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Writing and Translation Grants in Africa

Currently 3 active writing and translation grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Africa. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.

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Open calls

  1. Heart2World Publishing: Heart2World Book Prize 2026 (Inaugural, Poetry)

    Heart2World Publishing · Nigeria; open to Nigerian writers currently residing in Nigeria. · Deadline: 05 Aug 2026 · Award: NGN 250,000 cash prize, a full publishing and marketing package (valued at approximately NGN 5 million), and 100 percent net royalties on the published collection. No entry or reading fee.

    The inaugural Heart2World Book Prize, from Heart2World Publishing, is a poetry prize for a full-length collection by a Nigerian writer. AWARD: NGN 250,000 cash prize, a full publishing and marketing package (valued at approximately NGN 5 million), and 100 percent net royalties on the published collection. ELIGIBILITY: Nigerian citizens currently residing in Nigeria; submit an unpublished poetry collection of 30 to 35 poems written in English. There is no entry or reading fee (verified on the funder page). DEADLINE: 5 August 2026. Apply via the prize page.

  2. Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship 2027

    Miles Morland Foundation · Worldwide (writers born in Africa, or with both parents born in Africa, writing in English) · Deadline: 22 Sep 2026 · Award: GBP 18,000 paid monthly over 12 months (GBP 1,500/month) plus mentorship support throughout the scholarship year. No application fee.

    Annual writing scholarship from the Miles Morland Foundation for African-born writers working in English on a full-length book project (80,000+ words for fiction; equivalent for nonfiction). One of the largest single-author African writing grants. Application window opens 1 July 2026 and closes 22 September 2026; applications outside that window are not read. ELIGIBILITY: writers born in Africa, or with both parents born in Africa, writing in English; nationality is not the criterion. Existing publication record is helpful but not strictly required.

  3. RCDIJ Africa Fund: Data and Investigative Journalism Grants

    Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism (RCDIJ) · Africa; journalists based across Africa. · Deadline: Rolling / undated · Award: Grants ranging from under USD 1,000 up to USD 10,000, plus editorial support and publication. No application fee.

    The Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism (RCDIJ) Africa Fund is a rolling grant program supporting data-driven and investigative journalism projects by journalists across Africa. SUPPORT: grants ranging from under USD 1,000 up to USD 10,000, alongside editorial support and publication. ELIGIBILITY: journalists based in Africa, whether staff or freelance, working in print, online, broadcast, photo, or multimedia. APPLICATIONS are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed on roughly a two-month cycle. Apply via the RCDIJ Africa Fund page.