Powering Women-Centered Climate Resilience Across MENA
Applications for the C3 EmpowerHer program are now open.
A 6-month program supporting women-led and women-benefitting climate resilience enterprises across MENA, helping them strengthen solutions to the region's most urgent climate challenges, from water and food security to heat resilience and coastal adaptation.
Funded by the Resilient Futures Fund (RFF) and delivered by C3 - Companies Creating Change, C3 EmpowerHer equips founders with expert-led workshops, 1:1 mentorship, strategic advisory sessions and catalytic grant funding, helping ventures unlock market access and become investment-ready.
Applications close on August 31, 2026. Apply now.
30–40
startups led by women or serving women as primary beneficiaries
USD 150,000
in catalytic grant funding distributed across the top 10 startups
6 months
of hands-on support, from October 2026 to Demo Day in April 2027
Who Should Apply?
This program is built for early-stage climate resilience ventures across MENA. These are solutions that help communities, economies, and ecosystems withstand, recover from, and thrive despite the impacts of climate change.
To be eligible, your venture should be:
Women-centered and climate-focused: Either led by a woman (female CEO or women holding 51%+ equity), or with women as the primary beneficiaries of your solution. Your core mission is in climate resilience rather than pure mitigation or renewables without an adaptation angle
Early-stage with traction: Pre-seed to pre-Series A, with an MVP and early evidence of traction
MENA-based or MENA-operating: Headquartered in or primarily operating within MENA
Driving gender and climate impact: A clear theory of change linking climate resilience to women's economic empowerment, livelihoods, or wellbeing. Women are the primary leaders or beneficiaries of the change you're driving
Ready to commit: A core founding team in place, able to dedicate meaningful time across the 6-month program for workshops, mentorship, diagnostics, and pilot execution
Focus Areas
Water & sanitation
Food & agri-climate
Heat resilience
Coastal & flood adaptation
Nature-based solutions
Climate-resilient infrastructure
Sustainable livelihoods
Climate finance access
Benefits of joining
For every startup in the cohort
Expert-led training
8–12 virtual workshops across 5 core modules
1:1 mentorship
Matched with climate, sector and investment experts
Investor & ecosystem access
Into C3's network of VCs, DFIs, corporates and impact funds
FOR THE TOP 10
Additional benefits for the top 10 startups
Strategic advisory sessions
10 expert advisory boards, plus a strategic roadmap
Catalytic pilot funding
Up to USD 20,000 per startup for pilots and impact
Pilot design & enablement
Matched with corporate pilot hosts and market enablers
Demo Day in Egypt
In-person showcase to investors, April 2027
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Simply click the Apply Now link and fill in the details. The application includes information about your technology, traction, your startup and founding team. Please have your latest pitch deck ready for upload.
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Your application will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a series of interviews. Final selected candidates will receive an offer to join the program.
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To be eligible, your venture should be:
Women-centered and climate-focused: Either led by a woman (female CEO or women holding 51%+ equity), or with women as the primary beneficiaries of your solution. Your core mission is in climate adaptation rather than pure mitigation or renewables without an adaptation angle.
Early-stage with traction: Pre-seed to seed, with an MVP and early evidence of traction.
MENA-based or MENA-operating: Headquartered in or primarily operating within MENA. Priority markets: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia.
Driving gender and climate impact: A clear theory of change linking climate adaptation to women's economic empowerment, livelihoods, or wellbeing. Women are the primary leaders or beneficiaries of the change you're driving.
Ready to commit: A core founding team in place, able to dedicate meaningful time across the 10-month program for workshops, mentorship, diagnostics, and pilot execution.
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The program runs from June 2026 to April 2027 and is delivered primarily online. Training, mentorship, and advisory sessions are virtual, with an in-person Demo Day in Egypt at the end for the top 10 enterprises.
FUNDED BY
This program is funded by the Resilient Futures Fund (RFF). The Resilient Futures Fund is an initiative that aims to strengthen resilience and increase opportunities for climate solutions led by, involving or benefiting women and girls, by providing catalytic capital and support. The fund is managed by 2X Global and supported by Amazon, Reckitt, the Skoll Foundation, the UPS Foundation, and the Visa Foundation. For more information, explore 2xglobal.org/rff.