The African Union Commission is excited to announce 50 innovative African small businesses, selected for the inaugural edition of the highly competitive Enterprise African Network (EAN) Fellowship Programme.

This Fellowship Programme emerged from the African Union's strategic efforts to implement and operationalize the EAN, as recommended by the Heads of State and Government at the extraordinary summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification held on 25^th November 2022 in Niamey, Niger. The EAN serves as a vital support network, connecting African micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with markets, skills, and funding. It operates under three main pillars: the African Trade Observatory (ATO), the Trade Routes Platform (TRP), and the Market Intelligence Information System (MIIS). Additionally, it includes the Investment Financing Network (IFN), which facilitates business start-ups and MSMEs in priority sectors by mobilizing funds and building connections with investment networks.

The 50 selected businesses, representing 30 nationalities from the five regions of Africa, will participate in the 12-month programme. These businesses are already making significant impacts in areas such as sustainable agriculture, manufacturing, digital transformation, mineral resource value addition, and the creative industries. The EAN Fellowship aims to amplify their impact, create jobs, and contribute to the growth of the African economy. The program is designed to align with the African Union's broader goals of promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent, ultimately contributing to the prosperity of African nations.

Chosen from over 1,500 applications from 44 African Union Member States, 888 candidates were shortlisted for the EAN Fellowship Selection Jury's final decision. The Selection Board comprised 13 jurors from three AU institutions, including the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the AUC Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (AUC-ETTIM), and the Africa Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), ensuring a comprehensive selection process.

The selected fellows will engage in activities centred around the three key pillars of the EAN. These include capacity building on the African Trade Observatory, leveraging trade routes to access continental and global value chains, utilizing market intelligence tools, and accessing new markets through the AfCFTA and the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), as well information on a wide range of financing instrument that can bridge gap of limited small business financing across the continent. This tailored approach aligns with Moonshot 1 and Aspiration 1 of the African Union's Agenda 2063, which envisions "Every AU Member State attains at least middle-income status by 2033" and "A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development."

Throughout the programme, fellows will participate in both in-person and virtual activities, including the 3rd African Union MSME Forum in Windhoek, Namibia. This forum offers a unique chance to connect with key MSME stakeholders, foster connections with peers, and gain a deeper understanding of the EAN fellowship programme's goals and expectations. Additionally, fellows will benefit from targeted capacity-building initiatives with strategic AUC partners, ultimately emerging as export-ready entrepreneurs poised to attract potential investors at the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025.

The African Union Commission remains committed to building a robust network of partners dedicated to supporting the Enterprise African Network and the broader community of MSMEs in Africa.

The selected participants for the first cohort of the EAN Fellowship Programme have been notified.

For more information, please contact:

Bulelwa Nkosi | Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: nkosib@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Media Contact:

Mr. Oloyede Abimifoluwa | Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals | African Union Commission | E-mail:OloyedeA@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.