About the opportunity
The Entrepreneurship Grants are part of the AU-EU Youth Action Lab, designed to support youth-led organisations in strengthening economic opportunities for young people. This third and final grant round focuses on advocating for an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. Selected organisations will receive financial support to implement their projects, join a platform to share solutions with peers and decision-makers across Africa and Europe, and benefit from mentorship and capacity development. The programme aims to nurture organisational stability, resilience, and impact at the community level.
Funding and benefits
- Financial support of 31,500 EUR per grant
- Participation in a platform to share solutions with peers, decision-makers, and stakeholders across Africa and Europe
- Mentorship and capacity development support tailored to organisational needs
Who can apply?
- Must be a non-profit organisation (Trust, CBO, NGO, CSO, or Cooperative) with a clear social/environmental mission
- Must be youth-led: governance and primary decision-making power held by young people aged 18-35 (100%)
- Project staff must be 100% young people aged 18-35
- Formally registered in one of the 12 focus countries for at least 12 months
- Must have an organisation bank account and clear governance structure
- Proposed activities must take place in one or more of the 12 focus countries
Required documents
- Completed application form
- Refer to the Funding Manuals (English, Portuguese, French) for specific documentation requirements
When to apply
- Application deadline: 23 September 2026 at 13:00 PM Central African Time
- Information webinar: 03 September 2026 at 13:00 PM Central African Time
How to apply
- Read the Funding Manuals (English, Portuguese, or French)
- Develop a proposal as an individual organisation or in collaboration with other youth organisations
- Submit the application via the official online form by the deadline
- Optional: Register for the information webinar or join the Power to Voices platform community
Additional information
- The project duration is 12 months, from January 2027 to December 2027.
- A total of 11 grants will be awarded in this final round.
- Focus countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (Somaliland region), Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- The grant amount is fixed at 31,500 EUR.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Youth-led non-profits (NGOs, CBOs, or Cooperatives) based in the 12 listed focus countries.
- Organizations focused on social or environmental missions with a goal of strengthening economic opportunities for youth.
- Teams that value mentorship, capacity development, and international peer networking.
What should you think carefully about?
- The organization must be formally registered for at least 12 months and have a clear governance structure.
- The grant is fixed at 31,500 EUR for a 12-month project duration.
- 100% of the governance, decision-making power, and project staff must be young people aged 18-35.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This grant is designed for youth-led organizations aiming to build organizational stability and resilience while advocating for better economic environments for young entrepreneurs across Africa and Europe.
Our take
An excellent opportunity for youth-led non-profits in the 12 focus African countries to scale their advocacy for young entrepreneurs.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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