Deadline: 12th June 2026
The Social Innovators Programme (SIP) is a 9-month fellowship that recognises the transformative potential of social innovation in Africa. The programme is designed to address systemic challenges and promote sustainable development by providing early-stage social entrepreneurs with the essential skills, resources, knowledge and support needed to overcome barriers to growth and development.
This programme is for young Africans between 18-35 years of age with Social Enterprises addressing challenges within Africa. Fellows are drawn from a variety of fields such as; Agriculture, Technology, Climate Action, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Workforce Development. Fellows will participate in 4-6 weeks of intensive virtual sessions, 4 months of mentorship, and converge physically at the end of the programme for the Awards ceremony. Fellows will have the opportunity to present their social enterprises to potential investors, funders, and policymakers.Core Learning Areas
- Social innovation and enterprise design
- Market access and growth strategy
- Funding models and capital strategy
- Financial management and controls
- Impact measurement and outcome harvesting
- Strategy, governance, and team effectiveness
- Pitch development and stakeholder engagement
- Outstanding Fellow Awards
- Mr Seyi Bickersteth Prize
- Mr Innocent Chukwuma Prize
All of the following eligibility criteria must be met by applicants in order to be accepted into the Social Innovators Programme.
Citizenship/Residency:
You must meet one of the criteria below:
You are a citizen of an African nation OR
You are a permanent resident of an African nation.
Geographic Focus:Â Your current and future enterprise is geographically located in a local community in an African nation.
Leadership Experience:Â You have founded or co-founded a social venture(s) with at least one (3) year of impact.
Age: You will be between 18 – and 35-years-old as at April, 2026.
Language Proficiency:Â You are professionally proficient in English (spoken and written). applications must be completed in English.
Program Commitment:Â You can commit to fully participating in the entire duration of the program between April to October, 2026.
Applicants must be the founder or co-founder of a venture that has not previously participated in the LEAP Africa Social Innovators programme, and only one co-founder per enterprise may apply.
Participants should have no more than three absences in order to complete the program and graduate from the fellowship.
For more information and application.
