Here Are The Top 8 Opportunities You Should Apply For In March

Here are the top opportunities you shouldn’t miss in March.

It’s March and you already know what time it is: International Women’s Month plus loads of opportunities.

Are you in search of the next big opportunity that will elevate your career or business? Not to worry. We have carefully curated the top opportunities you should apply for in March.

1.Vital Voices Visionaries Program For Emerging Women Leaders 2024

The VV Visionaries program, is a partnership between Vital Voices Global Partnership and the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund, the charitable fund of Estée Lauder, to support the next generation of emerging leaders who are redefining leadership in their everyday lives. Together with the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund, we aim to champion women leaders across diverse sectors, industries, and experiences who want to create positive social impact in their communities and beyond.

When women advance, the world succeeds. Whether you are an entrepreneur, activist, non-profit leader, or someone with a bold vision for change, you can have a profound impact. We need leaders across every industry and every community who use their power, influence, and passion to make positive change. And we know that women’s leadership will accelerate progress in our communities, offices, and boardrooms.

Eligibility:

• Is at least 18 years old at the time of application and identifies as a woman
• Has an established social impact organization, business, initiative, OR
• Is a key decision-maker of their social impact organization, business, initiative, OR
• Has a clear vision for an organization, business, or initiative with an explicit social purpose
• Is proficient in English

Benefits:
Through participating in the VV Visionaries program, participants will:

• Complete the Vital Voices Leadership Journey, a 7-week virtual course focused on developing the soft skills required for leadership
• Learn lessons in leadership from Estée Lauder executives
• Receive a certificate of completion upon completing the fellowship
• Opportunity to participate in an annual in-person Summit
• Join the Vital Voices global network of more than 20,000 women leaders from around the world

Program Commitment

• Fully participate in the 7-week program, which includes 2-4 hours per week of live virtual sessions and weekly assignments. Participants should have no more than 2 absences to remain in good standing.
• Sessions are typically held on weekdays in the morning (Eastern Time).
• Submit regular updates to Vital Voices throughout the program and remain in contact with Vital Voices after the program to share success stories, conduct follow-up surveys about your progress, pursue further opportunities for awards or visibility, etc.

Program Dates
Cohort 6: June – July
Cohort 7: August – September
Cohort 8: October-November

Instructions:
Applications must be written in English, completed, and submitted by March 8th at 8 am ET.

To Apply: Visit the Official Webpage of the Vital Voices (VV) Visionaries Program

2. Harvard Global Health Institute Lead Fellowship Program

The 2024-2025 LEAD Fellowship, is a one-year fellowship designed to advance leadership skills in individuals from low- and middle-income countries and is now open for applications. Jointly offered by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) and the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the goal of the program is to support the continued development of women leaders in global health.

The 2024-2025 LEAD Fellowship program will consist of a 12-month virtual curriculum with a 4-week in-person experience in Spring 2025. Throughout their fellowship year, fellows will engage in one-on-one leadership coaching, mentorship, executive education courses, speaking events, leadership workshops, and networking.

Harvard LEAD Fellows have the autonomy to build their custom leadership development curriculums. They are connected to world-class faculty and senior mentors who offer instruction and guidance aligned with fellows’ specific interests and goals. LEAD fellows also engage in tailored leadership training programs as a cohort and are offered opportunities for speaking, networking, and independent project work. Each year, fellows graduate from the program having built a network of peers and mentors across Harvard University. The fellowship experience specifically aims to offer global health leaders time to reflect, connect, and explore uncharted territories.

Eligibility

We welcome applicants from all continents, regions, disciplines, sectors, and gender identities. Candidates nominate themselves by applying for the fellowship.

• Applicants must work full-time in the field of global health and have at least 15 years of professional experience beyond their education. Global health-related work completed as a university student does not count as professional experience.
• Applicants must have substantial leadership experience and demonstrate further potential.
• Applicants must have the support of their employer and a champion in their organization who serves as an internal mentor.
• Applicants must take a leave of absence (or equivalent) from their home institution during their in-residence experience for 4 weeks in April 2025.
• Applicants must be able to obtain a J-1 visa for travel to the United States in April 2025 and must be available to reside in Cambridge, MA for four weeks. NOTE: Visa fees, housing, and flights will be covered by the fellowship, and a living stipend will be provided for the time in the United States.
• In the two years before their fellowship at Harvard, candidates may not have participated in any full-time fellowship that lasted 4 months or longer.

All application materials are due by 5PM EST, Friday, March 15th, 2024

Fellows are only required to be free from work commitments during their time in residence for four weeks in April 2024.

Benefits

• During the in-residence month on campus, fellows will receive a living stipend for those four weeks. Visa fees, housing costs, flights to and from Cambridge, MA, and all course fees are also provided by the fellowship.

Selection Procedure:

• Applicants will be notified in May 2024 if selected for this position.
• The fellowship will run from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.

To Apply: Visit the Official Webpage of the Harvard Global Health Institute LEAD Fellowship Program

3. AWIEF and Victoria’s Secret Partner to Launch Growth Accelerator in Nigeria: Call for Applications

Implemented in 2017, AWIEF Growth Accelerator is a flagship business development programme designed to support high-growth-oriented women-owned or women-led ventures with high-level business development and growth strategy training, corporate advisory, mentorship and individualized support, networks, and access to finance.

In 2024, AWIEF’s partnership with Victoria’s Secret will provide twenty (20) women founders and/or leaders of innovative, growth-stage businesses based in Nigeria with the opportunity to participate in the seven-month, high-impact, investment readiness program.

The AWIEF Growth Accelerator in Nigeria targets multi-sector businesses. However, priority will be given to technology-based and tech-enabled businesses in catalytic sectors such as agriculture, health, education, creative industry, financial services, renewable energy, logistics, and climate-smart solutions.

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for selection, businesses must meet the following criteria:

Ownership: Women-owned (>51%).

OR

Leadership: Women-led at C-Suite or equivalent level.

OR

Product or service specifically or disproportionately benefits women.

Additionally, businesses must be:

• Based and operating in Nigeria.
• Highly innovative and scalable ventures.
• In the post-revenue stage.
• In operation for not less than three years.
• Owned or led by ambitious and committed women entrepreneurs.
• Seeking investment or funding to scale and expand.

The deadline for applications is 24 March 2024 at 11:59pm West Africa Time (WAT).

Click here to apply: //awieforum.typeform.com/awiefVS24

4. Growth4Her Readiness Accelerator Program

Growth4Her is a 6-month Investor Readiness Accelerator Program, open to women in West and Central Africa. G4Her seeks to bridge the gender financing gap in Africa by providing women entrepreneurs with the capacity and tools that enables them to transition from small to high potential fundable growth stage businesses. Cohort 3 is open for applications from women in Nigeria and Cameroon and those selected for the cohort will be contacted.

Eligibility

• ≥ 51% owned by a woman or,
•  ≥ 20% owned by a woman and have ≥ one woman as CEO/COO (President/Vice President); and
•  have ≥ 30% of the board of directors comprised of women, where a board exists.
• Between 5 and 300 employees
• Sales between US$35,000 and US$15 million
• Assets between US$100,000 and US$15 million
• Can dedicate 1 week to an intense virtual or physical Bootcamp
• Can dedicate 3 hours for mentorship engagement for 8 weeks
• Must be a C-Level executive in the organization

5. African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF): Open, Kasa and Komboa Grants

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is happy to invite applications for grants from eligible feminist and women’s rights organisations (WROs) led by historically marginalised and minoritised groups in Africa.

We have three funding streams you can apply to:

• Open Grants – These are for applications proposing work that promotes the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse peoples’ rights. We are prioritising projects that address structural barriers to gender equality and projects building the agency of women, girls and gender diverse people to lead activism toward gender justice.
• Kasa! Initiative Grants – These are for work applications specifically addressing sexual violence and only for Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs) registered and working in Ghana, Nigeria and/or Senegal.
• Komboa Grants – These are for applications from women and gender-diverse persons led organisations and networks, operating within the African continent working to empower African women, girls, and gender-diverse people to exercise their voice, agency, and leadership.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday, 2 April, 2024 at 23:59 GMT.

Click HERE to access the online application portal.

6. Mckinsey & Company Next Generation Women Leaders EMEA Program

Applications are now open for the 2024 McKinsey & Company Next Generation Women Leaders Program EMEA. The Next Generation Women Leaders (NGWL) EMEA program is a three-day virtual program taking place April 25-27, 2024. Attendees will explore the importance of women in leadership, develop their leadership abilities, and create a long-lasting community.

Benefits

Learning sessions

Program participants will be invited to learning sessions hosted by our colleagues, addressing important topics around communication and impact.

Local networking events

Following the three-day event in April, program participants will be invited to local meetups where they can connect with our colleagues and network with other NGWL attendees.

Interview preparation program

All participants who are interested in learning more about McKinsey’s recruiting process will be invited to an interview preparation program. Those in attendance will learn about our case and personal experience interviews, join Q&A sessions, and practice cases in small groups.

Application Requirements

To be considered for NGWL EMEA, you must be currently based in or have strong ties to Europe, the Middle East, or Africa. You must also be:

• A bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, or MBA student graduating no later than 2026.
• A professional with up to eight years of work experience.

To apply, please submit the following by March 11, 2024:

• Resume in English. This should include details of your education and grades, work experience, extracurricular activities, and achievements.
• Your office location (based on geographic or industry ties) OR business function (based on industry experience) preference. When you apply, you will choose up to three office locations or business functions to review your application (participating McKinsey offices listed below). We advise you to make your choices based on geographic or industry ties (e.g., you have studied or lived in the country) or work experience in the industry. You should be fluent in the local language.
• Transcripts including grades, if required (please see details below).

Additionally, as part of the application process, you will be asked to complete an online digital assessment that will last about 60 minutes. This does not require any preparation or prior business knowledge. More details will be shared after submitting your application.

To Apply: Visit the Official Webpage of the McKinsey & Company Next Generation Women Leaders Program EMEA

7. She Code Africa X FedEx Grant To Train 100 African Women In Tech

FedEx is collaborating with She Code Africa to launch the She Code Africa Academy Program, a 12-week intensive learning initiative aimed at empowering African women in tech fields.

The program targets women aged 18 to 45 and focuses on software engineering, product design, and product management. She Code Africa has a track record of impacting numerous girls and women across Africa through free training, scholarships, and community engagement.

The She Code Africa Academy Program offers a comprehensive curriculum in software development, product design, and product management, focusing on practical learning. Participants will receive technical tutoring, career mentoring, and access to resources. Outstanding participants may qualify for a 1-month paid internship at She Code Africa, working on engineering projects for social impact.

African women passionate about technology are encouraged to apply through shecodeafrica.org.

Applications for the program open on Monday, February 26, 2024, and close on Friday, March 8, 2024.

8. Vital Voices Global Fellowship: Social Entrepreneurship For Women Changemakers (Fully Funded)

Vital Voices Global Fellowship: Social Entrepreneurship empowers visionary women changemakers leading for-profit, purpose-driven enterprises addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Social Entrepreneurship pillar is tailored for women entrepreneurs who understand their business valuation, have identified their business growth strategy, are interested in expanding their social impact, and are eager to scale their business through investment.

Fellowship Details:

• Through the program, fellows will strengthen their leadership and confidence through skills building and personal development, develop global network connections, establish a foundation for solution generation and collaboration, and connect through in-person and regional collaborations.
• Through the Social Entrepreneurship pillar, fellows will spend time on their growth strategy, understanding their capital needs, and gaining the knowledge to access relevant financing. Tailoring strategies to their unique requirements, they will also learn to craft compelling narratives and develop pitch decks that resonate with the ethos of the SDGs and investor expectations.
• Fellows will embark on a transformative journey, gaining essential skills, knowledge, and confidence to propel their leadership and enterprises to new heights.

Through the program, fellows will:  

• Examine their business plans and refine their goals for growth
• Examine and better understand their capital needs
• Develop a strategic plan to grow their business through investment
• Acquire the knowledge to access relevant investment opportunities
• Learn to craft compelling narratives for investment opportunities
• Develop pitch decks that resonate with the ethos of the SDGs and investor expectations

In addition, fellows will be supported by a robust, global supportive network. Upon completing the fellowship, fellows will have solidified their growth strategies and be prepared to pursue investment opportunities.

Eligibility

To qualify for the program, applicants are required to meet the following criteria:

• Hold a key decision-making role in a legally registered, for-profit, purpose-driven business addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with measurable social impact.
• Exhibit a track record of generating a minimum annual revenue of $100,000 USD.
• Possess a proven business model with the growth potential, evidenced by a minimum of three full-time paid employees (or equivalent) and an operational history of at least two years.
• Clearly articulate an identified growth strategy to be initiated within 12 to 15 months after the program.

Benefits

• All costs associated with the program are fully covered by Vital Voices, including travel, lodging, and meals for the in-person convening.
• Upon successful completion of the fellowship, all fellows will receive a certificate of completion, certifying they have met all requirements of the program.

To Apply:Visit the Official Webpage of the Vital Voices Global Fellowship – Social Entrepreneurship