The African Union Commission has opened Cohort 2 of the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme, a 12-month acceleration initiative offering training, mentorship, and market access to 100 entrepreneurs from all AU Member States. Applications close September 30, 2026.
At a glance
| Deadline | September 30, 2026 (applications opened July 31, 2026) |
| Eligibility | Registered business in an AU Member State, operating 2+ years, 3+ full-time employees |
| Benefit | 12 months of sector-tailored training, mentorship, African Trade Observatory access, continent-wide networking |
| Geography | All African Union Member States |
| How to apply | Online application form (JotForm) |
| Official source | au.int, EAN Fellowship Cohort 2 announcement |
Who’s eligible
To qualify, the African Union Commission requires that your business:
- Is registered and operating in an AU Member State
- Has been active for at least two years
- Employs at least three full-time staff
The programme “particularly encourages” applications from women-led enterprises and businesses in underrepresented regions, a fit worth noting alongside Africapreneurs’ own coverage of African entrepreneur fellowships.
Not eligible: current or former African Union Commission staff, employees of EAN partner organizations, Regional Economic Community staff, and graduates of previous EAN cohorts.
Cohort 2 is organized into three tiers by company maturity:
| Tier | Focus | Places | Years operating |
| Tier 1 | Growth | 35 | 2–5 years |
| Tier 2 | Expansion | 40 | 5–10 years |
| Tier 3 | Scale-Ready | 25 | 10+ years, or investor-ready |
Eligible sectors fall into two clusters: Products (manufacturing, agro-processing, creative industries) and Services (ICT/digital, fintech, health, logistics/transport).
What you get
Fellows selected for Cohort 2 receive:
- 12 months of structured, sector-tailored training
- Expert mentorship
- Access to the African Trade Observatory
- Continent-wide networking opportunities
Cohort 2 is targeting 100 fellows across all AU Member States, with a stated aim of generating $2 million in additional revenue and 500 new jobs across the cohort, a similar scale to other continent-wide programmes Africapreneurs has covered, such as African startup accelerator programs.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the EAN Fellowship JotForm. You’ll need:
- Business registration details
- Sector and operational history
- Employee count and trading countries
- Revenue range
- An 800-word pitch addressing the market challenge your business solves
Apply directly through the official AU application portal linked above, not through a third-party listing.
Key dates
| Milestone | Date |
| Applications open | July 31, 2026 |
| Application deadline | September 30, 2026 |
| Results announced | October 2026 |
| Programme launch | November 2026 |
This post reflects the programme’s status as of September 8, 2026. Africapreneurs will update this page if the deadline or status changes.
FAQ
Is the EAN Fellowship open to businesses outside AU Member States?
No. Eligibility is limited to registered businesses operating within an African Union Member State.
Can graduates of a previous EAN cohort apply again?
No. Graduates of previous EAN cohorts are explicitly excluded, along with current/former AU Commission staff, EAN partner staff, and Regional Economic Community staff.
Is there a minimum company age to apply?
Yes, your business must have been operating for at least two years, with a minimum of three full-time employees.
What happens after I submit my application?
Results are expected to be announced in October 2026, ahead of a November 2026 programme launch, according to the official announcement.
Is there a fee to apply?
The official announcement does not disclose an application fee; confirm directly via the application portal before applying.
