Facebook's Community Accelerator Programme targets projects from Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria
Facebook has launched a Community Accelerator programme that will target projects and initiatives from three sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries – South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
The programme is part of Facebook’s mission to give people the power to build community around the world and its commitment to supporting the community leaders who drive change.
An evolution of the Facebook Community Leadership Programme (FCLP), this six-month accelerator programme provides training, mentorship and funding to help community leaders grow their communities. Up to $3 million in total will be awarded to 80 programme participants worldwide.
Selected community leaders will spend three months learning from experts, coaches and a customised curriculum to create a plan to grow their communities. They will spend the next three months iterating and executing on their plans, with funding and support from their networks.
“Our mission is to empower the leaders who foster community – people who offer support, encourage others and make real change,” says Kiran Yoliswa, Strategic Partner Manager, Communities SSA at Facebook. “We are investing in leaders because we believe and know they make significant contributions to today’s social challenges, by sharing knowledge and information, and helping people to connect with others that share same interests or passions for a good cause.”
In 2019 the Facebook Community Leadership Programme provided training, funding, and support to 115 community leaders. The leaders reported that their projects impacted over 1.9 million lives through online community support, the use of helpful resources and other activities made possible by the programme.
Facebook also announced that it has built new tools to help community leaders add new members and moderate conversations in their Groups. The improved membership management tool improves how Group admins can manage new member requests, and content moderation features make it easier for admins to see important posts and find specific content.
The Community Accelerator programme is one of the many investments Facebook is making in community leaders. The Facebook Community Learning Labs brings Group admins with similar goals together into a collaborative digital classroom for structured learning, a dedicated Facebook team with experience helps Group admins achieve their goals.
The Community Hub, meanwhile, is a place where anyone can access product education and learn more about Facebook’s programmes. It includes tips and tools for starting, managing and growing a community.
Individuals who run an impactful, established community, and ready to grow using Facebook’s apps and have the time and energy to invest in the programme are invited to apply before April 10, 2020. Community leaders from the selected programme countries, including those without a presence on one of Facebook’s apps, can also apply.
