Young African organisations and social enterprises aiming to grow impactful ventures now have a major opportunity through the AU-EU Youth Action Lab’s Entrepreneurship Grants 2026. The program supports youth-led organisations combining social or environmental missions with a sustainable business model, giving them funding, mentoring, and capacity-building support to scale their impact.
This grant is especially relevant for youth-led groups pursuing social entrepreneurship, community development, or green/environmental ventures, giving them a real shot at growth, sustainability, and cross-continental exposure.
What the Grant Offers
- €30,000 – €50,000 funding to scale your youth-led social enterprise.
- Mentorship and capacity-building support to strengthen organisational and financial capacity.
- Networking opportunities across Africa and Europe through the programme’s platform, ideal for partnerships, exposure, and future collaboration.
- A chance to be part of a community of youth-led organisations working on social/environmental impact with sustainable business models.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility Criteria)
Your organisation or social enterprise should:
- Be youth-led: Decision-makers and core staff should be aged 18–35.
- Be legally registered in one of the 12 eligible African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (Somaliland), Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
- Be a non-profit / NGO / CBO / Cooperative / Social Enterprise, with a clear social or environmental mission — not a purely for-profit business.
- Have been operating for at least 12 months, with a formal governance structure, bank account, and some evidence of income-generating activity or financial sustainability.
- Demonstrate clear social or environmental impact, such as youth employment, community services, environmental gains, affordability of services, or improved livelihoods.
Purely for-profit SMEs with no explicit social mission or donor-only NGOs without an enterprise arm are not eligible under this call.
Grant Focus & Scope
The 2026 call focuses on the “responsible growth of youth-led social enterprises” — that is, enterprises with a social/environmental mission and a sustainable, income-generating business model.
Projects could include social enterprises in areas such as education, climate action, health, environmental sustainability, youth employment, community development — basically any initiative that combines mission with business viability.
How to Apply & Key Dates
- Applications open: As of the 2025 call launch (announcement made November 2025).
- Deadline: 7 January 2026 for Entrepreneurship (and Innovation / Representation) grants.
- Grant duration: Projects funded via Entrepreneurship Grants run for 12 months.
Steps to Apply
- Visit the Youth Action Lab grants page and select Entrepreneurship Grants.
- Read the Funding Manual carefully (available in English, French, and Portuguese).
- Prepare your proposal: describe your enterprise, business model, social/environmental impact, and how you plan to sustain operations.
- Include required documentation: registration proof, governance details, prior financials or revenue evidence, and description of team (age, roles).
- Submit via the ON Grip platform before 7 January 2026.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Show clear social or environmental impact: Detail measurable outcomes (jobs created, services provided, environmental benefits).
- Demonstrate financial sustainability: Show existing incomes, business activities, or realistic plans for revenue generation.
- Emphasize youth leadership and governance: Core decision-makers and staff must be aged 18–35 — highlight this clearly.
- Provide a solid governance structure and transparency: bank account, official registration, accountability systems, impact tracking.
- Show scalability: How will your enterprise grow? What’s your plan for expansion, replication, or sustainability beyond the grant period?
- Use the Funding Manual budget template — failing to follow required formats or guidelines can disqualify an application.
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab provides one of the most structured, high-value funding opportunities for youth-led social enterprises across multiple African countries. For young founders seeking to combine impact with business sustainability, this grant can be a gateway to growth, capacity building, cross-continental networking, and long-term viability.
It’s especially valuable because:
- It gives significant funding (30,000–50,000 EUR) — large enough to meaningfully scale social enterprises.
- It supports mission-driven initiatives, not just profit-driven startups.
- It requires youth leadership, putting power, decision-making, and control in the hands of young Africans.
- It connects grantees to networks across Africa and Europe, offering visibility, collaboration opportunities, and policymaker access.