MTN CSI Call for Proposals for Women and Girls in Technology (Rwanda)

Deadline: 04-Sep-2026

The MTN Rwanda Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme provides grants for projects that increase the participation and advancement of women and young girls in Rwanda’s technology sector. The selected project can receive up to RWF 50 million to address barriers such as gender stereotypes, limited access to digital tools, weak STEM participation, lack of mentorship, and unequal opportunities in technology. What Is the MTN Rwanda CSI Programme? The MTN Rwanda CSI programme supports social-impact initiatives that address important community challenges. This funding opportunity specifically focuses on gender inclusion in technology, with an emphasis on improving opportunities for women and girls to access, participate in, and progress through technology-related education and careers. Projects should provide practical and sustainable solutions that can create measurable benefits for beneficiaries and potentially be scaled to reach more communities. What Does the Grant Support? The programme focuses on barriers that prevent women and girls from entering and succeeding in technology and STEM fields.

Priority challenges include:

Gender norms and stereotypes affecting participation in technology. Low retention and completion rates among girls in STEM education. Institutional and economic barriers affecting women’s advancement. Projects should demonstrate how their proposed approach will create measurable, inclusive, sustainable, and scalable impact. Grant Amount The selected project can receive funding of up to: RWF 50 million The funding is intended to support projects capable of generating sustainable community-level impact and improving outcomes for women and girls in technology. Why It Matters Women and girls continue to face social, educational, economic, and institutional barriers when pursuing technology-related opportunities. By supporting targeted interventions, the programme seeks to: Increase girls’ participation in STEM. Improve access to digital skills. Strengthen women’s participation in technology careers. Expand access to mentorship and role models. Reduce gender disparities in technology. Improve digital inclusion in underserved communities. Encourage sustainable and scalable solutions. Create stronger pathways for women and girls into technology and ICT careers. Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicants must be legally registered organisations in Rwanda with an appropriate social-impact mandate. Organisations with less than three years of experience may participate as part of a consortium led by an eligible organisation that meets the experience requirement. Applicant Requirements

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

Legal registration in Rwanda. Relevant organisational experience. Qualified personnel capable of implementing the proposed project. Understanding of the barriers affecting women and girls in technology. Technology career-readiness initiatives for young women. Women-focused coding or engineering programmes. Initiatives improving retention of girls in STEM pathways. Community programmes addressing gender stereotypes around technology. Projects should be designed around clearly identified needs rather than simply offering general technology training. What Makes a Strong Project? A competitive proposal should clearly explain what barrier exists, who is affected, what solution will be implemented, and how the results will be measured.

Strong applications should demonstrate:

A clear understanding of local gender barriers. Innovative approaches to technology inclusion. Meaningful participation of women and girls. Measurable outcomes and indicators. Qualified implementation personnel. A realistic and sustainable implementation model. Potential for replication or scaling. Strong safeguarding arrangements. Long-term benefits beyond the grant period. How to Apply

1. Confirm Organisational Eligibility

Verify that your organisation is legally registered in Rwanda and falls within an eligible category.

2. Assess Your Relevant Experience

Document at least three years of experience in technology, ICT, STEM education, digital skills, women’s empowerment, or youth development. If your organisation has less than three years of experience, consider joining a consortium led by an organisation that meets the eligibility requirement.

3. Identify the Specific Barrier

Clearly define the problem affecting women or girls in technology. For example, a project could address limited access to devices and internet connectivity among girls in rural communities.

4. Develop an Innovative Solution

Explain how the project will overcome the identified barrier and why the proposed approach is practical, inclusive, and sustainable.

5. Define Measurable Outcomes

Include clear indicators showing how the project will improve participation or advancement in technology.

Possible indicators could include:

Number of girls trained. Number completing STEM programmes. Number accessing digital devices or connectivity. Number receiving mentorship. Number progressing into further STEM education. Number obtaining internships or employment opportunities.

6. Demonstrate Sustainability

Explain how the benefits will continue after the grant period and whether the model can be expanded to additional communities.

7. Address Safeguarding and Ethics

Projects involving children, adolescents, or vulnerable groups should demonstrate appropriate safeguarding mechanisms and ethical implementation practices.

8. Prepare the Application

Ensure that the proposal clearly presents the organisation’s experience, project design, target beneficiaries, implementation approach, expected results, sustainability, and capacity to deliver the project. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting a generic women’s empowerment project without a technology focus. Failing to identify a specific barrier faced by women or girls. Providing vague or unmeasurable outcomes. Overlooking rural and underserved commun