Apply to the STRATEGIC INNOVATION FUND 2026
Call for Expressions of Interest: Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) 2026
ActionAid Nigeria, through the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), invites Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs) in Nigeria to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
Executive Summary
Key DetailInformation
Issuing OrganisationActionAid Nigeria
DonorGlobal Affairs Canada (GAC)
Project TitleRenewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Project
Target AudienceWomen’s Rights Organisations (WROs) and Networks in Nigeria
Grant AmountUp to NGN 20,000,000 per selected proposal
Number of AwardsUp to 5 innovative ideas supported
Implementation Period6 months – 1 year
Opening Date23 September 2026
Closing Date12 October 2026 (12:00 Midnight WAT)
Program Purpose & Objectives
The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) provides Women’s Rights Organisations with catalytic funding to design, test, and pilot creative approaches that advance the rights of diverse women and girls, strengthen advocacy, break structural barriers, and generate scalable solutions for transformative change.
Scope of Innovation
Eligible proposals must demonstrate creativity through one or more of the following:
New Approaches: Novel methods to tackle persistent gender equality challenges.
Solution Adaptation: Creative adaptation of proven models to new contexts.
Technology: Smart use of tech to expand outreach, safety, or advocacy.
Community Methodologies: Groundup, participatory strategies owned by local communities.
Strategic Partnerships: Unconventional collaboration models that multiply impact.
Innovative Advocacy: Fresh tactics for policy influence and accountability.
Core Focus Areas
Proposed interventions should address critical issues impacting women and girls in Nigeria, including:
Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG): Prevention, response, and survivor support.
Protection in Conflict & Displacement: Safeguarding women and girls in active conflict or on the move.
Economic Justice & Empowerment: Expanding sustainable livelihoods, resource control, and financial inclusion.
Political Participation & Leadership: Elevating women into leadership roles and civic decision-making.
Policy Advocacy & Systemic Reform: Influencing legislative frameworks and institutional practices.
Cross-Cutting Gender Issues: Other emerging or intersectional rights challenges affecting women and girls.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for consideration under this call, applicants must satisfy the following:
Organizational Status: Be a registered, women-led Women’s Rights Organisation (WRO) or Women’s Rights Network operating within Nigeria.
Innovative Design: Propose an intervention that is visibly creative, strategic, and impactful.
Gender Justice Alignment: Explicitly demonstrate how the intervention advances gender equality and challenges unequal power structures.
Systemic Impact: Show how the idea complements existing initiatives while driving broader institutional or social change.
Scalability: Outline clear potential for the model to be expanded, replicated, or institutionalized.
Execution Capacity: Demonstrate technical and financial capacity to execute the project within 6 to 12 months and achieve measurable impact.
Priority Groups
ActionAid Nigeria prioritizes innovative ideas addressing the needs of structurally excluded populations, including:
Women and girls with disabilities
Women and girls affected by conflict, internal displacement, or returnees
Female inmates
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) victims and survivors
Out-of-school girls
Elderly women
Women pursuing or holding political office
Application Requirements & Submission
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following via email:
Completed Expression of Interest (EOI) using the official application template.
Comprehensive Organisational Profile.
Application Submission Guidelines
Email Recipient: RWVL.SIFGrant@actionaid.org
Email Subject Line: Strategic Innovation Fund September 2026
Deadline: 12 October 2026 at 12:00 Midnight (WAT)
Important Terms & Conditions
STRICT COMPLIANCE NOTICE REGARDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Applicants are expressly prohibited from using Artificial Intelligence tools (including ChatGPT or similar generative platforms) to draft, structure, or generate application narratives, project descriptions, or advocacy goals. Demonstrated use of AI tools for narrative generation will result in immediate disqualification.
One-Application Limit: Only one application per organization will be reviewed. Submitting multiple entries will disqualify the applicant.
Mandatory Template: Applications submitted without using the official ActionAid Nigeria EOI template will be automatically disqualified.
Cost Non-Refundability: ActionAid Nigeria accepts no liability or responsibility for costs incurred by applicants during the preparation and submission process.
Notification: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the next stage of the evaluation process.
