Applications Open for SheConnects Digital Accelerator 2026
Organisations working to improve women’s access to digital tools, services, and opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa can now apply for the SheConnects Digital Accelerator 2026.
The programme has opened its Accelerator Round 2 funding call, which is focused on supporting high-impact digital solutions that help women and girls participate meaningfully in the digital world. Successful applicants may receive funding ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 1 million for an 18-month implementation period.
This is a major opportunity for non-profit organisations, civil society groups, mission-driven businesses, academic institutions, and consortia that already have proven models and are ready to scale. The programme is looking for solutions that do more than provide access to technology. Applicants must show how their digital interventions will improve real-life outcomes for women, children, households, and communities.
The closing date for applications is 8 July 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.
About the SheConnects Digital Accelerator
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator: Africa supports organisations that are using digital technology to improve women’s lives and livelihoods. The programme aims to strengthen women’s meaningful digital participation while building evidence on what works across African communities.
Round 2 of the accelerator is centred on Partnerships for Women’s Digital Empowerment at Scale. The programme is especially interested in organisations that can combine strong technology, trusted partnerships, inclusive design, and practical delivery models to reach women in different local contexts.
The selected projects must be able to demonstrate a credible pathway to reach at least 50,000 women users within 18 months.
Funding Available
Successful applicants may receive grant funding between:
USD 500,000 and USD 1 million
The funding is intended to support organisations that are ready to scale proven digital solutions. This means applicants should already have a tested model, a clear implementation plan, strong organisational capacity, and evidence that their approach can grow beyond a small pilot.
The grant period is expected to run for 18 months, giving selected organisations time to expand their work, strengthen partnerships, collect evidence, and improve delivery.
Priority Areas for the Funding Call
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator is looking for digital solutions that can improve outcomes in important areas affecting women and their families.
Priority areas include:
1. Women’s and Children’s Health
Projects may focus on digital tools that improve health information, maternal and child health, nutrition, access to services, or community-based health support.
2. Education and Learning Outcomes
The programme is also interested in digital solutions that support better educational outcomes for children and young people, especially where women and caregivers play an important role.
3. Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Economic Opportunity
Applicants may propose solutions that help women improve income, resilience, agricultural productivity, market access, financial inclusion, or household economic stability.
The strongest proposals will clearly connect digital technology to measurable improvements in people’s lives. Projects that only focus on general digital access, device distribution, or increasing user numbers without clear sector outcomes may not qualify.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants may include:
- Non-profit organisations
- Civil society organisations
- Community-based organisations
- Mission-driven for-profit entities
- Academic institutions
- Collaborative partnerships or consortia
- Organisations working across Sub-Saharan Africa
Government agencies and multilateral institutions are not eligible to apply as the main or lead applicant, but they may be involved as sub-grantees or partners where allowed.
Each organisation may submit only one proposal as the lead applicant, although it may participate in more than one partnership.
What the Programme Is Looking For
The accelerator is designed for organisations that have the ability to scale. Applicants should be able to show that their project is practical, inclusive, safe, and suitable for communities with different levels of digital access.
Strong applications should demonstrate:
- A clear women-centred design approach
- Evidence that the model has already been tested
- A realistic plan to reach 50,000 or more women users
- Strong partnerships with community, government, private sector, or civil society actors
- A clear sustainability plan beyond the funding period
- Practical use of digital technology in low-resource settings
- Responsible use of artificial intelligence, where AI is included
- Safeguards for privacy, safety, accessibility, and inclusion
The programme is not simply looking for digital products. It is looking for solutions that understand women’s lived realities, barriers, risks, and opportunities.
Eligible Delivery Models
Applicants may use one or both of the following delivery models:
Last Mile Service Providers
This model uses trusted community-based actors who already work closely with women and households. These may include community health workers, agricultural extension officers, women’s savings groups, local NGOs, or education facilitators.
Last Mile Service Providers can help with trust-building, onboarding, training, support, and follow-up.
Direct-to-Participant Models
This model delivers services directly to women through digital platforms. These platforms must have clear plans for onboarding, engagement, retention, privacy, data protection, and support in low-connectivity environments.
The strongest projects may combine both models to improve reach, trust, and long-term impact.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be assessed using four key areas, each carrying equal weight.
Digital Technology Integration
Applicants must show how their digital tools are practical, inclusive, affordable, and accessible. The solution should consider barriers such as connectivity, language, literacy, disability inclusion, and cost.
Inclusive Design and Safe Use
Projects must be designed around women’s needs and safety. This includes privacy, protection from gender-based violence risks, accessibility for low-literacy users, and safeguards against digital harm.
Partnership Networks
Strong proposals should include partnerships that support outreach, implementation, sustainability, and scale. These may include community groups, civil society organisations, private sector partners, or government-linked structures.
Credible Pathway to Scale
Applicants must show how they will realistically reach at least 50,000 women users within the implementation period. This should be backed by evidence, cost planning, delivery capacity, and a strong growth strategy.
Documents Required for Application
Applicants should prepare the following:
- Completed technical application form
- Detailed budget
- Budget narrative
- Proof of organisational registration
- Proposal documents in English
- Supporting information showing capacity, partnerships, and implementation readiness
Applicants should carefully review the official Request for Applications before submitting.
What the Funding Will Not Support
The programme will not prioritise projects that focus mainly on:
- Building infrastructure only
- Device distribution only
- Digital literacy curriculum development only
- Customer acquisition without real sector outcomes
- Projects that do not clearly improve women’s health, education, livelihoods, or economic outcomes
This means applicants must show a clear link between digital technology and meaningful impact.
Key Dates
Application deadline: 8 July 2026
Submission time: 11:59 PM EDT
Expected selection notification: Mid-August 2026
Expected award start date: January 2027
Applicants are encouraged to submit early and avoid waiting until the final day.
How to Apply for the SheConnects Digital Accelerator 2026
Interested organisations should apply through the official SheConnects Digital Accelerator application page hosted by CARE.
Before applying, applicants should:
- Read the full Request for Applications carefully.
- Confirm that the organisation meets the eligibility requirements.
- Prepare a strong technical proposal.
- Develop a realistic budget and budget narrative.
- Show how the solution will reach at least 50,000 women users.
- Explain how the project will remain safe, inclusive, and sustainable.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator 2026 comes at a time when digital inclusion is becoming more important for development, education, health access, and economic participation. Across many communities, women still face barriers such as limited connectivity, high data costs, low digital literacy, safety risks, and social norms that restrict their access to technology.
This funding call creates an opportunity for African organisations to scale practical solutions that respond to those challenges. It is especially valuable for organisations that already understand local communities and have the partnerships needed to deliver digital services safely and effectively.
For NGOs, social enterprises, academic institutions, and women-focused innovation teams, this is a strong opportunity to secure major funding, expand impact, and contribute to a more inclusive digital future for women across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Final Reminder
Applications for the SheConnects Digital Accelerator 2026 close on 8 July 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Organisations with proven digital solutions for women’s empowerment, health, education, agriculture, livelihoods, or economic inclusion should review the official application requirements and submit their proposals before the deadline.
