Tech2Empower Rwanda Impact Challenge
Program Dates: October 6 - 8, 2025
Application deadline: July 9, 2025
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
By joining the Tech2Empower Rwanda Impact Challenge, your team will gain access to top tech experts and receive personalized coaching from a dedicated team of women Advisors. You'll collaborate on a project of your choice and have the chance to showcase your work, building valuable connections and amplifying your organization's impact.
Tech2Empower is an initiative of WAKE, an NGO based in San Francisco, California, that has supported 370+ social impact organizations and directly trained, coached, and mentored over 1,900 leaders and students from 30 countries and 26 U.S. states. If you would like to learn more about this initiative, join us for an info session on June 25th – you can register here.
WAKE, in partnership with Impact Hub Kigali, is recruiting women-led NGOs and social enterprises working to advance girls' and women's empowerment for the Tech2Empower Rwanda Impact Challenge. The program connects women-led social enterprises and NGOs with volunteer Advisors. The Advisors are women from leading tech companies such as Apple, Google, LinkedIn, and SalesForce. Working in teams, the selected women entrepreneurs and Advisors collaborate on a project aimed at increasing the reach and impact of their social enterprises. We ask applicants to propose a specific project that will strengthen their organization through improved tech, communications, or admin/finances. The program is free for selected social entrepreneurs and NGOs.
Selected participants will:
- Propose a project that will enhance their organization’s mission and impact;
- Acquire valuable technical skills to enhance their organizational effectiveness and social impact;
- Benefit from hands-on collaborative work on their project of choice;
- Join an environment of mutual empowerment and two-way learning, fostering strong networks of support.
>To read the complete program description click here
Key dates:
Application deadline: July 9, 2025
*We encourage you to apply early to ensure your application is given priority consideration.
*The interviews and selection process will be conducted on a rolling basis until vacancies are filled. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible to increase their chances of being selected before the program is full.
Selection announcement: Selected organizations will be notified on a rolling basis. Program dates: October 6 - 8, 2025.
Eligibility:
To be considered for the Impact Challenge, organizations must be:
- An NGO or social enterprise with a primary focus on supporting and empowering women and girls;
- Inclusive of Rwandan women in your team and organization leadership;
- Led by women, with primarily women in leadership positions;
- Based in and primarily working in Rwanda;
- A social business or NGO with a proven track record, having been in operation for over one year;
- Applicants must be committed to sending 2 - 3 team members (the majority should be women, but we also welcome male allies, who represent the local community) to participate in the Impact Challenge for 3 days in Kigali.
Selection criteria:
- Project idea: Clear and focused project idea and explanation of its impact on the organization's work;
- Mission and impact: Demonstrated focus and commitment to advancing women’s and girls’ participation, access, economic opportunity, and rights; and
- Application: A thoughtful application clearly expressing how the applicant will leverage what they learn and experience to strengthen the work of their organization.
- Team selection: The selected team members have a proven track record with the organization, represent the local community, are fully committed to attending the Impact Challenge, and will support the long-term implementation of the project.
Please note:
- The final selection will also take into consideration organization and project focus areas, location, communities served, and size of organization to bring together a diverse group of participants for Tech2Empower Rwanda Impact Challenge;
- Travel and lodging expenses are not covered, requiring participants who are not based in Kigali to arrange their own transportation and accommodation arrangements;
- All communications and project work will be conducted in English; and
- All the selected participants will be required to have access to the internet and the ability to bring a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop to the Impact Challenge.
About the Project Proposals
Women-led NGOs, social impact initiatives, and social enterprises are invited to submit two project ideas within this application form. If your organization is selected to participate in the Impact Challenge, WAKE will select one of your proposed projects based on the available skills in the Advisor team.
>Learn more about the project categories here
- Marketing and branding;
- Digital strategy and website development;
- CRM and database management;
- Strategic planning and organizational development;
- Pitch deck and presentation skills;
- Data management, visualization, and impact evaluation;
- Other.
What is included:
- Virtual support from WAKE to prepare for the Impact Challenge project work;
- Lunch and snack breaks will be provided; and
- If selected NGO/social enterprise teams require assistance with local transportation, we may be able to provide a small stipend in support.
Contact
If you have questions, please contact our team at connect@wakeinternational.org.
Application deadline: July 9, 2025