Funding Friday
Happy Friday everyone,
I hope 2025 has started off well! This week once again, we’re bringing you a selection of opportunities that could spark your next big step toward creating positive change. From celebrating women leaders to empowering creative minds and driving community impact, these initiatives are designed to help you make a difference where it matters most.
Thanks for reading,
Jesse
Global
🌟 The Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award 2025
📝 The Bayer Foundation is now accepting applications for its Women Empowerment Award 2025. This initiative celebrates and supports women entrepreneurs in the Global South, focusing on innovative solutions in health, nutrition, and climate-smart practices. Selected winners will benefit from mentorship, a 6-month accelerator program, and access to a global network.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Female Leadership: How can this award inspire other women to pursue entrepreneurship in health and sustainability sectors?
Impact Acceleration: How does a structured mentorship and accelerator program help women entrepreneurs scale their impact?
Climate Resilience: In what ways can climate-smart innovations led by women transform vulnerable communities in the Global South?
🔗 The Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award 2025
🎥 World IP Day 2025 Youth Video Competition
📝 The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) invites young creators worldwide to participate in the World IP Day 2025 Youth Video Competition. This year's theme, "Tuning in with the music of innovation and creativity," encourages participants to explore the intersection of music, intellectual property (IP) rights, innovation, and creativity. Entrants are tasked with producing a 60 to 90-second video that captures how IP rights support creators and innovators in the music industry.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Music and IP Rights: How do intellectual property rights empower musicians and creators to innovate and share their art globally?
Innovation in Music: In what ways is technological advancement reshaping the music industry, and how can IP rights keep pace with these changes?
Global Participation: How can young creators from diverse backgrounds contribute to the evolving landscape of music through innovation and a solid understanding of IP rights?
🔗 World IP Day 2025 Youth Video Competition
🙋🏾♀️Women's Venture Competition 2025
📝 The AIM-HI Accelerator Fund is now accepting submissions for the Women's Venture Competition 2025, targeting women-led oncology companies worldwide. This competition aims to empower women scientist-entrepreneurs in the oncology sector by providing investment opportunities to accelerate their ventures.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Empowering Women in Oncology: How can increased investment in women-led oncology startups drive innovation in cancer treatment and patient care?
Global Collaboration: In what ways can international competitions foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among women entrepreneurs in the biotech industry?
Investment Impact: How does providing substantial funding to women-led ventures influence the broader landscape of gender equity in STEM fields?
🔗 Women's Venture Competition 2025
🌐 Projects Developed By and For Key and Vulnerable Populations
📝 L’Initiative has announced a call for proposals to support next-phase projects aimed at strengthening the role of key and vulnerable populations who often face exclusion from health systems. This initiative focuses on building upon previous funding to enhance the health and well-being of communities, particularly young girls and women, who are disproportionately affected by HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Sustaining Impact: How can next-phase funding ensure the sustainability and scalability of health interventions for vulnerable populations?
Community Co-Creation: In what ways can co-creating initiatives with affected communities lead to more effective health outcomes?
Policy Integration: What strategies can be employed to integrate successful health interventions into national policies and programs?
Asia Pacific
🎌 JFBKK Small Grant Program – Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos
📝 The Japan Foundation, Bangkok (JFBKK), is accepting applications for its Small Grant Program. This program offers financial support for projects related to Japan in the fields of Arts & Culture and Japanese Studies. The initiative fosters international cultural exchange and deepens understanding of Japanese arts and culture in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Cultural Exchange: How can international art and cultural events enhance mutual understanding between Japan and Southeast Asian countries?
Academic Collaboration: In what ways can joint research and conferences expand the horizons of Japanese studies in the humanities and social sciences?
Innovative Approaches: What pioneering elements can be introduced in project themes and contents to foster deeper engagement with Japanese culture?
🔗 JFBKK Small Grant Program – Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos
🌿 SG Eco Fund – Singapore
📝 The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment is accepting applications for the SG Eco Fund, which supports projects that advance environmental sustainability and involve the community. This initiative aims to motivate and enable individuals, groups, and companies to take collective action to build a more sustainable future in Singapore.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Engagement: How can local communities be effectively involved in environmental sustainability projects to ensure long-term impact?
Innovative Solutions: What innovative approaches can be adopted to address environmental challenges specific to urban settings like Singapore?
Sustained Impact: How can projects ensure that their environmental benefits are sustained beyond the funding period?
✈️ Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment – Malaysia
📝 The Merdeka Award is accepting applications for its Grant for International Attachment, designed to enable qualified Malaysians, aged 22 to 35, to engage in short-term collaborative projects or programs of up to three months at internationally recognized host institutions. This initiative aims to promote thought leadership and innovation, foster a culture of excellence, and encourage a world view.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Global Exposure: How can international attachments enhance the professional development of young Malaysian leaders?
Cross-Cultural Collaboration: In what ways can exposure to global institutions foster innovation and excellence upon return to Malaysia?
Strategic Disciplines: How can focusing on areas like education, arts, environment, health, science, and technology contribute to Malaysia's progress?
🔗 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment – Malaysia
Africa
👩🔬 AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science
📝 The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is inviting applications for the AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science. This program aims to build a pool of capable, confident, and influential young women scientists equipped to excel in agricultural sciences, thrive in leadership roles, and champion gender integration in agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Leadership Development: How can young women scientists be empowered to take on leadership roles in agricultural research and development?
Gender Integration: What strategies can be implemented to effectively integrate gender perspectives into agricultural science and research?
Capacity Building: In what ways can capacity-building programs enhance the contributions of women scientists to agricultural innovation in Africa?
🔗 AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science
🌾 Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge 2025
📝 The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), in collaboration with the Shockwave Foundation and the Munich Re Foundation, invites agricultural innovators in East Africa to apply for the Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge 2025. This initiative aims to identify and support innovative agricultural solutions that enhance resilience and promote sustainable practices in the region.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovation in Agriculture: How can novel agricultural practices contribute to building resilience against climate change in East Africa?
Sustainable Development: What role do resilient agricultural innovations play in achieving sustainable development goals in the region?
Community Impact: How can local communities be empowered through the adoption of resilient agricultural innovations?
🔗 Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge 2025
👩👧👦 Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects- Uganda
📝 The Embassy of Japan in Uganda is accepting applications for the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). This program provides financial support to non-profit, development-oriented organizations to implement community development projects that directly benefit people at the grassroots level in Uganda.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Empowerment: How can grassroots projects effectively address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations in Uganda?
Sustainable Development: What role do small-scale, community-driven initiatives play in achieving broader development goals?
Inclusive Growth: How can projects ensure they are inclusive, particularly for marginalized groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities?
🔗 Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in Uganda