Applications are now open for the Wales and Africa grant scheme for projects which contribute to Wales’ delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
WHAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR
The scheme enables community groups and organisations in Wales to access funding for small-scale projects that contribute to Wales’ delivery of UN Sustainable Development Goals and deliver benefits to Wales and Africa.
For this round of Wales Africa grants we are able to offer funding specifically for women’s empowerment projects which will work with existing partners delivering in Uganda or Lesotho. Grants between £20,000 and £30,000 will be available, with a total of £90,000 ringfenced for this award.
Applications focussing on contributing to gender equality in the following fields will be considered:
- Women in leadership
- Women’s rights
- Climate change
- Training and education
- Period dignity
- Gender based violence
In addition, your project should also demonstrate how the activity contributes to Wales’ delivery of UN Sustainable Development Goals and deliver benefits to both Wales and Africa. Organisations should consider how their strategic project aligns with the values and aims of Welsh Government policy and action plans, particularly the Wales and Africa programme, and Gender Equality.
Ahead of applying for a grant from this ringfenced pot, applicants should discuss their project with the Welsh Government team to check if it would be eligible for consideration. Please contact the Wales and Africa team at walesandafrica@gov.wales with a brief paragraph about what the project would entail. Please don’t send project applications to this email address – all applications must be made through the WCVA’s MAP portal. As part of your application you will indicate if you are applying for a grant to carry out a project focussing on women’s empowerment. For any questions related to accessing the application form, please contact the WCVA team at walesafricagrants@wcva.cymru.
THEMES
Working with Sub Saharan African partners, projects must make a tangible contribution to one of the four following themes:
- Health
- Lifelong Learning
- Climate Change and Environment
- Sustainable Livelihoods
TIMELINE
28 November 2023 – grant scheme open for requests
The process for funding requests is live on WCVA’s bespoke Multipurpose Application Portal (MAP).
8 January 2024 – deadline for submissions
Applications will not be able to be submitted after this deadline
January 2024 – panel meeting
Formal approval of requests which will be funded.
January 2024 – applicants informed
Grant offer letters sent to successful requests.
1 February 2024 – earliest projects start date
PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PROJECTS
Funding from the Wales and Africa scheme supported GBV Uganda Projects and its partner organisation in Uganda to empower young women who had to drop out of school due to the pandemic and were abused or abandoned by their partners.
The funding helped establish a tailoring workshop in Namabasa Sub County, equipped with 20 sewing machines, providing tailoring training for over 20 young women with no qualifications. The women also gained valuable life skills such as financial literacy and budgeting, business management and leadership skills.
The project has truly empowered women and transformed their lives. One of the participants said ‘I am so willing and grateful for this opportunity to have a life where I can choose what I want to do and have a skill to help me make some money to have a life. I want to help train others and be a peer model for them to turn to.’
GET IN TOUCH
For general queries on the request process please email walesafricagrants@wcva.cymru or call 0300 111 0124.
For support on the development of your request please contact enquiries@hubcymruafrica.org.uk.