The African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship Program 2026/27 is now accepting applications from eligible youth- and women-led businesses across Africa. The EAN Fellowship will select 100 entrepreneurs from AU Member States for 12 months of structured training, expert mentorship, market access support and AfCFTA-focused business development.
The Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme Cohort 2 (2026/27) is a major entrepreneurship development opportunity launched by the African Union Commission to support promising micro, small and medium enterprises across the continent.
The programme is designed for established African businesses seeking to strengthen their operations, expand into new markets and build their capacity to participate in intra-African trade. The second cohort will bring together 100 fellows from across the African Union’s 55 Member States.
According to the African Union, applications opened on 31 July 2026, with the deadline set for 30 September 2026. The programme is expected to begin in November 2026.
Background & Fellowship Description
The Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship is an African Union startup acceleration initiative implemented through the AU Commission’s Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals.
The programme focuses on developing African MSMEs through practical business support rather than simply providing a conventional academic fellowship.
Participants will receive structured training, expert mentorship, intellectual property support, market intelligence and opportunities to connect with markets across Africa and beyond.
The first EAN cohort, held during 2024/25, trained 56 fellows from 30 African countries and generated more than USD 1 million in deals and contracts.
For Cohort 2, the African Union plans to increase participation to 100 fellows, with targets of USD 2 million in new attributable revenue and 500 new jobs.
The programme is particularly encouraging applications from women-led enterprises, businesses from underrepresented AU regions and enterprises based in small island Member States.
Fellowship Sectors
The EAN Fellowship covers seven sectors divided into two broad clusters that align with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Products Cluster
The products cluster focuses on businesses producing goods for intra-African trade and includes:
- Manufacturing
- Agro-processing
- Creative industries
Services Cluster
The services cluster covers:
- ICT and digital businesses
- Fintech
- Health
- Logistics and transport
This sector structure gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop businesses that can potentially participate in wider African markets.
Three Fellowship Tiers
Applicants selected for the programme will be placed into one of three tiers according to the maturity and development stage of their enterprise.
Tier 1 – Growth
35 places are available for enterprises that have been operating for 2–5 years, employ at least three people and can demonstrate market traction.
Tier 2 – Expansion
40 places are available for enterprises operating for 5–10 years, employing between 10 and 30 people and demonstrating ambitions to expand across borders.
Tier 3 – Scale-Ready
25 places are available for enterprises operating for 10 years or more, or businesses that have an investor-ready profile.
The AU states that at least 40 percent of the cohort, representing a minimum of 40 places, will be reserved to ensure representation across all five AU continental regions. At least five places will be allocated to enterprises from small island Member States.
What the Fellowship Offers
The Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship provides selected entrepreneurs with 12 months of structured development support.
All fellows will participate in training covering 10 modules, with the content differentiated according to the enterprise’s sector and fellowship tier.
Participants will also receive expert mentorship through African Union partners. This is intended to help entrepreneurs address business challenges and develop stronger strategies for growth.
Another major component is access to the African Trade Observatory (ATO) and AfCFTA market intelligence tools. These resources can help participating businesses better understand opportunities associated with African markets.
Fellows will also have opportunities to participate in continental events and engage with other entrepreneurs and business stakeholders.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 participants will take part in virtual market-entry sessions covering 10 AfCFTA pilot countries, while Tier 3 fellows will participate in business-to-business matchmaking sessions.
The programme therefore combines entrepreneurship training with practical market development and networking opportunities.
Qualifications
Education and Certification
The information provided by the African Union does not identify a specific academic degree or professional certification requirement for applicants.
Instead, eligibility is primarily based on the applicant’s business status, ownership or leadership profile, registration, operating history and workforce.
Applicants should therefore focus on demonstrating that their enterprise meets the programme’s stated requirements and that the business has a clear reason for participating in the fellowship.
Experience
Applicants must meet several business experience requirements.
The Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship is open to youth- and women-led small enterprises that:
- Are registered and operating in an African Union Member State.
- Are formally registered as a business entity.
- Have been operating for at least two years.
- Employ a minimum of three full-time staff.
Additional requirements apply depending on the fellowship tier.
Applicants should provide accurate information about their business, including years of operation, number of employees, countries where the business currently trades, revenue range, intellectual property status and access to formal finance.
The application also requires a written pitch of up to 800 words explaining the enterprise, its principal market challenge and what the applicant hopes to achieve through the fellowship.
Shortlisted applicants will later be asked to provide supporting evidence of access to finance, such as a bank statement or mobile money statement. The AU states that this supporting document is not required at the initial application stage.
Additional Information
Applications for Cohort 2 opened on 31 July 2026 and close on 30 September 2026. Results are expected to be communicated in October 2026, with the programme scheduled to commence in November 2026.
Applicants should take care when completing the application. The African Union specifically warns that misrepresentation of information can result in immediate disqualification and permanent ineligibility for future EAN Fellowship cohorts.
Certain individuals are also excluded from applying. These include current and former African Union Commission staff, employees and representatives of EAN institutional partners, staff of Regional Economic Communities and graduates of previous EAN Fellowship cohorts.
Interested entrepreneurs can submit applications through the official online application form provided by the African Union.
The African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship Program 2026/27 is particularly relevant for established African entrepreneurs looking beyond basic startup training. With 12 months of structured development, mentorship, market intelligence, AfCFTA-related market-entry support and networking opportunities, the programme is designed to help participating businesses strengthen their capacity and pursue growth across African markets.
Entrepreneurs who meet the eligibility requirements should prepare their business information, develop a strong 800-word pitch and submit their application before the 30 September 2026 deadline.
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