The Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) Äänit Prize 2026 for Social Impact projects ($100,000 Prize) – Opportunities For Africans

Application Deadline: 17 June 2026

Applications at the moment are open for the 2026 Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) Äänit Prize. The Äänit Prize helps initiatives that may ship constructive social influence for Africa’s most marginalised populations. The competitors is open to alumni of the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarship. Äänit means “common work” or “joint effort” within the language Koalib, a minority language spoken in Sudan.

This 12 months, the prize will fund as much as $100,000, and we’re increasing the scope to additionally recognise alumni who’re driving modern, impactful work inside current organisations, within the non-profit, for-profit or hybrid sectors.

How to Apply

Step 1: Indicate curiosity (20 May 2026 – 17 June 2026)

Submit a brief motivation explaining why your mission, enterprise or thought is socially impactful. Tell us how you propose to grasp it and why you’re the best individual/workforce that has what it takes to make it occur.

 Step 2: Wait to be invited to apply

We will evaluate the entire indications of curiosity after which invite candidates to submit full purposes. We will let you recognize in case you are not profitable.

 Step 3: Submit your application (1 July 2026 – 21 July 2026)

Submit your application. This will embody a written mission assertion, a mission/marketing strategy (most of 12 pages) and related supporting paperwork. All purposes will probably be evaluated by reviewers with related expertise and experience.

 Step 4: Prepare to pitch

The longlisted candidates will probably be invited to an interview within the week of 17 August 2026, which is able to embody a brief pitch that builds on the worth proposition of your written application.

 Step 5: Iterate and enhance

The candidates invited to the ultimate spherical will obtain written feedback. They may have 48 hours to enhance their proposals and report a two-minute pitch to submit.

 Step 6: Winners determined

The shortlisted candidates’ purposes will probably be despatched to an exterior, unbiased panel of judges. They will make a remaining resolution on what number of winners to decide on, and easy methods to allocate the prize cash.

The winners will probably be knowledgeable after which introduced publicly at a celebration on 18 September 2026.

* Finalists should be out there on-line or in individual to attend the prize giving ceremony on 18 September 2026 and to attend a press junket the day prior 17 September 2026. Finalists should consent to having their pictures and ventures shared within the media.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) Äänit Prize