By Charmaine Ndlela
Employers across Africa are being urged to apply for the third intake of the Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship before applications close on 30 June 2026.
Championed by the Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (GIFS) and Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s Umlambo Foundation, the scholarship aims to expand access to quality education and skills development while helping employers prepare their workforce for jobs of the future.
The third application intake opened on 15 May 2026 and offers employers access to a wide range of qualifications, from higher certificates and diplomas to bachelor’s degrees, master’s programmes, MBAs and doctoral studies.
GIFS Chief Executive Officer Dr Kershen Pillay told Inside Education the scholarship is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
“The Global Goals 2030 Africa Scholarship is a call to quality education and equal access to quality education,” Pillay said.
He said Africa’s rapidly growing youth population means the continent must invest now in developing future-ready skills.
“By 2050, Africa will have the youngest youth population in the world. The global workforce will increasingly look to Africa for talent, but we need to be ready. The question is how we upskill and create catalytic opportunities for young people and workers today,” he said.
The scholarship focuses not only on current labour market needs but also on emerging industries and future occupations.
“We looked at what the jobs of tomorrow will be and how we can create a pipeline of talent for those opportunities. We don’t want to educate for education’s sake. We want learning to be linked to real-world experience and employment opportunities,” he said.
To achieve this, GIFS has partnered with employers across the continent to help shape training programmes and provide practical workplace experience for scholarship recipients.
The initiative is open to employers of all sizes and across all sectors, including mining, technology, engineering, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and financial services.
Pillay said participating employers can use the scholarship to upskill existing staff or develop new talent through internationally recognised qualifications.
“What we are doing is democratising education. Whether you are a large employer or a small employer, the opportunity is available on a first-come, first-served basis,” he said.
The scholarship includes more than 16 bachelor’s programmes, over 55 master’s programmes, and more than 37 doctoral programmes.
In addition to employees, employers may also nominate their children’s dependents for selected undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Pillay said the initiative was developed following consultations involving GIFS, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and the Umlambo Foundation, which identified a shortage of tertiary education opportunities across the continent.
“There are not enough tertiary institutions and opportunities to meet the demand of our youth. If we do not provide opportunities, we are limiting their futures. This scholarship is a lifeline and a source of hope for young Africans and for employers concerned about developing future talent,” he said.
The programme offers fee reductions of up to 70% and flexible online learning options designed to make higher education more accessible to working professionals and students across Africa.
Employers interested in applying can visit the Global Goals 2030 Africa Scholarship website or email info@gifs.africa or they can log on to global goals website which is globalgoals-2030.com for further information
Successful applicants can expect to receive feedback from the adjudication committee within seven days after the funding window closes.
