Applications are now open for the Reckitt Catalyst Global Accelerator 2026, an international accelerator programme designed to support women-led and underrepresented social enterprises developing innovative solutions to improve access to healthcare and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The initiative is a partnership between Reckitt, Yunus Social Innovation (YSI), and the Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), with applications accepted from 15 June to 9 August 2026.

The accelerator seeks high-impact enterprises operating across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, offering participants mentorship, capacity building, networking opportunities, and the possibility of receiving flexible financing of up to US$30,000.

Accelerator Aims to Expand Access to Health and Hygiene

The Reckitt Catalyst Global Accelerator is focused on identifying social enterprises with scalable solutions that improve access to healthcare and WASH services through business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) models. The programme aims to support businesses with strong financial sustainability and the potential to create long-term systemic change.

Organizers are particularly interested in enterprises that are prepared to collaborate with Reckitt, governments, and other strategic partners to increase the reach and impact of their innovations.

Priority Areas for Innovation

The accelerator welcomes solutions addressing critical challenges in both the health and WASH sectors.

In the field of water, sanitation and hygiene, priority areas include:

Affordable and regenerative technologies that improve access to clean water
Innovative sanitation solutions
Cost-effective hygiene products and distribution models
Maintenance systems for WASH infrastructure
Community education and awareness initiatives on hygiene practices
Community-led management models for water and sanitation systems

Health innovations are expected to focus on improving healthcare accessibility through:

Disease prevention technologies and behaviour change interventions
Affordable diagnostic and point-of-care solutions
Digital and hybrid healthcare delivery models
Health logistics, financing, and data management systems
Sexual and reproductive health innovations
Solutions addressing sexually transmitted diseases
Technologies supporting germ protection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Focus on Women and Underrepresented Founders

The programme places strong emphasis on promoting inclusive entrepreneurship by supporting founders who have historically faced barriers to accessing investment and business opportunities.

Preference will be given to enterprises that:

Are women-led with at least 51% female ownership or women holding more than half of leadership positions
Are founded by individuals from underrepresented communities
Incorporate ethical artificial intelligence into their solutions
Develop deep technology innovations
Focus on FemTech solutions addressing women’s health
Improve access to medicines and hygiene products in remote communities
Address waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea

The organisers encourage applications from entrepreneurs representing diverse racial, ethnic, gender, disability, refugee, immigrant, and low-income backgrounds.

Programme Benefits

Up to 20 social enterprises will be selected to participate in the 2026–2027 accelerator programme.

Participants will receive:

Expert-led masterclasses and workshops
Individual mentorship and executive coaching
Access to Reckitt specialists and industry experts
Global networking opportunities
Exposure to investors and funding partners
Post-programme implementation support
Opportunity to receive flexible financing of up to US$30,000 based on programme performance and investment readiness

The accelerator will run virtually between October 2026 and April 2027, with participants expected to dedicate approximately five hours per week.

Eligibility Requirements

The programme is open to legally registered social enterprises operating in one or more of the eligible countries.

Applicants must meet several requirements, including:

Be a legally registered for-profit or non-profit entity
Have at least one founder or partner aged 18 years or older
Operate a revenue-generating business model with long-term sustainability
Address healthcare or WASH access challenges
Have at least one founder working full-time within the enterprise
Nominate two representatives to participate throughout the accelerator programme

Previous participants in Reckitt, YSI, or HIEx programmes are not eligible to apply.

Selection Process

Applications will undergo a multi-stage evaluation process conducted jointly by representatives from Reckitt, YSI, and HIEx.

The assessment will focus on:

Social impact and transformational potential
Strength, diversity, and vision of the leadership team
Business maturity and product-market fit
Innovation and technological relevance
Potential strategic alignment with Reckitt’s sustainability and business objectives

The selection process includes:

Open application period: 15 June – 9 August 2026
Evaluation and pre-selection of up to 40 enterprises
Virtual interviews during August 2026
Final selection between August and September 2026
Announcement of up to 20 selected enterprises in September 2026

Selected businesses will also complete a comprehensive due diligence assessment before joining the programme.

About the Partners

The Reckitt Catalyst Global Accelerator is delivered through a collaboration between three organizations committed to improving global health outcomes.

Reckitt has supported more than 80 social entrepreneurs across 13 countries since 2020 and has committed to supporting 200 innovators by 2030 through the Catalyst initiative.

Yunus Social Innovation (YSI) is a global consultancy focused on integrating social innovation into business strategies and helping organizations create sustainable social impact.

Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) is an international platform that connects innovators, investors, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders to accelerate equitable healthcare access worldwide.

Together, the partners aim to strengthen the global innovation ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurs capable of delivering scalable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health and hygiene challenges.

Why the Programme Matters

Access to quality healthcare and safe water remains a significant challenge across many developing and emerging economies. By supporting innovative enterprises that combine sustainable business models with measurable social impact, the Reckitt Catalyst Global Accelerator seeks to strengthen health systems, improve hygiene outcomes, and increase equitable access to essential services.

The programme also reinforces the importance of inclusive entrepreneurship by prioritizing women-led businesses and founders from historically underrepresented communities, contributing to broader economic empowerment and sustainable development.

Applications remain open until 9 August 2026, offering eligible enterprises an opportunity to accelerate their growth while expanding their impact across the health and WASH sectors.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.