Young entrepreneurs across West Africa now have an exciting opportunity to scale their businesses through the ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (EYEP) 2026. Launched by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), this initiative seeks to identify and support promising youth-led businesses through grants, mentorship, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and business development support.

The programme forms part of the broader ECOWAS Youth and Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme (EYWEP), implemented by the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development (CDJS/ECOWAS) with technical and financial support from AUDA-NEPAD.

Designed specifically for young entrepreneurs who already operate an existing business or entrepreneurial activity, the programme aims to strengthen business capacity, improve competitiveness, increase production, and create sustainable employment opportunities across the ECOWAS region.

Applications are currently open for eligible entrepreneurs from seven pilot countries, with successful applicants competing for grants of up to USD 15,000 and a comprehensive entrepreneurship support package.

Application Deadline: 16 July 2026 (23:59 GMT).

About the ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (EYEP)

The ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme is a regional initiative established to promote youth economic empowerment by strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems across West Africa.

Recognizing that young entrepreneurs often face barriers such as limited financing, inadequate technical support, weak business networks, and insufficient managerial capacity, the programme provides an integrated package of financial and non-financial support to help businesses grow sustainably.

The programme goes beyond grant funding by helping entrepreneurs improve business management, production capacity, market access, resilience, and long-term sustainability.

During its pilot phase, EYEP focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who already have operational businesses and require targeted assistance to consolidate or expand their enterprises.

Objectives of the Programme

The primary objective of the ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme is to strengthen youth-led businesses and contribute to sustainable economic growth throughout the region.

Specifically, the programme seeks to:

• Strengthen existing youth-owned businesses.
• Improve production capacity and service delivery.
• Enhance entrepreneurial and financial management skills.
• Provide access to mentoring and coaching.
• Increase networking and partnership opportunities.
• Improve market visibility and business competitiveness.
• Connect entrepreneurs with financial institutions and technical partners.
• Promote resilient and sustainable business growth.
• Encourage job creation and economic development within local communities.

Pilot Countries

The 2026 pilot phase is open exclusively to entrepreneurs from the following seven ECOWAS Member States:

• Benin
• Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea-Bissau
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone

Applicants must be nationals or legal residents of one of these participating countries.

Who Should Apply?

The programme is specifically designed for young entrepreneurs who already operate an existing business.

Eligible applicants include:

• Young business owners.
• Startup founders.
• Entrepreneurs managing informal businesses.
• Owners of registered companies.
• Growing startups seeking expansion.
• Entrepreneurs requiring technical and financial support.
• Small business operators wishing to improve production.
• Entrepreneurs looking to strengthen management systems.

The programme is not intended for individuals who only have business ideas without an existing operational activity.

Priority Business Sectors

To qualify, businesses must operate within one of the programme’s priority sectors.

Eligible sectors include:

1. Pharmaceutical Industry

Businesses involved in:

• Pharmaceutical production
• Medical products
• Health innovations
• Drug manufacturing
• Health technologies

2. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Eligible ICT businesses include:

• Software development
• Digital services
• Artificial intelligence
• Mobile applications
• Information systems
• Technology startups
• Digital innovation

3. Solar Energy and Renewable Energy

Examples include:

• Solar energy businesses
• Renewable energy solutions
• Clean energy innovations
• Green technologies
• Sustainable energy services

4. Agrosilvopastoral Activities and Agricultural Value Chains

Businesses operating in:

• Agriculture
• Agribusiness
• Livestock production
• Forestry
• Food processing
• Agricultural technologies
• Agricultural value addition
• Farm input services

Grant Awards

Following the competitive selection process, the highest-performing entrepreneurs will receive financial support.

Available awards include:

In addition to grant funding, beneficiaries will gain access to extensive business support services.

Programme Benefits

Selected entrepreneurs will receive a comprehensive package designed to strengthen every aspect of their businesses.

Benefits include:

Financial Support

• Business grants of up to USD 15,000.
• Special regional business plan awards.
• Connections with financing institutions.

Capacity Building

Participants will receive:

• Entrepreneurship training.
• Business management training.
• Financial management support.
• Production improvement guidance.

Technical Support

Entrepreneurs will benefit from:

• Technical advisory services.
• Operational support.
• Business development assistance.
• Company structuring support.

Mentorship

The programme provides:

• One-on-one mentoring.
• Personalized coaching.
• Guidance from experienced business professionals.

Networking Opportunities

Participants will gain access to:

• Regional business networks.
• ECOWAS entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Investors.
• Business support organizations.
• Development partners.
• Technical institutions.

Market Development

Support includes:

• Increased business visibility.
• Improved market access.
• Partnership development.
• Growth opportunities.
• Business resilience strengthening.

Learn More Here

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Be a national or resident of one of the seven participating countries.
• Already own or operate an existing business.
• Operate within one of the priority sectors.
• Submit a complete application.
• Apply before the stated deadline.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated using several factors, including:

• Relevance of the business activity.
• Business structure and organization.
• Growth potential.
• Financial and economic viability.
• Production or service delivery capacity.
• Need for technical support.
• Job creation potential.
• Socio-economic impact.
• Entrepreneur motivation.
• Ability to benefit from mentoring and coaching.

The evaluation aims to identify businesses with strong potential for sustainable growth and regional impact.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must prepare a complete application package containing:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Valid identification document.
• Company or business profile.
• Simplified business plan or business model presentation.
• Financial projections.
• Company registration documents (where applicable).
• Any additional supporting documents demonstrating business performance.

All documents must be combined into one PDF file before submission.

Selection Process

The selection process consists of several stages:

1. Submission of applications.
2. Administrative verification.
3. Technical evaluation.
4. Shortlisting of top applications.
5. Additional interviews or verification (if required).
6. Final selection of beneficiaries.
7. Enrollment into the entrepreneurship support programme.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

How to Apply

Applicants must send their completed application by email to the address designated for their country.

The required email subject is:

“EYWEP Program Application – Existing Businesses”

Applications should be submitted to the following country-specific email addresses:

• Benin: benin.eywep@cdjscedeao.org
• Côte d’Ivoire: cotedivoire.eywep@cdjscedeao.org
• The Gambia: gambia.eywep@cdjscedeao.org
• Ghana: ghana.eywep@cdjscedeao.org
• Guinea-Bissau: guineabissau.eywep@cdjscedeao.org
• Senegal: senegal.eywep@cdjscedeao.org
• Sierra Leone: sierraleone.eywep@cdjscedeao.org

Applicants should ensure all required documents are attached as a single PDF before submission.

Important Information

Applicants should note the following:

• Participation is completely free.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Late applications will not be accepted.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
• The programme is intended for entrepreneurs with existing businesses rather than business ideas.

For additional enquiries, applicants may contact:

cdjs@ecowas.int

Application Deadline

Deadline: 16 July 2026 at 23:59 GMT

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications well before the closing date to avoid technical or submission issues.

Why You Should Apply

The ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme represents one of the most comprehensive regional entrepreneurship support initiatives available to young business owners in West Africa.

Beyond financial grants, participants gain access to expert mentorship, technical assistance, business management training, investor networks, and regional visibility that can significantly strengthen long-term business growth.

For entrepreneurs operating in sectors such as ICT, renewable energy, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, the programme offers an excellent opportunity to scale operations, improve competitiveness, create employment, and contribute to regional economic development.

Click HERE to learn more and to apply to the ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (EYEP) 2026.

Conclusion

The ECOWAS Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (EYEP) 2026 provides a unique platform for ambitious young entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses through grant funding, capacity building, mentoring, and strategic partnerships.

With grants of up to USD 15,000, personalized coaching, networking opportunities, and access to technical and financial partners, the programme equips young entrepreneurs with the resources needed to grow sustainable enterprises and drive economic transformation across West Africa.

Eligible entrepreneurs from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Sierra Leone are encouraged to prepare their application documents early and submit complete applications before 16 July 2026 (23:59 GMT).

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Reference: https://eywep.cdjscedeao.org/fr/ressources/13/telecharger