Sahara Impact Fund Offers Up to $30,000 Grant and Business Support for African Changemakers

The Sahara Group Foundation is calling for applications for the 4th Cohort of the Sahara Impact Fund (SIF)—a transformative accelerator program designed to empower young African changemakers, social innovators, and entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and the tools needed to scale impact-driven businesses.

Launched in 2020 through a strategic partnership between Sahara Group Foundation, LEAP Africa, and the Impact Investment Foundation, the SIF Fellowship aims to support sustainable business models that address pressing community challenges and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Sahara Impact Fund is a hybrid accelerator designed to prepare social enterprises across Africa for investment readiness and long-term sustainability. Participants benefit from intensive mentorship, tailored business advisory support, strategic grant capital, and access to a strong network of experts and partners.

For its fourth cohort, the program will offer successful Fellows a grant of up to $30,000, following a rigorous three-month fellowship marked by clearly defined milestones around impact, scalability, and sustainability. Past cohorts have seen $5,000 awarded to 10 outstanding fellows, with additional funding tied to performance and business viability.

The programme addresses five core areas in its evaluation:

• Relevance: How urgent and impactful is the problem being solved?
• Innovation: Is the idea novel or an improved, unique solution?
• Impact: What is the scale and depth of potential impact?
• Scalability: Can the solution be replicated or expanded in new markets?
• Profitability: Is the business model commercially viable?

Benefits of the SIF Fellowship include:

• Seed funding of up to $30,000
• Go-to-market and brand management support
• Legal assistance (IP, patents, etc.)
• Business advisory and consulting services
• Access to a community of impact-focused stakeholders

Altogether, these offerings are valued at over $100,000 per selected participant, equipping them to build resilient, scalable businesses that will grow and thrive across the continent.

If you’re a young African entrepreneur or innovator building a solution for social good, this is your chance to access the support you need to make a lasting impact.