Facebook awards $3m to 12 selected SSA leaders, others

By Omobayo Azeez

As part of its focus on bringing people together and building communities, Facebook has announced a sum of $3 million funding to raise some 77 individuals, including 12 Africans, who have been selected to join Facebook’s Community Accelerator.

The Accelerator programme is a six-month programme that aims to equip communities with the training, mentorship, and funding they need to grow.

As part of the global Facebook Community Leadership initiative launched in 2018, the programme invests in leaders who are building communities around the world, including bringing people together, offering encouragement, and driving change.

Following the call for applications in March 2020, 77 community leaders from around the world were chosen, with 12 selected from Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Awarding up to $3 million, selected community leaders will receive up to $30,000 in funding. In the first three months of the programme, these leaders will learn from experts and coaches, whilst developing customized curriculums focused on growing their own communities.

“The following three months will then be focused on iterating and executing their plans, with funding and continued support from their network, as well as from a dedicated programme team,” the company said in a press statement released from its Johannesburg office on Tuesday.

According to Facebook, the Community Accelerator will then culminate in an event with community leaders to showcase their communities and progress to external funders and partners.

Commenting, Kezia Anim-Addo, head of communications for Sub-Saharan Africa said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming 12 African community leaders to Facebook’s first Community Accelerator. We’ve seen time and again the power of communities in bringing people closer together and feeling more connected.

“We know community leaders can do amazing things when they have adequate support from others, tools to get the job done, funding to grow and belief in themselves. The Facebook Community Accelerator will enable these great communities to make an even greater positive impact in the world, and we hope that through the support of the programme these communities will have extraordinary impact, even in extraordinary times.”