A living stipend so you can go full-time on systems change
A lifetime fellowship for social entrepreneurs whose work changes a system rather than delivering a single product, including a West Africa office in Lagos covering Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Cameroon.
Use when
You lead a systems-level social venture, are registered and full time, and want the founder funded rather than the product.
Skip when
You are unregistered, part time, or your venture is a strong product rather than a change to how a system works - selection is on systems change, not product quality.
Status (8 Sep 2026): the most recent round closed on 1 September 2026 and no next-round date is published. Applications are described as accepted year-round but reviewed annually - confirm the next cut-off with the Ashoka West Africa office. Award: a needs-based living stipend, typically up to three years, plus lifetime fellowship membership and pro bono professional services. Applicants are expected to operate a registered organisation with early traction and to be full time.
Equity-free acceleration plus up to $500,000 follow-on in Morocco
Kigali's venture studio and early-stage investor
Mini-MBA and seed prizes for Cameroonian women entrepreneurs
