The African Union (AU) has opened applications for the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme Cohort 2 (2026/27), an opportunity designed to support promising African entrepreneurs and small businesses through structured training, expert mentorship, market intelligence, and access to regional business opportunities.
The 12-month fellowship is the African Union’s flagship startup acceleration initiative for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), helping entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses and expand their access to markets across Africa and beyond.
Scholarship Summary
- Host: African Union (AU)
- Category: Fellowships | Entrepreneurship Programmes
- Eligible Countries: African Countries
- Reward: Training | Expert Mentorship | Intellectual Property Support | Market Intelligence | Market Access Opportunities | Continental Networking
- IELTS: Not Required
- Duration: 12 Months
- Deadline: September 30, 2026
Scholarship Details
The Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme is an African Union Commission (AUC) Startup Acceleration Initiative focused on strengthening Africa’s micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The programme is implemented by the AU Commission’s Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) and provides selected entrepreneurs with practical training, mentorship, intellectual property support, market intelligence, and opportunities to connect with potential markets and business partners.
Fellows will receive support tailored to the maturity and needs of their enterprises, with the programme divided into three tiers. Training, mentorship, and market access activities will vary according to the tier in which an enterprise is placed.
The programme particularly encourages applications from women-led businesses, enterprises from underrepresented AU regions, and businesses from small island Member States.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship 2026, applicants must:
- Be a youth- or women-led small enterprise.
- Be registered and operating in an African Union Member State.
- Be formally registered as a business entity.
- Have been operating for at least two years.
- Employ a minimum of three full-time staff members.
- Demonstrate potential for growth and participation in African markets.
- Be able to participate in the programme’s training, mentorship, and market access activities.
Applications are particularly encouraged from women-led enterprises, businesses from underrepresented AU regions, and enterprises from small island Member States.
 Fellowship Benefits
All selected Fellows will receive:
- 12 months of structured training covering 10 modules tailored according to sector and enterprise tier.
- Expert mentorship from African Union Partners.
- Access to the African Trade Observatory (ATO).
- Access to AfCFTA market intelligence tools.
- Intellectual property support to help enterprises strengthen and protect their business assets.
- Opportunities to access new markets across Africa and beyond.
- Participation in continental business and entrepreneurship events.
- Tier 1 and Tier 2 Fellows will participate in virtual market-entry sessions covering 10 AfCFTA pilot countries.
- Tier 3 Fellows will participate in business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions.
- Training and market access support tailored to the maturity of each participating enterprise.
2026 EAN Fellowship Sectors
The 2026/27 Cohort 2 is organised around seven priority sectors divided into two clusters aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA):
Products Cluster
- Manufacturing
- Agro-processing
- Creative Industries
Services Cluster
- ICT/Digital
- Fintech
- Health
- Logistics/Transport
2026 EAN Fellowship Tiers
Participating enterprises will be placed into one of three tiers based on their level of business maturity.
The training, mentorship, and market access opportunities provided to Fellows will be tailored according to the specific tier and needs of each enterprise.
The programme will reserve a minimum of 40 places, representing 40% of the cohort, to promote representation across all five AU continental regions. At least five places will be reserved for enterprises from small island Member States.
How to Apply
To apply for the African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship 2026:
- Review the eligibility requirements and ensure that your enterprise meets the programme criteria.
- Confirm that your business falls within one of the seven eligible sectors.
- Prepare the relevant business and registration documents.
- Complete the online application form through the official programme platform.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
- Carefully review your application to ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete.
- Submit your application before the September 30, 2026 deadline.
To begin the application process, click HERE
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