African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship 2026/2...

African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship 2026/27: Opportunity for 100 African Entrepreneurs | Apply Now

African Union Commission – Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme – Cohort 2 – Across Africa

Complete guide to eligibility, sectors, tiers, and application process

Quick Highlights

Parameter	Details
Organization	African Union Commission
Programme	Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme
Cohort	2
Target	100 Fellows
Eligibility	All 55 African Union Member States
Sectors	7 sectors
Tiers	Growth (35), Expansion (40), Scale-Ready (25)
Focus	Youth- and women-led enterprises
Benefits	Training + Mentorship + IP support + Market access + ATO access + Continental events
Impact Goal	USD 2M new revenue + 500 new jobs
Application Deadline	30 September 2026
Official Website	https://au.int

Opportunity Overview

Field	Details
Host Organisation	African Union Commission
Opportunity Category	Fellowship
Location	African Union Member States
Application Mode	Online
Official Language	English/French

About the Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship

The EAN Fellowship is implemented by the African Union Commission's Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM). It is designed to support promising African businesses with the skills, networks and market opportunities required to grow within the continent and beyond.

The inaugural 2024/25 cohort trained 56 fellows from 30 African countries and generated more than USD 1 million in deals and contracts. Building on that experience, Cohort 2 will expand participation to 100 enterprises while placing greater emphasis on enterprise growth, cross-border trade, market access and job creation.

Why You Should Apply

Benefit	Description
Structured Training	12 months of tailored training
Expert Mentorship	Guidance from African Union partners
Intellectual Property Support	IP protection assistance
Market Access	AfCFTA market intelligence tools
African Trade Observatory	Access to trade data
Continental Events	Networking with potential partners
Cross-Border Trade	Virtual market-entry sessions
Business Growth	Revenue and job creation support

Fellowship Sectors

Products Cluster

Sector	Description
Manufacturing	Production and processing
Agro-Processing	Agricultural value addition
Creative Industries	Arts, culture, media, design

Services Cluster

Sector	Description
ICT and Digital	Technology and digital solutions
Fintech	Financial technology
Health	Healthcare services and products
Logistics and Transport	Supply chain and mobility

Three Fellowship Tiers

Tier 1 – Growth

Detail	Information
Places	35
Operating Period	2-5 years
Employees	At least 3
Requirements	Market traction

Tier 2 – Expansion

Detail	Information
Places	40
Operating Period	5-10 years
Employees	10-30 people
Requirements	Ambitions to expand across borders

Tier 3 – Scale-Ready

Detail	Information
Places	25
Operating Period	10+ years or investor-ready profile
Requirements	Established track record

Regional Representation

Requirement	Details
Continental Representation	At least 40 places across all 5 AU regions
Small Island States	At least 5 places

What the Fellowship Offers

Benefit	Description
12 Months Training	10 modules tailored by sector and tier
Expert Mentorship	Through African Union partners
African Trade Observatory	Market intelligence tools
AfCFTA Access	Regional trade opportunities
Continental Events	Networking and engagement
Virtual Market-Entry	Tier 1 & 2: 10 AfCFTA pilot countries
B2B Matchmaking	Tier 3: Business-to-business sessions

Who Can Apply?

Criteria	Requirements
Location	Operate and registered in an AU Member State
Operations	At least 2 years of operation
Staff	Minimum 3 full-time employees
Sector	Must be in one of 7 eligible sectors
Focus	Youth- and women-led enterprises encouraged

Encouraged Applicants

Group	Description
Women-Led Enterprises	Particularly encouraged
Underrepresented Regions	African regions
Small Island Member States	Allocated at least 5 places

Eligibility Timeline

Event	Date
Applications Open	31 July 2026
Application Deadline	30 September 2026
Notification	October 2026
Programme Commences	November 2026

Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Business Information	Registration, sector, operations, employees
Countries of Trade	Current trade locations
Revenue Range	Business revenue
Intellectual Property	IP status
Access to Finance	Formal finance access
Written Pitch	Up to 800 words
Financial Document	Bank statement/mobile money (shortlisted only)

Application Process

Step	Action
1	Review eligibility requirements
2	Prepare business information
3	Write 800-word pitch
4	Complete online application
5	Shortlisted applicants submit financial document
6	Await selection notification

Important Notes

Note	Description
Accurate Information	Misrepresentation results in disqualification
Permanent Ineligibility	For future EAN Fellowship cohorts
No Fee	Application is free

Important Links

Description	URL
Apply Now	https://au.int/en/announcement/call-applications-enterprise-africa-network-ean-fellowship-programme-cohort-2-202627
African Union Official	https://au.int

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Q1. What is the EAN Fellowship?	AU startup acceleration programme for African MSMEs.
Q2. Who can apply?	Youth- and women-led enterprises from AU Member States.
Q3. How many fellows will be selected?	100.
Q4. What are the sectors?	Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Creative Industries, ICT/Digital, Fintech, Health, Logistics/Transport.
Q5. What are the tiers?	Growth (35), Expansion (40), Scale-Ready (25).
Q6. What are the benefits?	Training, mentorship, market access, ATO access, continental events.
Q7. What is the deadline?	30 September 2026.
Q8. How to apply?	Online through AU website.
Q9. Is there a fee?	No.
Q10. What was the impact of Cohort 1?	56 fellows, 30 countries, USD 1M+ in deals.

CareerFlora Expert Insight

The African Union EAN Fellowship offers a transformative opportunity for African MSMEs to scale their businesses through structured training, mentorship, and market access. With 100 fellows selected across 55 AU Member States, the programme aims to generate USD 2 million in new revenue and create 500 new jobs.

The three-tier structure ensures that enterprises at different stages of maturity receive tailored support, from growth-stage businesses to scale-ready enterprises. The emphasis on youth- and women-led enterprises and regional representation makes this an inclusive and impactful initiative.

Best Opportunity For

Category	Suitable
Youth-Led Enterprises	Yes
Women-Led Enterprises	Yes
Manufacturing Businesses	Yes
Agro-Processing Businesses	Yes
Creative Industries	Yes
ICT/Digital Businesses	Yes
Fintech Businesses	Yes
Health Businesses	Yes
Logistics/Transport Businesses	Yes
AU Member States	Yes

Competition Level

Category	Level
Overall Competition	High
Selection Difficulty	Competitive
Application Complexity	Medium

CareerFlora Recommendation

Area	Details
Fellowship Value	Excellent
Career Growth	High
Application Difficulty	Medium
Apply Early	Strongly Recommended

Final Call-to-Action

Apply for African Union EAN Fellowship 2026/27 before 30 September 2026.

Visit the official AU page: https://au.int/en/announcement/call-applications-enterprise-africa-network-ean-fellowship-programme-cohort-2-202627
Review eligibility requirements
Prepare your business information and 800-word pitch
Complete the online application
Submit before the deadline
Follow CareerFlora for the latest updates

African Union Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship 2026/27: Opportunity for 100 African Entrepreneurs – Apply Now