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 13 - 18 April 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.

The newly selected leaders in South Africa will become part of Rise Up Together’s global network of leaders in Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the United States who are creating a future where all people can thrive. Rise Up Together builds power with women, girls, and their allies by providing training, funding, and connection to a global network to help them achieve meaningful, lasting change. Since 2009, Rise Up Together’s powerful network of over 800 leaders has successfully advocated for over 218 new and improved laws and policies, positively impacting more than 172 million people around the world.

Strategies

Rise Up Together partners with women, girls, and allies to expand their impact by providing the training, funding, and resources they need to achieve large-scale change at local and national levels. Rise Up Leaders go on to train fellow community members and apply their new knowledge to launch their own strategies to advance gender equity and justice and improve the lives of women, girls, and all people in their communities.

■ Strengthen Leaders

Following a rigorous selection process, Rise Up Together will select a cohort of leaders from organizations, universities, or groups in South Africa to participate in an intensive hybrid Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator training. Rise Up Leaders receive tools for leadership, team building, political mapping, policy change, goal setting, strategic planning, messaging, proposal and budget development, and more.

■ Invest in Local Solutions

Following the Accelerator, Rise Up Leaders have the opportunity to apply for competitive seed funding to launch their strategies to advance gender equity in health, education, and economic opportunity.

■ Build Movements with Women, Girls, and Allies

Rise Up Together supports leaders to build relationships with peers, funders, decision-makers, and partner organizations. Expanding their networks with partners and funders is essential for Rise Up Leaders’ ability to grow and create change — and is integral for the movement we are building together. Rise Up Together also provides access to speaking opportunities, conferences, and ongoing coaching to amplify leaders’ voices.

Rise Up Together strongly encourages people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, gender-nonconforming individuals, and formerly incarcerated individuals to apply.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

APPLY NOW: riseuptogether.org/become-a-rise-up-leader

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 January 2026

For more information, email Rethabile Mphutlane, South Africa Country Representative at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To learn more about Rise Up Together, visit our website at riseuptogether.org.