Call for Applications: African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship 2026 (Cohort 2)
Organiser: African Union Commission (AUC – ETTIM Department)
Programme Type: Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Fellowship
Fellowship Duration: 12 Months
Number of Fellows: 100 Selected Entrepreneurs across 55 AU Member States
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026
Programme Commences: November 2026
About the Fellowship
The African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme is a continental acceleration initiative designed to support promising African Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Implemented by the AU Commission Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Cohort 2 will support 100 entrepreneurs with structured business training, expert mentorship, intellectual property guidance, and direct access to African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) markets.
The programme places a strong emphasis on youth- and women-led enterprises, as well as businesses from underrepresented African regions and small island Member States.
Eligible Sectors
The fellowship focuses on 7 key sectors divided into two main clusters aligned with the AfCFTA:
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Products Cluster: Manufacturing, Agro-processing, and Creative Industries.
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Services Cluster: ICT & Digital, Fintech, Health, and Logistics & Transport.
Fellowship Tiers
Selected participants will be categorized into three tiers based on enterprise maturity:
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Tier 1 (Growth – 35 Places): Operating 2 to 5 years, minimum 3 employees, with demonstrable market traction.
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Tier 2 (Expansion – 40 Places): Operating 5 to 10 years, 10 to 30 employees, with cross-border expansion ambitions.
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Tier 3 (Scale-Ready – 25 Places): Operating 10+ years or holding an investor-ready profile.
Key Benefits & Coverage
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Training: 12 months of structured business training across 10 specialized modules.
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Mentorship & IP: Expert mentorship via AU partners and dedicated intellectual property support.
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Market Access: Access to the African Trade Observatory (ATO) and AfCFTA market intelligence tools.
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Matchmaking: Virtual market-entry sessions across 10 AfCFTA pilot countries (Tiers 1 & 2) and direct B2B matchmaking (Tier 3).
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Continental Visibility: Opportunities to participate in major AU continental trade events.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following baseline conditions:
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Must be a youth- or women-led enterprise.
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Must be formally registered and operating in an African Union Member State.
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Must have been in business operation for at least 2 years.
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Must employ at least 3 full-time staff members.
Key Dates
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Applications Open: July 31, 2026
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Application Deadline: September 30, 2026
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Selection Results: October 2026
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Programme Kickoff: November 2026
How to Apply
Interested and eligible entrepreneurs should submit their applications directly through the official application portals below: