Mekatilili Micro-Grant Award
Small grants for ideas worth trying.
The Mekatilili Micro-Grant Award provides grants of up to KES 100,000 to Kenyan innovators, makers and problem-solvers ready to take the next step with a project.
Rooted in Mekatilili’s history of maker culture, creative learning and locally relevant innovation, the award helps turn ideas into action, whether that’s building a prototype, testing an idea, running an experiment or engaging a community.
Applications open until 22 November 2026.
Ready to apply? You’ll find the application link at the bottom of this page.
We’re looking for projects driven by creativity, curiosity and a problem-solving. Your project might involve:
What we’re looking for?
Design & Making
Build, prototype or improve a physical or digital solution.
Learning & Education
Explore new ways to learn, teach, or build skills.
Technology for Communities
Use technology to address real-world needs.
Social Innovation
New approaches to community challenges.
Creative Experiments
Something that doesn’t fit neatly into a category.
Eligibility
Kenyan citizen: For teams, all members must be Kenyan citizens.
Aged 21–35: You must be between 21 and 35 years old at the time of application.
Individual or team: Apply on your own or as a team of up to three people. Teams must identify one lead applicant.
Kenya-based: Your project must be implemented primarily in Kenya.
Project Stage: You should have already taken some steps to explore, develop or test your idea. You don’t need to be a startup, registered organization or fully developed initiative.
A clear next step: Tell us what important step the grant will help you take. It should be achievable with up to KES 100,000, the grant doesn’t need to fund your entire project.
Project implementation timeline: Your proposed activity should be achievable within 1–3 months.
Hands-on involvement: You must be directly involved in developing and implementing the project.
One application: You may only be part of one application per grant cycle.
Project Selection
We’ll be looking for projects that show:
Potential for impact: Could your project make a meaningful difference for the people it’s designed for?
Human-centeredness: Is your approach grounded in the people, context or challenge you’re working with?
Feasibility: Can you realistically take this next step with the time and funding available?
Learning potential: Will this step help you test an assumption, learn something valuable or move your project forward?
Resourcefulness: Are you making thoughtful and creative use of the funding available?
Applications open: 10 Oct 2026
Applications close: 22 Nov 2026
Grant recipients announced: Feb 2027
Project implementation: Feb - May 2027
Project Reflection: Within 2 weeks of completion
Timeline
What happens after?
At the end of the grant period, recipients will share a short reflection on what they did, what they learned and what comes next.
And remember, success doesn’t always mean the original idea worked. Experiments fail, prototypes change and assumptions get challenged. That’s part of the process.
The goal is simple: try something, learn from it and move your project forward.
What will not be funded?
Grant funds should go directly toward moving your project forward, for example: materials, tools, prototyping, testing, learning or other activities needed for your proposed next step.
Funds cannot be used for salaries or stipends, personal expenses, alcohol, international travel, debt repayment, fundraising, or equipment and items primarily for personal use.
Applications must be submitted through the Mekatilili Micro-Grant Application Form (click button below).
Before you get started, take a look at the Application Questions so you know what to expect, and download the Budget Template to prepare the budget you’ll submit with your application.