ESTDEV Call for Applications 2026 – Africa Region (Up To €600,000 Funding)

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The Estonian Centre for International Development Cooperation (ESTDEV) has opened a 2026 funding application round to support development-focused projects in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

This funding round targets innovative, systemic, and sustainable solutions that contribute to social and economic development through:

Green and digital transformation (the “twin transitions”)
Education system reform and future skills development
E-governance and cybersecurity
Empowerment of women and girls, particularly in technology and leadership

The programme is aligned with Estonia’s Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Strategy 2024–2030 and complies with OECD Official Development Assistance (ODA) standards.

ESTDEV Objectives

This funding programme aims to:

Support sustainable development in selected African countries
Foster innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship
Strengthen education systems to meet future labour market needs
Improve digital governance and cybersecurity
Advance gender equality, especially for women and girls in STEM and digital sectors
Promote cross-border and international cooperation, particularly between Estonian institutions and partner-country organisations.

ESTDEV Funding Details

Estimated total budget: €600,000
Application deadline: 30 January 2026
Funding modality: Competitive grants

ESTDEV Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants Typically Include:

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Foundations and civil society organizations
Educational and research institutions
Public or semi-public institutions
Innovation hubs and entrepreneurship support organizations
Consortia involving Estonian and target-country partners

Note: All activities must clearly contribute to development outcomes in the eligible African countries.

ESTDEV Priority Themes & Supported Activities

1. Innovation Ecosystem Development

Target countries: Zambia, Uganda

This theme supports initiatives that strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, and green–digital transformation.

Eligible activities include:

Strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship support organisations (e.g., incubators, accelerators, university innovation centers)
Developing sustainable and green-sector-focused business models
Supporting startup acceleration and incubation for green and digital solutions
Encouraging collaboration between universities, startups, public institutions, and investors
Supporting policymaker capacity for innovation-friendly regulations
Promoting regional and cross-border innovation partnerships

2. Future Skills & Education System Transformation

Target countries: All eligible countries

This theme focuses on modernizing education systems to equip learners with future-ready skills.

Key areas of support:

a) Quality Teaching & Educational Leadership

Professional development for teachers and school leaders
Digitally enabled learning environments
Inclusive and equitable education models

b) Curriculum & Teaching Methods Reform

Competency-based and learner-centered education
Digital pedagogy, creativity, and problem-solving
Promotion of STEM/STEAM education, with emphasis on gender equity

c) Education–Labour Market Linkages

Partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities
Entrepreneurial learning and financial literacy
Practical digital skills for youth employability

3. People-Centered E-Governance & Cyber-Intelligence

Target countries: All eligible countries

This priority area supports human-centric digital governance and cybersecurity resilience.

Supported activities include:

Digital capacity building for public-sector leadership
Change management for digital transformation
Digital service delivery and data-driven decision-making
Cybersecurity frameworks and skills development
Public awareness on cyber safety and digital trust
Strengthening public–private cooperation in IT, AI, and e-solutions

4. Inclusion & Empowerment of Women and Girls

Target countries: Kenya, Uganda

This theme aims to close gender gaps in leadership, technology, and digital innovation.

Supported activities include:

Digital leadership development for women in senior positions
Increasing girls’ and women’s participation in STEM fields
Career development pathways in science, technology, and IT
In-school and out-of-school digital skills programmes for girls
Encouraging women’s participation in digital policymaking and innovation ecosystems

Scholarship Component (Optional Add-On)

Projects may include scholarship activities to support skills development and knowledge transfer.

Scholarship Funding

Up to €50,000 additional funding per project (on top of the main project budget)

Eligible Scholarship Activities

Short-term training or continuing education
Study or internship programmes
Job shadowing, mentoring, or learning modules
Programmes delivered:
- In Estonia
- In the target country
- Online (e-learning)

Eligible Scholarship Costs

Tuition or training fees
Travel and living expenses
Visa and insurance costs
Programme organization and mentoring (up to 5% of scholarship budget)

Key Conditions

Scholarships must directly support project goals
Clear learning outcomes must be defined
Training must reflect the development needs of the target country

ESTDEV Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed based on:

Relevance to Estonia’s development priorities
Alignment with ODA principles
Innovation and sustainability
Expected development impact
Feasibility and institutional capacity
Gender and inclusion considerations
Quality of partnerships and implementation plan

How To Apply

Step 1: Review Official Documents
- Call for Applications (PDF)
- Evaluation methodology
- Funding Principles and Procedures
Step 2: Develop a Strong Project Proposal
- Your proposal should clearly define:
- The development problem being addressed
- Target country and beneficiaries
- Proposed solution and activities
- Expected outcomes and impact
- Sustainability and scalability
- Partnerships (including Estonian involvement where applicable)
Step 3: Submit Online
Submit your application via: https://grants.kul.ee
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