Sahara Impact Fund 2025: Apply Now for Grants, Mentorship & Support for African Social Entrepreneurs

Illustrative Image: Sahara Impact Fund 2025: Apply Now for Grants, Mentorship & Support for African Social Entrepreneurs
Image Source & Credit: Sahara Group Foundation
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The Sahara Group Foundation is proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 Sahara Impact Fund (SIF). This pioneering program is designed to support, scale, and sustain high-impact social enterprises and changemakers who are tackling Africa’s most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

The SIF program is not just a funding opportunity—it is a holistic platform that provides financial support, mentorship, strategic guidance, and networking opportunities to ensure that social entrepreneurs across Africa can transform innovative ideas into thriving, scalable businesses that deliver measurable impact.

Timeline: Key Dates for the 2025 SIF Cycle

• 1 July 2025 – Launch of Application Form

• 1 July – 31 August 2025 – Submission Window Open

• 31 August 2025 – Application Deadline

• 1 – 13 September 2025 – Screening and Review of Submissions

• 27 September 2025 – Announcement of Shortlisted EXTRApreneurs (Fellows)

• 29 September – 10 October 2025 – Site Visits and Field Assessments

• 24 October 2025 – Announcement of Final Cohort of EXTRApreneurs (Fellows)

• 3 – 16 November 2025 – MADAA Advisory Bootcamp (Mentorship & Support)

• 20 November 2025 – Grand Close-Out and Showcase Event

Objectives of the SIF Project

The SIF Project is centered on empowering changemakers and strengthening Africa’s social enterprise ecosystem. Its objectives include:

1. Support Innovative Social Entrepreneurs

• Identify, fund, and nurture early-stage and growth-stage social enterprises addressing urgent community needs.

• Provide tailored business advisory services, mentorship, and go-to-market strategies to accelerate their growth.

2. Promote Sustainable Development

• Drive progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Invest in solutions that create lasting, measurable change in climate resilience, economic empowerment, and community well-being.

3. Foster Youth-Led Innovation & Peer Learning

• Empower young African innovators with resources, mentorship, and exposure.

• Create peer-to-peer learning platforms where changemakers can share knowledge and experiences.

4. Build Strong Community Partnerships

• Encourage collaboration between social entrepreneurs, the private sector, governments, and communities.

• Promote joint problem-solving for systemic social and environmental challenges.

5. Institutionalize Social Impact Thinking

• Strengthen a culture of responsibility, sustainability, and innovation across Africa.

• Showcase successful models of social entrepreneurship that can be replicated and scaled.

6. Accelerate Impact Through Capacity Building

• Offer customized advisory services, legal support, business development coaching, and brand-building expertise.

• Provide networking opportunities with subject-matter experts to sharpen leadership and operational capacity.

Selection Criteria

Submissions will be assessed based on the following elements:

• Relevance: Does the solution address a critical social, environmental, or economic issue? How urgent and impactful is it?

• Innovation: Is the solution unique, groundbreaking, or a transformative improvement on an existing model?

• Impact: What is the breadth and depth of its social impact on communities and the environment?

• Scalability: Can the solution be replicated and expanded into new markets or regions?

• Profitability: Is the idea financially viable, capable of sustaining itself, and attractive to investors or markets?

Value Proposition

Backing Big Ideas to Scale and Succeed.

The Sahara Impact Fund provides a comprehensive support package valued at over $100,000 per innovator to ensure EXTRApreneurs can transform their concepts into successful enterprises. Beneficiaries will receive:

• Grants of up to $30,000 to implement and scale their solutions.

• Go-to-Market Support to accelerate entry into relevant markets.

• Legal Advisory on intellectual property, patenting, and compliance.

• Business Advisory Services to refine operational and financial models.

• Brand Management Support to enhance visibility, credibility, and outreach.

This unique combination of funding and ecosystem support will ensure that selected entrepreneurs are equipped to grow, scale, and thrive, ultimately contributing to resilient and sustainable African communities.

Conclusion

The Sahara Impact Fund (SIF) 2025 represents a bold commitment to building sustainable communities through EXTRApreneurship. By empowering Africa’s social entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and networks, SIF ensures that innovative ideas are not just launched but are scaled into impactful enterprises that transform lives, protect the environment, and foster inclusive growth across the continent.

Apply for SIF here