Written by ActionAid Nigeria has opened applications for its Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) 2026, offering grants of up to ₦20 million per selected initiative to women’s rights organisations and networks in Nigeria.
The fund supports creative and innovative interventions that advance the rights of women and girls, with a focus on approaches that can address gender inequality, strengthen advocacy and contribute to systemic change.
The opportunity is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Project. Up to five innovative ideas will be supported in this funding round.
Applications close on October 12, 2026, at midnight.
About the Strategic Innovation Fund
The Strategic Innovation Fund is designed to help women’s rights organisations develop and test new approaches to persistent gender-related challenges in Nigeria.
ActionAid Nigeria says innovation under the fund can take different forms, including:
- A new approach to an existing problem
- Adaptation of an existing solution
- Use of technology
- Community-driven methods
- New partnership models
- Advocacy approaches
- Other creative strategies that can improve outcomes for women and girls
The fund is intended to support ideas that can be tested, strengthened and potentially scaled.
What Does the Fund Support?
Proposed initiatives should focus on advancing the rights of women and girls.
Areas highlighted in the call include:
Violence Against Women and Girls
Projects can address issues relating to violence against women and girls and develop innovative approaches to prevention, protection or advocacy.
Women in Conflict and on the Move
The fund is interested in interventions that protect women and girls affected by conflict, displacement or migration.
Women’s Economic Justice and Empowerment
Organisations can propose initiatives focused on women’s economic rights, empowerment and access to opportunities.
Women’s Political Participation and Leadership
The fund also supports innovative approaches that promote women’s participation and leadership in public life, including policy advocacy and influencing.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to women’s rights organisations and women’s rights networks operating in Nigeria.
To be eligible, an applicant must:
- Be a women’s rights organisation or women’s rights network.
- Be women-led.
- Operate in Nigeria.
- Propose an intervention that is innovative, creative, strategic and impactful for women and girls.
- Show how the proposed intervention will advance gender equality and gender justice.
- Demonstrate how the initiative can contribute to systemic change.
- Explain how the proposed work complements existing efforts.
- Show potential for the intervention to be scaled.
- Demonstrate the capacity to implement the project within a relatively short period and achieve measurable results.
Priority Groups
ActionAid Nigeria says it particularly wants to hear from organisations developing innovative programmes for structurally excluded groups.
These include:
- Women and girls with disabilities
- Women and girls affected by conflict
- Women and girls on the move or returnees
- Female inmates
- Survivors of gender-based violence
- Out-of-school girls
- Elderly women
- Women in politics
Organisations working with other structurally excluded groups can also apply if their proposed intervention meets the fund’s objectives.
How Much Funding Is Available?
ActionAid Nigeria will award up to five innovative ideas in this funding round.
Each selected idea can receive a grant of up to ₦20 million.
The funded projects are expected to run for between six months and one year.
The ₦20 million figure is therefore the maximum grant per selected idea, not a ₦20 million prize pool divided among all successful applicants.
What Applicants Need to Submit
Applicants are required to complete the official Strategic Innovation Fund application template and submit it together with an organisational profile.
ActionAid Nigeria states that:
- Only one application will be accepted per organisation.
- Applications must be submitted using the required template.
- Applications that do not use the prescribed template may be disqualified.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
- ActionAid Nigeria will not cover costs incurred during the application process.
Important: AI Use Is Prohibited
Applicants should pay close attention to this requirement.
ActionAid Nigeria states that the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT or similar platforms to draft, structure or generate application narratives, project descriptions or advocacy goals is strictly prohibited.
The organisation says using AI for these parts of the application will lead to automatic disqualification.
Applicants should therefore write their own application responses and follow the instructions in the official template.
Application Timeline
The Strategic Innovation Fund call opened on September 23, 2026.
The deadline for submitting applications is:
October 12, 2026, at 12:00 midnight.
How to Apply
Applicants should download and complete the official SIF Application Template and the relevant grant budget template.
The completed Expression of Interest and required documents should be sent by email to:
RWVL.SIFGrant@actionaid.org
Use the subject line:
Strategic Innovation Fund September 2026
The official ActionAid Nigeria Feminist Hub page provides access to the application and budget templates.
Access the official Strategic Innovation Fund call and application templates
Key Details
Programme: Strategic Innovation Fund 2026
Organiser: ActionAid Nigeria
Funder: Global Affairs Canada
Project: Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership
Country: Nigeria
Who can apply: Women’s rights organisations and networks
Funding: Up to ₦20 million per selected idea
Number of awards: Up to five
Project duration: 6 months–1 year
Call opened: September 23, 2026
Deadline: October 12, 2026, midnight
Application method: Email submission using the official template