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Strategic Innovation Fund for Advancing Women and Girls’ Rights (Nigeria)

Deadline: 13-Feb-2026

ActionAid Nigeria, supported by Global Affairs Canada, offers the Strategic Innovation Fund to support innovative interventions that advance the rights of women and girls. Eligible women-led organizations can receive grants of up to NGN 20,000,000 for initiatives implemented within six months to one year, focusing on gender equality, justice, and transformative solutions with scalable impact across Nigeria.

Overview of the Fund

The Strategic Innovation Fund supports women’s rights organizations in Nigeria to pilot bold and creative initiatives addressing persistent gender inequalities. The program encourages innovative approaches that challenge barriers, strengthen advocacy, introduce new models or technologies, and create transformative change in the lives of women and girls.

Thematic Priorities

  • Advancing the rights of women and girls in Nigeria

  • Gender equality and gender justice

  • Violence against women and girls

  • Protection of women and girls in conflict situations or on the move

  • Women’s economic justice and empowerment

  • Strengthening political participation and leadership of women

  • Policy advocacy and influencing decision-making

  • Piloting new ideas, models, and technologies

  • Generating scalable and transformative solutions

Funding Details

  • Up to five innovative initiatives will be supported per funding round

  • Maximum grant per initiative: NGN 20,000,000

  • Project duration: six months to one year

  • Funding supports the development, testing, and implementation of creative interventions with measurable impact

Who is Eligible?

  • Women-led organizations and networks operating in Nigeria

  • Capacity to implement innovative, strategic, and impactful initiatives

  • Ability to demonstrate how proposed initiatives advance gender equality and justice

  • Initiatives should complement existing efforts and achieve measurable short-term impact

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

  • Pilot interventions addressing systemic barriers to women’s rights

  • Strengthen advocacy and influence policy change

  • Introduce innovative models, tools, or technologies to support women and girls

  • Demonstrate potential for scalability to expand successful initiatives for broader impact

  • Contribute to long-term transformative change across Nigerian communities

How to Apply

  1. Confirm eligibility as a women-led organization or network in Nigeria

  2. Develop a project proposal aligned with thematic priorities and fund objectives

  3. Outline measurable goals, anticipated impact, and scalability potential

  4. Submit proposal according to ActionAid Nigeria’s guidelines and deadlines

  5. Ensure capacity to implement projects within six months to one year

Common Mistakes & Tips

  • Failing to demonstrate innovation or strategic value in proposals

  • Proposing initiatives without clear gender equality or justice outcomes

  • Limited capacity to implement projects within the specified timeframe

  • Insufficient planning for scalability and long-term impact

  • Weak integration with existing women’s rights advocacy efforts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Who can apply? Women-led organizations and networks operating in Nigeria.

  2. What is the maximum grant? NGN 20,000,000 per initiative.

  3. How long are projects funded for? Six months to one year.

  4. How many initiatives will be selected? Up to five per funding round.

  5. What types of interventions are supported? Innovative initiatives addressing gender equality, justice, advocacy, protection, empowerment, and systemic change.

  6. Are scalability and measurable impact required? Yes, proposals should demonstrate potential for scaling and short-term measurable results.

  7. Can existing programs apply? Yes, provided proposed interventions complement current efforts and introduce innovation.

Conclusion

The Strategic Innovation Fund by ActionAid Nigeria empowers women-led organizations to pilot innovative and transformative interventions that advance the rights of women and girls. By supporting scalable, high-impact initiatives, the fund promotes systemic change, strengthens advocacy, and contributes to long-term gender equality and justice across Nigeria.

For more information, visit AAN.