USD 2 million grant to Kenyan nonprofits and social enterprises

USD 2 million grant to Kenyan nonprofits and social enterprises

Google is offering USD 2 million grant to Kenyan nonprofits and social enterprises that have a compelling technology-based project that can improve society on a local or national scale.

The USD 2 million will be shared across four winners and eight runners up in the country. Applicants in what will be the first African Google Impact Challenge (GIC) must be a registered charity in Kenya.

“We believe technology can help local and national organizations to better reach their goals and solve some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, and we are eager to back people who are using technology in new ways to make a positive difference in their communities,” said Charles Murito, Country Manager, Google Kenya.

“We also want to highlight the healthy state of social enterprise in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa today, and encourage non-profits to consider how technology and innovation can help them reach their goals,” he added.

Applications are open for the next 6 months. The public will vote for the idea they believe has the most potential, and the judges will select 3 more winners after hearing in-person pitches from a set of finalists. The winning nonprofits and social enterprises will receive cash as well as access to guidance, technical assistance and mentorship from Google, which they are free to take up should they so choose.

The final awards ceremony will be held during the week of 26 November.

The judges include Manu Chandaria, Caroline Mutoko, Amb Tegla Loroupe, Tabitha Karanja, Janet Mawiyoo, Salim Mohammed as well as Charles Murito

Google is also simultaneously rolling out the GIC in Nigeria and South Africa, bringing the total grant offered in the three countries to USD 6 million.

At Google4Nigeria in July 2017, Google.org announced that it is investing USD 20 million in non-profits working across the continent over the next five years.

Many African non-profit organisations are using technology in innovative ways. However, access to funding and technological expertise are often a barrier to other, equally ambitious projects getting off the ground. Google hopes the Impact Challenge will change that and encourage the entire non-profit sector to think big.

Interested nonprofits and social enterprises in Kenya can apply here.