West Africa Democracy Fund 2026
TrustAfrica
Quick Facts
A word from Eli, founder of Rise Africa Scholars
MSc Information Security — Unicaf Scholar
While you wait for a fully funded opportunity, don’t put your education on hold. I completed my MSc through Unicaf — studying online from Nairobi while working full-time. The tuition discount made it genuinely affordable, and the degree is from an accredited UK university.
If you’re serious about advancing your career now, I’d encourage you to explore it. I only recommend what I’ve used myself.
About This Scholarship
The West Africa Democracy Fund 2026 offers grants up to $500,000 to civil society groups, youth organizations, and consortia working to strengthen democratic institutions and governance across West Africa. Supported by the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations, the fund prioritizes projects that amplify citizen voices, improve accountability, and foster inclusive governance systems.
What This Scholarship Covers
- Grant funding up to $500,000, project support
- Regional partnerships
Who Can Apply
- 1 Organization must be legally registered
- 2 Must have experience in governance, democracy, citizen engagement, or political participation
- 3 Must demonstrate strong financial management and past experience handling similar grants
- 4 Work must focus on Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, or Togo, or be a regional group covering these countries
- 5 For consortia, the lead organization must have project or regranting experience
- 6 Projects must not support general operations, partisan politics, specific law lobbying, or sanctioned groups