Empowering Women through Education and Agriculture

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We are inviting applications for Education and Community Development and Climate Smart Agriculture funding proposals. 

Since we have reduced the number of projects that we fund each year to one per funding stream we really want to make sure that people only apply if they have a reasonable chance of getting funding. We know how much time and effort, as well as hope, is put into grant applications so we’ve tried to create clear criteria so you can understand if the fund is a good fit for your group.

 Please also see the FAQ page for further explanations and definitions of the criteria.

 As part of our commitment to ensuring a fair and balanced distribution of funding across our members, we are unable to accept applications from India or Tanzania in this funding round. We have funded multiple projects in these countries in recent years and, with a limited number of grants available annually, are prioritising geographical balance at this time. 

Climate Smart Agriculture 

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a set of farming practices which are designed to increase the resilience and productivity of land affected by climate change. There are three main outcomes that CSA must achieve: increased productivity and income sustainability, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation and building resilience to climate change. 

Organisations applying for agricultural funding must ensure that the proposed project aligns with Climate Smart or agroecological values. 

• Sustainable agricultural practices and training 
• Agroecology
• Indigenous and traditional growing practice
• Women-led agriculture projects 
• Access to land rights
• Seed saving 
• Access to market
• ACWW will not fund projects with heavy use of chemical pesticides.

Education and Community Development

Alongside vital access to education, community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people with the skills they need to effect change within their communities. These skills are often created through the formation of social groups working for a common agenda. 

Principles of community development include sustainable development, empowerment, inclusivity, social justice, human rights, participative democracy, and equality.

• Child and adult literacy
• Indigenous and local language promotion and revitalisation
• Financial literacy
• Adult education
• Skill training (including digital skills, entrepreneurship, and vocational training)
• Womens’ leadership within community
• Building women’s decision making capacity
• Small business training and loan schemes
• Revolving loan schemes
• Community green energy schemes.

Deadline for proposals is the 23rd of February 2026.