Green Funder Map · Southern Africa
Green money exists. Here's where, for us.
Green funds, climate grants, fellowships, and green-skills training open to youth in Eswatini, South Africa, and neighbouring Southern African countries (SADC). Each entry includes eligibility notes: country restrictions, age bands, and the minimum qualification you'll typically need.
Want a personalised shortlist? Take the founder quiz or tell us your qualification first.
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NYDA Grant Programme
Grant · South Africa · ages 18–35
R1,000 – R200,000
Min: No formal qualification
South African youth starting or growing a micro/small enterprise.
Eligibility
SA citizens, 18–35, business must be based in SA. No formal qualification required. Business viability is assessed.
SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency)
Programme · South Africa · ages 18+
Non-cash support + linkages
Min: No formal qualification
SA entrepreneurs: business advice, incubation, market access.
Eligibility
SA-registered businesses of any size. No qualification requirement. Free to access.
SEDCO (Eswatini)
Programme · Eswatini · ages 18+
Training, workspace, loans
Min: No formal qualification
Emaswati entrepreneurs: MSME development and financing.
Eligibility
Eswatini citizens/residents. Loan access requires a business plan; training is open.
Eswatini Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF)
Loan · Eswatini · ages 18–35
Up to E500,000 (low-interest loan)
Min: No formal qualification
Emaswati youth-owned enterprises.
Eligibility
Eswatini citizens 18–35, business registered in Eswatini. Requires a business plan and ID.
Anzisha Prize
Competition · Pan-African · ages 15–22
Up to $25,000 + fellowship
Min: No formal qualification
Very-young African entrepreneurs already running a venture.
Eligibility
Any African country including Eswatini & SA. Must be 15–22 and already trading. No qualification required.
Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme
Grant · Pan-African · ages 18+
$5,000 non-refundable seed + training
Min: No formal qualification
Any African entrepreneur with an early-stage business or idea.
Eligibility
Open to all 54 African countries (Eswatini, SA, Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana included). No degree requirement.
Mandela Washington Fellowship (YALI)
Fellowship · Pan-African · ages 25–35
Fully-funded 6-week US programme
Min: Matric / O-Level
Young African leaders in business, civic, or public management tracks.
Eligibility
Sub-Saharan African citizens 25–35, English proficient, resident in Africa. No degree required but leadership track record is.
YALI Regional Leadership Center, Southern Africa
Fellowship · Regional (SADC) · ages 18–35
Fully-funded in-person + online tracks
Min: Matric / O-Level
Southern African youth building leadership + entrepreneurship skills.
Eligibility
Citizens of SADC countries incl. Eswatini, SA, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Matric or equivalent.
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
Employment · South Africa · ages 18–34
Free, placement into a first job
Min: Matric / O-Level
SA youth with no work experience, matched to entry-level roles.
Eligibility
SA citizens 18–34, matric preferred (some pathways accept partial). Free to join.
YES (Youth Employment Service)
Employment · South Africa · ages 18–34
12-month paid work experience
Min: Matric / O-Level
SA youth needing their first CV entry.
Eligibility
SA citizens 18–34, unemployed. Matric is typical but not always required by host employer.
SETA Learnerships (SA)
Training · South Africa · ages 18–35
Monthly stipend + accredited certificate
Min: Matric / O-Level
SA youth wanting a paid path into a specific sector.
Eligibility
SA citizens. Minimum matric for most learnerships; some AET-level entry points exist.
Standard Bank Top Women / Basadi Programme
Grant · South Africa · ages 18+
Cash prize + business support
Min: Matric / O-Level
SA women entrepreneurs.
Eligibility
SA-registered women-owned businesses. Matric or trading history typically required.
Founders Factory Africa
Accelerator · Pan-African · ages 18+
Equity investment + hands-on build support
Min: Diploma
Early-stage African tech startups.
Eligibility
African-based founders. No formal degree required but a working product/team is expected.
MEST Africa
Accelerator · Pan-African · ages 21–35
1-year fully-funded training + up to $100k investment
Min: Degree+
African tech entrepreneurs.
Eligibility
Citizens of any African country. Bachelor's degree required. English proficient.
Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship
Fellowship · Regional (SADC) · ages 17+
Fully-funded undergrad + entrepreneurship track
Min: Matric / O-Level
Aspiring entrepreneurs from SA, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini.
Eligibility
Citizens of SA, Namibia, Botswana, or Eswatini. Applying to or in a partner university. Strong matric results.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Scholarship · Pan-African · ages 17–29
Fully-funded secondary → tertiary studies
Min: Matric / O-Level
Academically talented African youth with financial need.
Eligibility
African citizens, financial need, strong academic record. Some partners accept from matric level.
Kuehne Foundation Scholarships (SADC)
Scholarship · Regional (SADC) · ages 18–30
Fully-funded logistics diploma/degree
Min: Matric / O-Level
SADC youth entering logistics & supply-chain careers.
Eligibility
Citizens of SADC states. Matric minimum; academic merit assessed.
Google for Startups Africa: Black Founders Fund
Grant · Pan-African · ages 18+
$100k equity-free + support
Min: Diploma
Black-led African tech startups with early traction.
Eligibility
African-based, Black-led startups with a live product and users. No formal degree required.
AfriLabs Community Grants
Grant · Pan-African · ages 18+
Varies (typically $1k–$25k)
Min: No formal qualification
African innovators working out of an AfriLabs hub.
Eligibility
Any African country. Access through a local AfriLabs member hub (several in SA, hubs in Eswatini via partners).
Jack Ma Foundation Africa's Business Heroes
Competition · Pan-African · ages 18+
$1.5M prize pool
Min: No formal qualification
African entrepreneurs across any sector.
Eligibility
Any African country, business operating on the continent. No degree requirement.
UNICEF Yoma (Youth Agency Marketplace)
Training · Regional (SADC) · ages 15–35
Free learning + micro-earnings (ZAR/tokens)
Min: No formal qualification
African youth wanting free skills + small paid tasks via WhatsApp.
Eligibility
Open across many African countries incl. SA and Eswatini. Smartphone required. No qualification needed.
GreenMatter Fellowship (SA)
Fellowship · South Africa · ages 18+
Funded studies + biodiversity placement
Min: Diploma
Young people entering biodiversity and environmental careers.
Eligibility
SA citizens studying or working in an environmental field. Diploma level and up.
SANBI Groen Sebenza / Biodiversity Internships
Employment · South Africa · ages 18–35
Paid internship in conservation
Min: Matric / O-Level
SA youth wanting paid entry into conservation and environmental management.
Eligibility
SA citizens, unemployed youth. Matric minimum, some streams need a diploma.
Expanded Public Works: Environmental Programmes (SA)
Employment · South Africa · ages 18–35
Stipend work: clearing, restoration, waste
Min: No formal qualification
Entry-level paid environmental work with no qualification needed.
Eligibility
SA citizens, no qualification required. Recruited through local municipality and DFFE projects.
Eswatini Environment Authority youth & waste programmes
Programme · Eswatini · ages 18+
Training, permits, project support
Min: No formal qualification
Emaswati running recycling, waste, or conservation projects.
Eligibility
Eswatini residents. Permits and guidance for waste and environmental enterprises.
Eswatini National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard)
Programme · Eswatini · ages 18+
Market access, offtake, training
Min: No formal qualification
Young growers who need a reliable buyer for produce.
Eligibility
Eswatini growers, including small plots. No qualification required.
SEFA / Green Fund small enterprise finance (SA)
Loan · South Africa · ages 18+
R50,000 – R5m for green enterprises
Min: No formal qualification
Renewable energy, waste, water, and climate-smart agriculture businesses.
Eligibility
SA-registered businesses. Business plan and basic financials required.
SAYouth / Solar PV Green Skills learnerships
Training · South Africa · ages 18–34
Free accredited training + stipend
Min: Matric / O-Level
Solar PV install, energy efficiency, and green building skills.
Eligibility
SA citizens 18–34. Matric or NQF4 typical; some entry streams accept less.
SADC Green Climate Fund readiness & youth grants
Grant · Regional (SADC) · ages 18+
Project grants via accredited local partners
Min: No formal qualification
Community climate adaptation projects across SADC.
Eligibility
Applied through a national designated authority or accredited entity, not directly by individuals.
AgriSETA learnerships & climate-smart agriculture
Training · South Africa · ages 18–35
Stipend + accredited agriculture certificate
Min: No formal qualification
Paid training in crop, livestock, and climate-smart farming.
Eligibility
SA citizens. Several NQF2 entry points that need no matric.
Youth in Agroecology & Restoration (Pan-African)
Grant · Pan-African · ages 18–35
Micro-grants + training (AFR100 / GLFx partners)
Min: No formal qualification
Youth-led land restoration and agroecology groups.
Eligibility
African youth groups with a defined restoration site. No qualification required.
Always confirm eligibility on the funder's own site. Programmes, deadlines, and country lists change. Missing a programme that helps Southern African youth into green work? Tell us and we'll add it.