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The Raising Adaptation Impact and Ambition programme is inviting funding proposals to support policy-relevant research on the economics of climate change adaptation in Africa. This call focuses on strengthening country-level economic analysis to address the barriers that limit the integration of climate adaptation into national financial planning and decision-making. Key priority areas include enhancing the integration of adaptation into financial flows, improving the economic case for adaptation investments, and building research capacity by pairing principal investigators with early-career researchers to strengthen expertise in climate adaptation economics across the continent. The initiative is structured as a competitive call targeting climate, economic, and policy researchers based in Africa. It aims to fund between 10 and 12 policy-oriented research projects that respond directly to national priorities and needs. An overall funding envelope of between US$80,000 and US$120,000 will be allocated across selected projects, with grant disbursements made in three instalments linked to the successful delivery of agreed outputs. Supported projects will examine the economic costs of climate risks and impacts, evaluate the benefits and feasibility of adaptation responses, and identify financial, regulatory, and market-based instruments needed to finance ambitious climate action. Research is also expected to strengthen approaches to tracking, allocating, and valuing adaptation finance within national budgeting and fiscal systems. All proposals must integrate distributional impacts, gender equality, and social inclusion as core analytical components. This programme is implemented by International Institute for Environment and Development in partnership with FCDO, with the goal of supporting evidence-based policymaking and sustainable climate resilience in African countries. Eligible applicants must be legally registered and based in an African country. Suitable organisations include universities, academic and policy research institutions, think tanks, parastatal bodies, and independent research entities with demonstrated experience in climate adaptation and economic policy research. Proposals should clearly identify a defined research gap related to inclusive climate adaptation and demonstrate a credible pathway to policy implementation. Applicants are expected to show established collaboration with a Ministry of Finance or a similar national financial authority. All activities and outputs must align with the programme’s implementation timeline. Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and relevance of the proposed methodology, potential for policy impact, and the strength and diversity of the research team. Assessment criteria include the novelty and robustness of the research design, the level of stakeholder engagement and co-creation, demonstrated collaboration with government finance departments, and the integration of gender equality and social inclusion. Teams are encouraged to include multidisciplinary expertise in economics, climate science or adaptation, and socio-economic or policy analysis, with attention to experience, diversity, and gender balance. The final portfolio of projects will ensure geographical and thematic balance, and complementary proposals may be merged where appropriate. Successful applicants will deliver a structured sequence of outputs over a period of up to fourteen months. These include an inception report, detailed research outlines, presentations of preliminary findings, draft outputs, a final validated research product supported by models and databases, policy briefs, and draft academic manuscripts. Applications must be submitted through the designated online platform by the stated deadline. The process will include evaluation, notification, due diligence, and contracting, followed by an orientation workshop for selected grantees.

The AfricaTech Award aims to showcase the abundance of talent and innovation across Africa while creating new opportunities for emerging startups operating on the continent. The focus of the award is to recognize innovation in technology solutions, highlight impactful products addressing important global challenges with social, economic, environmental, or gender benefits, assess scalability and market potential, evaluate the quality and strength of startup teams, and support business models that demonstrate clear monetization, traction, and sustainable operations. For four years, the AfricaTech Award has recognized and supported African startups that are working to transform the business landscape across the continent. The initiative highlights technology-driven ventures that demonstrate relevance and originality compared to existing alternatives, including the size of the problem addressed, the technology used, and the protection of innovation. The award places strong emphasis on impact, particularly solutions that respond to significant global challenges while delivering measurable benefits to society and the economy. Startups are also assessed on their ability to scale, including market size, geographic ambition within Africa, and the range of clients they aim to serve. Team strength is another key consideration, with attention given to the expertise, entrepreneurial experience, academic background, and overall capacity of the team to execute and grow the business. In addition, the business model is evaluated based on the startup’s ability to generate revenue, achieve product-market fit, and demonstrate commercial traction and growth. Eligible startups must be headquartered in Africa and actively operate within the African market by offering products or solutions designed to address local needs. Applicants must also have demonstrated a certain level of maturity by raising more than USD 150,000 in funding.

The Misk Career Essentials Program offers an enhanced learning experience that combines interactive, real-world learning opportunities to deliver a well-rounded career readiness journey. The program focuses on career preparation, soft skills development, technical skills, professional skills, live sessions, coaching sessions, and skills assessment, all structured to align learning pathways with current job market needs and informed career decision-making. Technical skills training aims to establish a strong practical foundation aligned with market needs, covering cybersecurity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, while professional skills courses focus on design thinking, business analysis, leadership, digital literacy, and business ethics to support effective performance in diverse professional settings. The program delivers clear outcomes by bridging skill gaps, supporting continuous development through evolving course offerings, and using a skills assessment tool to help participants identify strengths and areas for improvement, ultimately guiding them toward confident and informed career decisions. Misk Career Essentials offers a self-paced digital learning experience supported by interactive sessions and optional hybrid live components, enabling participants to build relevant, in-demand skills while maintaining flexibility. The courses are designed to help learners move efficiently toward career clarity by identifying what suits them best and strengthening their readiness for employment. The learning journey is further strengthened through live, interactive sessions led by industry experts and access to recorded talks and workshops, as well as coaching sessions addressing career confusion, interview performance, and CV development, ensuring participants receive targeted guidance throughout their progress. The program develops essential career preparation capabilities, including CV building, interview skills, job hunting strategies, and effective use of LinkedIn, supporting participants as they transition into professional environments with greater confidence. Alongside this, the soft skills component emphasizes productivity, time management, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, communication, project planning, financial analysis, and data analysis to enhance adaptability across workplaces.