed on youth enterprise

Follow @yipeorg on twitter for information for youth on how to start a business.