The Million Lives Collective (MLC) and the Judith Neilson Foundation have announced the launch of the African Cities Innovation Fund (ACIF), a new grant program designed to scale solutions for smart, healthy, and resilient urban environments across the continent.
The initiative was formally announced at the International Development Innovation Alliance’s (IDIA) Global Summit in Nairobi. The fund aims to address the rapid urbanization of African cities by supporting collaborative partnerships rather than isolated projects.
The ACIF will officially open for applications in Spring 2026. The fund is unique in that it invites pairs of African innovators to apply jointly. Successful applicants will receive flexible grant funding of up to $75,000 (approx. Ksh 9.7 million) to design and test new collaborative solutions to complex urban challenges.
“African cities are growing at a dramatic pace, creating huge opportunities, challenges and change,” said Abi Taylor, Innovation Lead at the Judith Neilson Foundation. “Ensuring that cities are places where people can thrive calls for imagination, ambition, innovation, and collaboration.”
In addition to the financial grant, awardees will gain access to IDIA’s Collaboration Lab, specifically the ‘Collaborative Scaling for Exponential Impact’ program. This includes:Tailored technical assistance, coaching and partnership support and direct exposure to leading global development stakeholders.
Ahead of the grant launch, the MLC will issue a call for new members in January 2026. They aim to establish a pipeline of proven, scale-ready urban innovations in areas such as mobility, resource access, local economies, and climate resilience.
Jite Phido, Senior Program Manager at MLC and Results for Development, emphasized the need to surface existing efforts. “Across the continent, innovators, community organizations, and public sector actors are already finding and scaling new ways to improve mobility and build resilience. Our upcoming call seeks to amplify these efforts.”
The MLC, inspired by member agencies of the IDIA, has been validating and scaling solutions since 2019. The new fund builds on evidence gathered since 2022, supported by the Bayer Foundation and Gates Foundation, which proved that funding collaborations is a powerful lever for change.
Edwin Muroki, representing 4Life Solutions Kenya (a participant in MLC’s previous women’s economic empowerment program), hailed the collaborative model.
“The African Cities Innovation Fund is significant because it promotes the kind of collaboration that urban impact in Africa demands,” Muroki said. “Our Kenya experience shows that proven solutions scale faster when partnerships strengthen community trust, enable localized logistics, and support continuous real-time learning.”
Innovators working in circular production, climate-resilient infrastructure, digital equity, and youth mobility are encouraged to monitor the Million Lives Collective website for the upcoming membership call in January and the funding applications in Spring.
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