Call for Applications: Rise Up Together Launches Leadership & Advocacy Program in South Africa

Rise Up Leaders at our Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator in South Africa, 2025.

Are you passionate about social justice and ready to advance gender equity in South Africa?

Global nonprofit Rise Up Together will select a group of visionary local leaders in South Africa’s Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces to participate in our Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator training from April 13–18, 2026, to strengthen gender equity and justice. Through Rise Up Together’s program, these leaders will advance transformative change in their organizations and communities, and champion improved national and local laws, programs, and funding for women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people.

Key Dates

  • Application Opens: November 24, 2025
  • Application Closes: January 15, 2026

Program Dates

  • Virtual Orientation: March 2026
  • Program Dates: April 13-18, 2026, in person, in Gauteng (venue to be decided)
APPLY NOW

How We Work

  • Hybrid Accelerator: Our comprehensive four-week program combines a six-day, in-person intensive with virtual sessions, totaling 60–65 hours of training. Leaders participate in orientation, residential training, virtual follow-up, technical assistance, and panel discussions designed to strengthen their advocacy skills and strategy.
  • Grants: After completing the Accelerator, leaders are eligible to apply for up to $17,000 in seed funding to launch a systems-change gender equity advocacy project.
  • Re-grants: Leaders also have the opportunity to apply for an additional round of funding to expand, strengthen, or build upon their initial project.

Rise Up Together provides tailored support to leaders through proposal development, grantmaking assistance, advocacy strategy guidance, networking opportunities, and ongoing professional development. Join us to expand your network, amplify your voice, and collaborate in building a global movement for gender equity and justice.

Our past cohorts represent a wide range of social justice issues that intersect with gender equity, including criminal justice, gender-based violence, economic opportunity, LGBTQ+ rights, school safety, child marriage, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

For more information, please contact Rise Up Together’s South Africa Country Representative, Rethabile Mphutlane, at SouthAfricaRep@riseuptogether.org