African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship 2026/27: Apply for Cohort 2 by 30 September 2026

Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship Programme Cohort 2 (2026/27): Apply for the African Union MSME Fellowship
The African Union is inviting applications for Cohort 2 of the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme, its flagship initiative supporting the development and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa.

Job/Opportunity Title: Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme – Cohort 2 (2026/27)
Job Location: African Union Member States / Africa
Closing Date: 30 September 2026
Contract: 12-month Fellowship Programme
Programme Commencement: November 2026

Implemented by the African Union Commission’s Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), the EAN Fellowship is designed to help promising African enterprises strengthen their businesses, access new markets, build strategic networks and take advantage of opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Following the inaugural 2024/25 cohort, which trained 56 fellows from 30 African countries and generated more than USD 1 million in deals and contracts, Cohort 2 will expand to 100 fellows from all 55 AU Member States.

The programme aims to contribute to USD 2 million in new attributable revenue and 500 new jobs.

What the Fellowship Offers
Successful fellows will receive a 12-month programme tailored to their enterprise’s maturity, sector and growth objectives.

Key benefits include:

Structured training delivered across 10 modules.
Expert mentorship through African Union partners.
Intellectual property support.
Access to the African Trade Observatory (ATO).
Access to AfCFTA market intelligence tools.
Continental networking opportunities.
Market access and market-entry support.
Virtual market-entry sessions across 10 AfCFTA pilot countries for Tier 1 and Tier 2 fellows.
Business-to-business matchmaking opportunities for Tier 3 fellows.
Opportunities to participate in continental events.
Who Should Apply?
The EAN Fellowship is designed for youth-led and women-led small enterprises that meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.

Applicants must have an enterprise that:

Is registered and operating in an African Union Member State.
Is formally registered as a business entity.
Has been operating for at least two years.
Employs at least three full-time staff members.
Applications are particularly encouraged from women-led enterprises, businesses from underrepresented African regions and enterprises from small island AU Member States.
Eligible Fellowship Sectors
Cohort 2 covers seven sectors organised into two clusters aligned with the AfCFTA.

Products Cluster
The Products Cluster focuses on enterprises producing goods with potential for intra-African trade.

Eligible sectors are:

Manufacturing
Agro-processing
Creative Industries
Services Cluster
The Services Cluster focuses on enterprises providing services with continental growth and market access potential.

Eligible sectors are:

ICT and Digital
Fintech
Health
Logistics and Transport
Fellowship Tiers
Applicants will be placed into one of three fellowship tiers according to the maturity and growth stage of their enterprise.

Tier 1 – Growth
35 places

Designed for enterprises that:

Have operated for 2–5 years.
Employ at least three people.
Can demonstrate market traction.
Tier 2 – Expansion
40 places

Designed for enterprises that:

Have operated for 5–10 years.
Employ between 10 and 30 people.
Demonstrate ambitions for cross-border expansion.
Tier 3 – Scale-Ready
25 places

Designed for enterprises that:

Have operated for 10 years or more; or
Have an investor-ready profile.
A minimum of 40 percent of the cohort will be reserved to promote representation across all five AU continental regions. At least five places will be reserved for enterprises from small island Member States.

Programme Timeline
Applications Open: 31 July 2026
Application Deadline: 30 September 2026
Results Communicated: October 2026
Programme Commences: November 2026

How to Apply
Eligible entrepreneurs can submit applications online through the African Union’s official application process. Apply for the Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship – African Union
[https://au.int/en/announcement/call-applications-enterprise-africa-network-ean-fellowship-programme-cohort-2-202627?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

Applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements and application instructions carefully before submitting their applications.

Contact
For further information about the Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship Programme, applicants can contact: Email: AUEAN@AfricanUnion.org