Africa Catalyst
Africa Catalyst funds projects that strengthen engineering bodies in sub-Saharan Africa through capacity building, accreditation, training, and best practice sharing to advance the engineering profession and local development.
Funder: Royal Academy of Engineering
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to £100,000 per project for one year; two grant size options: up to £50k or up to £100k; typically 6 projects funded per round.
Summary: Supports professional engineering bodies in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen engineering capacity, share best practices, and promote the profession through targeted grants and initiatives.
Key Information: Only not-for-profit engineering organizations in eligible sub-Saharan African countries may apply; UK partner required.
Description
Africa Catalyst is a grant programme by the Royal Academy of Engineering aimed at strengthening professional engineering bodies in sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative provides targeted funding for projects that build internal capacity, promote best practices, foster accreditation, and enhance training and professional development opportunities for local engineers. Since 2016, Africa Catalyst has supported over 30 institutions with projects spanning policy development, student and graduate training, promotion and upskilling of women in engineering, STEM education outreach, and harmonization and accreditation of engineering education. The programme supports both new pilot initiatives and the scaling or dissemination of successful previous projects, with the aim of creating self-sustaining, transparent, and influential professional engineering bodies that can drive national and regional development.
