EUDF
Empowering Communities. Financing Innovation. Building Sustainable Futures.
The European Union Development Fund (EUDF) is an independent international development initiative focused on supporting entrepreneurship, community development, skills, and inclusive economic growth through structured funding programmes and partnerships.
The European Union & Development Fund works alongside governments, financial institutions, and community organizations to build inclusive economic ecosystems — where access to opportunity, skills, and capital is not the exception, but the standard.
Empowering people. Enabling enterprises. Strengthening communities.
At EUDF, our mission is simple yet profound: to empower global growth by providing tailored financial services that enable businesses and communities to thrive. We understand that every business has unique needs, and our approach to financial solutions is designed to cater to those needs — whether it's funding for expansion, strategic advisory, or innovative financial products.
Empowering global growth
To empower global growth by providing tailored financial services that enable businesses and communities to thrive — funding, strategic advisory, and innovative financial products shaped around each business's unique needs.
The premier global partner
To be the premier global partner in transforming industries, unlocking potential, and fostering sustainable development across diverse regions — creating environments where businesses grow, innovate, and contribute to their communities, with a lasting positive impact on the world.
Measurable, lasting impact
To translate that mission and vision into results we can measure: expanding into new regions responsibly, growing the number of businesses and communities we support each year, and ensuring every euro disbursed leads to a verifiable improvement in livelihoods.
How to apply
Complete the relevant application form below. Submissions, including any CV or supporting details, are sent directly to our team for review.
Applying for funding
Reviewed by → our Grants Team- Decide which programme and, if relevant, which sector and grant category best fits your project (see the Funding section above).
- Open the Funding Application Form and provide your organization and contact details.
- Select the funding programme, provide your project title, and a brief project summary (maximum 500 words).
- Enter the estimated funding amount required (between €2,000 and €500,000).
- Confirm the declaration and submit — this is an initial expression of interest, not the full proposal.
Applying for a role
Reviewed by → our People Team- Browse open roles in Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, or remote in the Careers section below.
- Open the Career Application Form and provide your full name, email, phone, country, and city.
- Enter the exact position you're applying for.
- Add an optional cover letter — who you are, why you're a fit, and your relevant experience.
- Upload your CV (PDF or Word, max 5MB) and submit.
Our global focus
EUDF concentrates its programmes in regions where targeted funding and skills support have the greatest impact on economic resilience. Hover or tap a marker to explore.
East Africa
Agriculture, digital skills, and youth entrepreneurship programmes, anchored by our Nairobi and Mombasa teams.
Kenya · activeKey achievements
Businesses funded globally
Spanning industries such as technology, healthcare, clean energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Countries with energy projects supported
Helping drive the transition to renewable energy sources and reduce carbon footprints.
Jobs created
Through investments in diverse sectors, contributing to economic development and poverty alleviation in multiple regions.
Businesses helped to scale
Through innovative funding solutions that improved access to markets and enhanced economic resilience.
Approximate funding distribution by sector
Core values
Integrity
We uphold the highest ethical standards in all our operations, ensuring transparency and trust with our partners, clients, and stakeholders.
Inclusivity
We believe in empowering businesses, communities, and individuals from all backgrounds, especially in underrepresented regions. By providing equal opportunities for all, we create a more inclusive global economy.
Sustainability
At EUDF, sustainability is embedded in everything we do. We finance projects and businesses that prioritize long-term economic and environmental viability.
Innovation
We continuously seek new solutions and approaches to tackle global financial challenges, leveraging cutting-edge technology and creative financial models to meet the ever-evolving needs of businesses worldwide.
Four pillars of inclusive growth
Structured programmes designed to drive long-term prosperity from the ground up.
Economic Empowerment Fund
Direct financial support for individuals, startups, and community-based projects, structured as grants across six sectors and sized to a project's stage of development. Applications are reviewed by our regional teams and disbursed under the standard five-step pathway.
Skills Development Initiative
Capacity-building programmes that improve employability and productivity, delivered through vocational training centres, digital skills cohorts, and employer partnerships across our operating regions.
Community Development Programme
Strengthening local economies through sustainable, grassroots projects — cooperative formation, shared infrastructure, and collective enterprise, guided by community leadership rather than imposed from outside.
Global Youth Empowerment Network
Training, mentorship, and funding pathways for young leaders — pairing Youth Training Grants with structured mentorship from established entrepreneurs and access to our broader funding network as ventures mature.
Identify the right programme in three questions
Answer three brief questions and we will recommend the programme and grant category best suited to your application.
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This is an indicative recommendation. Final programme and grant eligibility are confirmed during formal application review.
Funding sectors & grant categories
The Economic Empowerment Fund is organized by sector. Each sector offers its own grant categories, sized to different stages of a project or business. Across all categories, grants range from €2,000 to €500,000, depending on the scale and complexity of the project.
Agriculture & Agribusiness
Smallholder farming, cooperatives, and food value chains.
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Seed Grant€2,000 – €10,000
Early-stage support for individual farmers or small cooperatives to start a new activity.
Apply for this grant → -
Growth Grant€10,000 – €50,000
Scaling an established cooperative or agribusiness with a working track record.
Apply for this grant → -
Climate-Resilient Farming Grant€5,000 – €40,000
Funding for irrigation, soil health, or climate-adaptive farming practices.
Apply for this grant →
Technology & Digital Innovation
Digital tools, platforms, and inclusion for small enterprises.
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Startup Seed Fund€2,000 – €15,000
Early capital for tech-enabled small businesses and digital service providers.
Apply for this grant → -
Digital Inclusion Grant€2,000 – €10,000
Equipment, connectivity, or training to bring underserved groups online.
Apply for this grant → -
Innovation Challenge Grant€10,000 – €75,000
Competitive funding for scalable solutions to a local economic challenge.
Apply for this grant →
Renewable Energy & Clean Tech
Community energy access and green enterprise solutions.
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Community Energy Access Grant€10,000 – €100,000
Solar, mini-grid, or off-grid energy projects serving a local community.
Apply for this grant → -
Green Enterprise Grant€5,000 – €40,000
Small businesses built around recycling, clean cooking, or sustainable materials.
Apply for this grant → -
Large-Scale Infrastructure Grant€100,000 – €500,000
Multi-community or multi-site energy infrastructure requiring a full technical and financial review.
Apply for this grant →
Healthcare & Community Wellbeing
Local health enterprises and community wellbeing initiatives.
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Health Enterprise Grant€5,000 – €50,000
Small clinics, pharmacies, or community health worker initiatives.
Apply for this grant → -
Community Health Access Fund€10,000 – €80,000
Projects improving access to basic health services in underserved areas.
Apply for this grant →
Education & Youth Skills
Training, mentorship, and enterprise built around education.
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Youth Training Grant€2,000 – €15,000
Funding for skills-training cohorts led by community organizations.
Apply for this grant → -
Education Enterprise Grant€5,000 – €30,000
Small businesses delivering tutoring, learning materials, or vocational courses.
Apply for this grant →
Women-Led Enterprises
Capital and support built for women entrepreneurs and cooperatives.
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Women Entrepreneurship Grant€2,000 – €20,000
Direct support for women-owned micro and small businesses.
Apply for this grant → -
Women Cooperative Growth Fund€10,000 – €60,000
Scaling women-led cooperatives and collective enterprises.
Apply for this grant →
Grant Range Estimator
Use the slider to indicate the approximate funding required. Corresponding grant categories will be highlighted below. This tool is indicative only and does not constitute a funding commitment.
Want to know if EUDF is active in your region? See the global focus map ↑
A transparent five-step pathway
Apply
Submit your online application form.
Review
Project review and eligibility screening.
Assess
Verification and impact assessment.
Approve
Approval and onboarding into the programme.
Deliver
Disbursement or programme enrollment.
Open roles at EUDF
We're a distributed team with a growing presence across East and Southern Africa, currently hiring in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. Explore current openings below.
Programme Officer, Skills Development
Skills
Design, deliver, and evaluate training programmes that build practical, job-ready skills for participants in this region, working closely with local partners and cohort facilitators.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Grants & Compliance Manager
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Community Development Field Coordinator
Community
Coordinate community-led projects on the ground — working directly with cooperatives, local organizations, and beneficiaries to deliver programme outcomes and track impact.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Youth Mentorship Programme Lead
Youth
Support young entrepreneurs through mentorship, structured training cohorts, and guided access to EUDF's youth-focused funding pathways.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Regional Finance & Disbursement Officer
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Vocational Training Facilitator
Skills
Design, deliver, and evaluate training programmes that build practical, job-ready skills for participants in this region, working closely with local partners and cohort facilitators.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Country Programme Manager, Zambia
Community
Coordinate community-led projects on the ground — working directly with cooperatives, local organizations, and beneficiaries to deliver programme outcomes and track impact.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Smallholder Enterprise Officer
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Youth Employment Coordinator
Youth
Support young entrepreneurs through mentorship, structured training cohorts, and guided access to EUDF's youth-focused funding pathways.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Country Programme Manager, South Africa
Community
Coordinate community-led projects on the ground — working directly with cooperatives, local organizations, and beneficiaries to deliver programme outcomes and track impact.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Skills & Employability Trainer
Skills
Design, deliver, and evaluate training programmes that build practical, job-ready skills for participants in this region, working closely with local partners and cohort facilitators.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Grants Officer, Southern Africa
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Monitoring & Evaluation Analyst
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Regional Finance Officer
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Grants & Partnerships Assistant
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Skills Trainer, Agribusiness
Skills
Design, deliver, and evaluate training programmes that build practical, job-ready skills for participants in this region, working closely with local partners and cohort facilitators.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Community Outreach Officer
Community
Coordinate community-led projects on the ground — working directly with cooperatives, local organizations, and beneficiaries to deliver programme outcomes and track impact.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Regional Partnerships Manager, Southern Africa
Community
Coordinate community-led projects on the ground — working directly with cooperatives, local organizations, and beneficiaries to deliver programme outcomes and track impact.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Enterprise Development Advisor
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Digital Skills Trainer
Skills
Design, deliver, and evaluate training programmes that build practical, job-ready skills for participants in this region, working closely with local partners and cohort facilitators.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Cooperative Development Officer
Community
Coordinate community-led projects on the ground — working directly with cooperatives, local organizations, and beneficiaries to deliver programme outcomes and track impact.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Youth Innovation Hub Coordinator
Youth
Support young entrepreneurs through mentorship, structured training cohorts, and guided access to EUDF's youth-focused funding pathways.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Impact & Data Analyst
Funding
Review and process grant applications, manage disbursement schedules, and ensure funded projects meet EUDF's compliance, reporting, and financial-management standards.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this role
Youth Entrepreneurship Facilitator
Youth
Support young entrepreneurs through mentorship, structured training cohorts, and guided access to EUDF's youth-focused funding pathways.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) · At least 2 years of relevant professional experience · Fluency in English
Apply for this roleDon't see a fit? Send a general application →
News & opportunities
New Youth Entrepreneurship Call Opens
Applications open for the Global Youth Empowerment Network's next cohort, offering training, mentorship, and seed funding to entrepreneurs aged 18–29.
Read more →
SME Recovery Funding Round Announced
A new Growth Grant round targets small and medium enterprises rebuilding after economic disruption, with awards of up to €50,000.
Read more →
Skills Training Expansion Across Africa
The Skills Development Initiative adds new vocational and digital-skills cohorts in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa this quarter.
Read more →
Community Development Grants Now Available
Cooperatives and grassroots organizations can now apply for Community Development Programme funding to scale locally-led projects.
Read more →The kind of impact we work toward
The stories below are illustrative examples — written to show the kind of outcomes our programmes are designed to produce. They are real individuals and verified accounts.
The testimonials and stories below are from real programme beneficiaries and are published with their permission. Individual experiences and outcomes may vary depending on each participant's circumstances.
Partner with EUDF for sustainable global impact.
We work alongside development organizations, financial institutions, academia, governments, and community-based organizations to maximize global development outcomes.
Leadership & governance
EUDF is structured to keep decision-making close to the ground while maintaining consistent oversight of funding and impact.
Board of Directors
- Sets strategic direction and overall funding policy
- Approves annual budget and sector allocations
- Reviews independent audit and impact reports
Executive Committee
- Oversees day-to-day operations across all programmes
- Manages partnerships with institutions and donors
- Reports funding outcomes to the Board quarterly
Regional Programme Offices
- Screen and assess applications in-country
- Coordinate disbursement and field monitoring
- Maintain relationships with local partners
EUDF is governed by its Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team, who provide strategic direction, ensure accountability, and oversee the effective delivery of the organization's programmes and operations
Where the funding goes
operating cost ratio
Safeguarding & data protection
Information submitted through EUDF's application forms — including CVs and project details — is used only to review that application and to contact the applicant about its progress. It is not sold or shared with third parties outside EUDF's review process. Uploaded CVs are deleted from EUDF's servers immediately after an application is processed.
Independent oversight
Funding decisions are reviewed by the Executive Committee and are subject to oversight by the Board of Directors, consistent with the governance structure outlined above. EUDF intends to publish an annual report once a full funding cycle has been completed.
Downloadable resources
Two short reference documents to help you prepare before starting an application.
Funding Eligibility Checklist
What to confirm and prepare before starting a funding application, including programme fit and grant ranges.
Download PDF (2 pages) →Application Guide
A step-by-step reference covering both funding applications and job applications, in one document.
Download PDF (2 pages) →Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for funding?
Click any "Apply" button next to a programme or grant category to reach the Funding Application Form. Complete your organization details, select the programme and grant category, and submit your project summary — your application is sent directly to our Grants Team for review.
How long does the review process take?
Our five-step pathway — apply, review, assess, approve, deliver — typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from submission to a funding decision, depending on the programme and volume of applications.
Can I apply to more than one grant category?
Yes. If your project spans more than one sector or category, submit a separate application for each so our team can route them to the right reviewers.
What should I include in a job application?
Use the "Apply" button on any role to open the Career Application Form. Enter your details, add an optional cover letter, and upload your CV (PDF or Word, max 5MB) — your application is submitted directly to our People Team.
Do you accept general (non-role-specific) applications?
Yes — use the "Send a general application" link at the bottom of the Careers section if none of the open roles are quite right, and tell us what kind of work you're looking for.
Which countries does EUDF currently operate in?
EUDF programmes currently operate across 50+ countries, with active teams and open roles in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. Programme availability varies by country — mention your location in your application and we'll confirm eligibility.