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The African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 for youth- and women-led small enterprises
African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN)
0 days left · 30 Sep 2026
About this opportunity
Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 for youth- and women-led small enterprises. Applications open until 30 September 2026.
The Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme Cohort 2 (2026/27) supports African entrepreneurs through structured training, mentorship, and market access to accelerate business growth.
What it offers
- Twelve months of structured training across ten modules tailored by sector and tier
- Expert mentorship through African Union partners
- Access to the African Trade Observatory and AfCFTA market intelligence tools
- Participation in continental events
- Tier-specific benefits:
- Tier 1 and 2: virtual market-entry sessions across ten AfCFTA pilot countries
- Tier 3: B2B matchmaking sessions
Who can apply
- Youth- and women-led small enterprises registered and operating in an AU Member State
- Businesses formally registered and operating for at least two years
- Enterprises employing a minimum of three full-time staff
- Applications encouraged from women-led enterprises and businesses from underrepresented AU regions and small island Member States
- Ineligible: current/former AU Commission staff, EAN partners, REC staff, and previous EAN fellows
What you'll do
- Receive tailored training, mentorship, and market access support based on enterprise maturity (Growth, Expansion, Scale-Ready tiers)
How to apply
- Submit an online application via the provided link
- Include business registration details, sector, years of operation, employee count, trading countries, revenue range, IP status, and finance access
- Provide an 800-word pitch describing the enterprise, main market challenge, and fellowship objective
- Shortlisted applicants may be asked to submit one supporting finance document (bank/mobile money statement)
Good to know
- Application opens: 31 July 2026
- Application deadline: 30 September 2026
- Results communicated: October 2026
- Programme commences: November 2026
- Misrepresentation of information results in disqualification and permanent ineligibility
- 100 fellows will be selected from all 55 AU Member States, targeting USD 2 million in new attributable revenue and 500 new jobs
This summary is AI-generated from the official posting. Always verify every detail on the official site before applying.
Key details
TypeFellowship
LocationPan-African
Deadline30 Sep 2026
EligibilityAfrica
Open to applicants across Africa.
Source : au.int · Always verify details on the official site.