The African Union Commission has opened applications for Cohort 2 of the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme 2026/27, a flagship startup acceleration initiative designed to strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa. The programme will select 100 fellows from all 55 African Union Member States and provide structured training, expert mentorship, intellectual property support and market access opportunities. The second cohort aims to help participating enterprises generate USD 2 million in new attributable revenue and create 500 new jobs. Applications are open to eligible youth- and women-led enterprises operating in African Union Member States. 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. Who Can Apply? The fellowship is open to youth- and women-led small enterprises that meet specific eligibility requirements. Applicants must operate and be registered as a formal business entity in an African Union Member State. Businesses must have been operating for at least two years and employ a minimum of three full-time staff members. The African Union is particularly encouraging applications from women-led enterprises, businesses from underrepresented African regions and enterprises from small island Member States. The programme is intended for established businesses with demonstrable operations rather than newly formed startups without a track record. Fellowship Sectors Cohort 2 covers seven sectors divided into two broad clusters aligned with opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Products Cluster Manufacturing Agro-processing Creative industries Services Cluster ICT and digital Fintech Health Logistics and transport Businesses operating in these sectors can apply if they satisfy the programme’s eligibility requirements. Three Fellowship Tiers Selected enterprises will be placed into one of three fellowship tiers according to their level of maturity. Training, mentorship and market access support will be tailored to the needs of each tier. Tier 1 – Growth: 35 places are available for enterprises operating for 2–5 years, with at least three employees and demonstrable market traction. Tier 2 – Expansion: 40 places are available for enterprises operating for 5–10 years, employing 10–30 people and demonstrating ambitions to expand across borders. Tier 3 – Scale-Ready: 25 places are available for enterprises operating for 10 years or more, or businesses with an investor-ready profile. At least 40 places, representing 40 percent of the cohort, are reserved to ensure representation across all five AU continental regions. At least five places will be allocated to enterprises from small island Member States. What the Fellowship Offers All selected fellows will participate in 12 months of structured training delivered through 10 modules tailored according to sector and enterprise tier. Participants will also receive expert mentorship through African Union partners, giving entrepreneurs access to experienced professionals who can provide guidance on business development and growth. Fellows will gain access to the African Trade Observatory (ATO) and AfCFTA market intelligence tools, helping enterprises better understand regional trade opportunities and market conditions. The programme will also provide opportunities to participate in continental events and engage with potential markets and business partners. Tier 1 and Tier 2 fellows will participate in virtual market-entry sessions covering 10 AfCFTA pilot countries, while Tier 3 fellows will participate in business-to-business matchmaking sessions. Application Timeline Applications for the EAN Fellowship Cohort 2 opened on 31 July 2026. The application deadline is 30 September 2026, giving eligible enterprises several weeks to prepare and submit their applications. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in October 2026, with the fellowship programme scheduled to commence in November 2026. How to Apply Applications must be submitted online through the designated EAN Fellowship application form. The application collects information about the business, including its registration status, sector, years of operation, number of employees, countries where it currently trades, revenue range, intellectual property status and access to formal finance. Applicants must also submit a written pitch of up to 800 words explaining their enterprise, its primary market challenge and what they hope to achieve through participation in the fellowship. Shortlisted applicants will subsequently be required to provide one document demonstrating access to finance, such as a bank statement, mobile money statement or equivalent documentation. This supporting financial document is not required at the initial application stage. Applicants should provide accurate information throughout the process. The African Union states that misrepresentation will result in immediate disqualification and permanent ineligibility for future EAN Fellowship cohorts. Who Is Not Eligible? Current and former staff members of the African Union Commission are not eligible to apply. Employees and representatives of EAN institutional partners, staff members of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and graduates of previous EAN Fellowship cohorts are also excluded. Eligible African entrepreneurs are encouraged to prepare their applications carefully and demonstrate the maturity, market potential and growth ambitions of their enterprises before the 30 September 2026 deadline. 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