Opportunities

Funding, programmes, competitions and events for entrepreneurs and NGOs across the MENA region. Every listing is read by a person before it appears.

Featured

Umbrella500 Impact Awards 2026

CompetitionUmbrella500

Three awards for green startups, community initiatives and content creators across the wider MENA region. Entries are open now, and you can apply in Arabic, English or French.

MENA regionGeneralFor entrepreneurs and NGOsvia SPARK Innovation Hub

See the details →

develoPPP Classic Ideas Competition for Company Led Development Projects

FundingGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Germany's development ministry co-finances projects where an established company's commercial interest meets a measurable development benefit in a partner country. The eligible-country list covers fourteen states across the Middle East and North Africa, including every SPARK priority country, and applications go through one of two implementing organisations. The ideas competition opens twice a year and the current window is accepting submissions.

Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, YemenGeneralFor entrepreneursvia GIZ

See the details →

Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship for Mid Career Professionals and Academics

ProgrammeUK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

A five month research fellowship at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for mid career professionals and academics from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria and other eligible countries. Living expenses, a return economy airfare and a research allowance are covered by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, TurkeyGeneralFor NGOsvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Whitley Awards 2027 for Grassroots Conservation Leaders

FundingWhitley Fund for Nature

One year of project funding, professional media support and peer learning for grassroots conservation leaders who are nationals of the country where they work. Open to mid-career conservationists at locally incorporated NGOs, charities and universities across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Libya and much of North Africa, working to protect threatened ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, YemenClimate adaptationFor NGOsvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Grants for Socio-Economic Recovery and Local Development at Jordan's Abila and Mukawir Heritage Sites

FundingItalian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Amman, with European Union co-funding

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation is funding non-profit organisations to work with communities around two archaeological sites in Jordan: Abila in Irbid Governorate and Mukawir in Madaba. Projects combine heritage awareness and site rehabilitation with short-term employment schemes, vocational training and sustainable tourism. Local NGOs rooted in the two governorates are explicitly preferred, alone or with national or international partners. Co-funded by the European Union.

JordanGeneralFor NGOsvia AICS Amman (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation)

See the details →

Doria Feminist Fund Grants for Feminist Groups and Collectives across the MENA Region

FundingDoria Feminist Fund

The Doria Feminist Fund supports feminist collectives, groups and organisations across the Middle East and North Africa, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen. It offers core, project and knowledge-production grants covering gender-based violence prevention, economic empowerment, health and rights, legal reform and movement building. Registration is not required and unregistered collectives are welcome. Applications are accepted in Arabic, English or French.

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, YemenGeneralFor NGOsRolling — no fixed datevia Doria Feminist Fund

See the details →

UNICEF Venture Fund Equity-Free Investment for Open-Source Technology Startups

FundingUNICEF, through the UNICEF Venture Fund and Office of Innovation

The UNICEF Venture Fund invests in early-stage, for-profit technology startups building open-source solutions with a working prototype, and adds a year of hands-on mentoring from its technical team. No equity is taken. Companies must be registered in a UNICEF programme country, a list covering essentially the whole MENA region plus Turkey, and show potential to improve the lives of vulnerable children. Applications are reviewed continuously through a rolling call.

Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, TurkeyGeneralFor entrepreneursRolling — no fixed datevia UNICEF Venture Fund

See the details →

SMEX Digital Rights Fund for West Asia and North Africa

FundingSMEX

SMEX runs a rolling rapid-response fund for people and organisations protecting digital rights across West Asia and North Africa. It backs work countering censorship, surveillance, harmful platform moderation and attacks on online expression. Unusually, individuals, informal groups and unregistered collectives are eligible alongside established organisations, and there is no fixed application cycle so proposals can be submitted at any time.

Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, YemenGeneralFor NGOsRolling — no fixed datevia SMEX

See the details →

DIV Fund Grants for Evidence Driven Innovations in Low and Middle Income Countries

FundingDIV Fund

An open innovation fund backs pilots, rigorous testing and large-scale expansion of solutions that measurably improve the lives of people living in poverty. Non-profits, social enterprises, businesses, universities and research institutions may all apply, and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year rather than against a closing date. Projects must address a challenge in a low- or middle-income country, which covers most of the Middle East and North Africa.

Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, TurkeyGeneralFor entrepreneurs and NGOsRolling — no fixed datevia VC4A

See the details →

Youth Delegation to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals in Geneva, with Travel Grants

EventChemicals and Waste Youth Platform (CWYP), with UNEP

The Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, working with UNEP, is selecting young delegates to represent children and youth at the first international conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals in Geneva, preceded by the Global Youth Forum on Chemicals and Waste. Selected delegates from low- and middle-income countries can have travel, accommodation and visa costs covered; a partially funded track and a registration-only track are also open.

Open worldwideWasteFor NGOsvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) 2026, Fourth Edition

CompetitionSaudi Water Authority

An international competition from Saudi Arabia's national water authority for innovators, startups, NGOs, research institutes and utilities working on desalination, water reclamation, conservation, digital water management and wastewater solutions. Open worldwide with no entry fee, it rewards standout water innovations with cash prizes and support to pilot and scale them.

Open worldwideWaterFor entrepreneurs and NGOsvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

IRENA Youth Forum 2027, Eighth Edition, for Renewable Energy Innovators and Advocates

EventInternational Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

A global forum from the International Renewable Energy Agency for young people working on the energy transition, from entrepreneurs and researchers to civil society advocates. Selected participants join panels, workshops and peer exchange with renewable energy leaders and policymakers from around the world.

Open worldwideGreen energyFor entrepreneurs and NGOsvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Middle East Regional Cooperation Programme for Applied Research and Innovation Partnerships

FundingUS Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Middle East Regional Cooperation Programme

Funding for joint applied research and innovation projects that tackle shared regional challenges and show a clear route to application, commercialisation and wider adoption. Every project must bring together an Israeli organisation and at least one organisation from an eligible Middle East or North African country or territory.

MENA regionGeneralFor entrepreneurs and NGOsvia Grants.gov

See the details →

Climate Resilience Awards for Business 2026

CompetitionWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Global Resilience Partnership (GRP)

Independent recognition for businesses whose projects strengthen climate resilience, across infrastructure, water stewardship, agriculture and food systems, and protecting people. Open to companies of any size anywhere, whether they are adapting their own operations or selling resilience solutions to others.

Open worldwideClimate adaptationFor entrepreneursvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Entrepreneurs for Resilience 2027 from the Swiss Re Foundation: Funding and Advisory for Healthcare Social Enterprises in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

FundingSwiss Re Foundation

The tenth edition of the Swiss Re Foundation's Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme backs for-profit and hybrid social enterprises that combine physical clinics with digital tools to bring affordable primary healthcare to underserved communities. Shortlisted ventures receive pilot funding and technical assistance, and finalists share a larger pool of blended finance over two years of implementation.

Open worldwideGeneralFor entrepreneursvia VC4A

See the details →

Digital Science Catalyst Grant 2026 for Agentic AI Research Tools

FundingDigital Science

A grant programme from research-technology company Digital Science backing early-stage agentic AI tools that support researchers, from rough prototypes to well-formed concepts. Open to founders, research teams and individual innovators anywhere in the world.

Open worldwideGeneralFor entrepreneursvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Arab Impact Summit 2026 — Amman

EventAlfanar

A two-day regional convening in Amman bringing together social entrepreneurs, NGOs, investors, philanthropists, policymakers and ecosystem builders from across the Arab world. Registration of interest is open now.

MENA regionGeneralFor entrepreneurs and NGOsvia Alfanar

See the details →

Entrepreneurs Investment Program 2026 at the Global Entrepreneurship Festival in Cairo

ProgrammeGlobal Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) with Entrepreneurship Village (E-Village)

Training, a startup clinic and a live pitch to investors in Cairo for founders at any stage, from idea to revenue, with seed investment and incubation for the businesses selected. Free to apply from any country, but shortlisted founders must attend the Global Entrepreneurship Festival in Cairo in person, and the investment comes with equity and in-kind terms worth reading closely.

Egypt, Open worldwideGeneralFor entrepreneursvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Miller Center Accelerator for Social Enterprises, Cohort Starting 2027

ProgrammeMiller Center for Global Impact, Santa Clara University

Six months of one to one executive mentoring and a curriculum built around your own business, for social enterprises ready to scale. Delivered entirely online and free to participants, with a focus on enterprises advancing women's economic power, climate resilience, or both.

Open worldwideGeneralFor entrepreneursvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

GEAF Ambassador Programme, 2027 Cohort, for Community Environmental Leaders

ProgrammeGreen Earth Action Foundation

A six month programme for people leading environmental action in their own communities, run by a Geneva based non profit accredited to the UN Environment Programme. Ambassadors receive one to one mentoring and expert led training, and the local project they design is funded and delivered with the foundation's support.

Open worldwideClimate adaptationFor NGOsvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

D-Prize Global Competition 2026: Seed Grants to Launch Organisations Distributing Proven Poverty Solutions

FundingD-Prize

D-Prize funds first-time founders to launch a new for-profit or non-profit organisation that distributes an existing, evidence-backed intervention in health, education, agriculture, water or governance. Open to applicants anywhere in the world who plan to live and work in a developing country, with three submission rounds across the autumn.

Open worldwideGeneralFor entrepreneursvia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Radical AI Founders Masterclass 2026 from Radical Ventures

ProgrammeRadical Ventures

A four week virtual masterclass for AI researchers and technical founders building AI first companies, with sessions from AI pioneers alongside practical company building workshops. Free to attend from anywhere in the world, with a competitive Compute Cohort track that adds Google Cloud credits, dedicated GPU and TPU access, mentoring and legal support.

Open worldwideGeneralFor entrepreneursRolling — no fixed datevia Opportunity Desk

See the details →

Call for National Lead Organisations to Run the ClimateLaunchpad Green Business Ideas Competition

OpportunityClimateLaunchpad

ClimateLaunchpad, a cleantech business ideas competition running in more than fifty countries, is looking for organisations to host its national programme where it has no lead yet. In this region only Egypt, Morocco and Turkiye are taken, which leaves most of the Arab world open. No money comes with the role, so read what it asks of you.

MENA regionGeneralFor entrepreneurs and NGOsRolling — no fixed datevia ClimateLaunchpad

See the details →