African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 for Youth- and Women-Led Enterprises

 

African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme

Applications are open for the 2026/2027 African Union Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme, the AU's flagship acceleration initiative for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Implemented by the AU Commission's Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), the programme supports youth- and women-led small enterprises registered and operating in an AU Member State, in business for at least two years, with a minimum of three full-time staff. Fellows receive twelve months of structured training across ten modules, expert mentorship through African Union Partners, access to the African Trade Observatory and AfCFTA market intelligence tools, and participation in continental events. Cohort 2 spans seven sectors organised into Products and Services clusters, with fellows placed into three tiers based on enterprise maturity. At least 40 places are reserved to ensure regional representation. 

Overview

Criteria	Details
Programme	Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship
Organiser	African Union Commission (ETTIM Department)
Type	AUC Startup Acceleration Initiative
Target	Youth- and women-led small enterprises (MSMEs)
Duration	12 months
Cohort	Cohort 2 (2026/2027)
Total places	100 (across three tiers)
Application deadline	30 September 2026
Programme start	November 2026

About the EAN Fellowship Programme

The Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme is the African Union's flagship initiative for the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). As an AUC Startup Acceleration Initiative, it is implemented by the AU Commission's Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM).

The programme gives some of Africa's most promising entrepreneurs a structured pathway to grow their businesses, combining training, expert mentorship, intellectual property support, and direct market access opportunities across the continent and beyond. It is designed to strengthen the enterprises that will drive intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Eligibility Requirements

The EAN Fellowship is open to youth- and women-led small enterprises that meet all of the following conditions:

Requirement	Detail
Location	Registered and operating in an AU Member State
Legal status	Formally registered as a business entity
Operating history	In operation for at least two years
Staffing	Employing a minimum of three full-time staff

Applications are particularly encouraged from women-led enterprises and from businesses in underrepresented AU regions and small island Member States.

Programme Benefits

All fellows receive a comprehensive support package built around growth and market access:

Benefit	Description
Structured training	Twelve months across ten modules, differentiated by sector and tier
Expert mentorship	Guidance delivered through African Union Partners
Market intelligence	Access to the African Trade Observatory (ATO) and AfCFTA tools
Continental exposure	Participation in continental events
Market entry (Tiers 1 & 2)	Virtual market-entry sessions across ten AfCFTA pilot countries
Market linkages (Tier 3)	B2B matchmaking sessions

Fellowship Sectors

Cohort 2 covers seven sectors organised into two clusters aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA):

Cluster	Sectors
Products Cluster (goods for intra-African trade)	Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Creative Industries
Services Cluster	ICT/Digital, Fintech, Health, Logistics/Transport

Entrepreneurs working at the intersection of agriculture and technology may also be interested in the Innovate Africa Challenge, through which the FAO is seeking AI-driven solutions for agriculture, a complementary opportunity for agro-processing and agri-tech ventures.

How to Apply

Interested enterprises should apply through the official African Union channel before the 30 September 2026 deadline. Prepare business registration documents, proof of at least two years of operation, and staffing records in advance, and identify the sector and tier that best match your enterprise before submitting.

For full details and the application portal, visit the official African Union EAN Fellowship Programme announcement.