Anzisha Fellowship 2027 for African entrepreneurs aged 22 and under

What is the Anzisha Fellowship?

Anzisha identifies and supports young African entrepreneurs who are already building and growing real businesses. Selected fellows join a multi-year programme designed to strengthen their ventures rather than to teach business theory from scratch.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be aged 22 or under, hold citizenship of an African country and carry a valid identity document or passport. They also have to be a founding member of the business they enter with, not an employee or a later joiner.

The business itself has conditions too. It must operate in Africa and serve African customers or beneficiaries, and it must already exist: the fellowship is for entrepreneurs who can show customers, revenue or beneficiaries rather than an idea on paper. Formal registration is not required, but real activity is.

Which sectors are eligible?

Any of them. The business, invention or social project can sit in any field or industry, and all types of business are welcome. That makes this one of the few programmes on this site where your sector does not narrow your chances.

How and when do you apply?

Applications for the 2027 intake open on 29 September 2026 and close on 10 November 2026. The process is free and no fees are charged at any stage. An application guide listing eligibility requirements, documents and images needed is published on the official page in English, Arabic, French and Portuguese.

What happens after the deadline?

Applications are evaluated over the following months, and the new fellows are announced in May 2027. Prepare the supporting material early, because the guide asks for evidence of trading activity that takes time to gather.