Five women-led organisations in Nigeria are about to receive ₦20 million each. The catch is that the deadline is very close.
ActionAid Nigeria, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, has opened its Strategic Innovation Fund for 2026. Applications close at midnight on 12 October, so this one needs action this week.
About the Programme
The fund sits under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership project, which Global Affairs Canada backs. Its aim is to back new, creative ways of advancing gender equality rather than repeating the same old projects.
Innovation here is wide. It can mean a new approach, a technology your community has not used before, a fresh method of organising, or an unusual partnership.
Benefits
Each selected initiative can receive up to ₦20 million, and up to five awards will be made. Projects run from six months to one year, which suits focused, well-scoped work.
The fund covers four themes: violence against women and girls, women in conflict and on the move, women’s economic justice and empowerment, and women’s political participation and leadership.
Eligibility Criteria
- Your organisation must be a women’s rights organisation or a women’s rights network.
- It must be women-led.
- It must operate in Nigeria.
- Your proposal must be an innovative, strategic intervention that advances gender equality.
- Priority goes to groups working with structurally excluded women and girls, such as those with disabilities, those affected by conflict, and returnees.
Documents Needed to Apply
- The completed Expression of Interest application template
- Your organisational profile
- The budget template
One rule stands out: ActionAid says using AI tools like ChatGPT to draft your application narratives is strictly prohibited. Write it yourself, in your own words.
Funders also like to see organisations that are properly registered. If yours is not yet, our business registration services can help you sort out CAC paperwork.
Key Details at a Glance
Programme: ActionAid Nigeria Strategic Innovation Fund 2026
Organizer: ActionAid Nigeria, funded by Global Affairs Canada
Eligible location: Women-led women’s rights organisations and networks operating in Nigeria
Funding available: Up to ₦20 million per initiative, up to five awards
Application deadline: 12 October 2026, 12:00 midnight
How to Apply
- Read the full call on the ActionAid Nigeria Feminist Hub and download the application template, organisational profile and budget template from there.
- Fill in the templates yourself, with no AI-generated text.
- Email everything to [email protected] with the subject line “Strategic Innovation Fund September 2026”.
- Send it before midnight on 12 October 2026. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Final Thoughts
Five awards is a small pool, so your idea needs to be specific and clearly new. A vague plan to “empower women” will lose to a sharp one with a named community and a measurable result.
For more funding calls, see our list of latest opportunities for the month.