Applications are currently open for the 2026 ECOWAS Regional Business Incubation Programme. This initiative, operating under the ECOWAS Youth and Women's Entrepreneurship Programme (EYWEP), is implemented by the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development with technical and financial backing from AUDA-NEPAD. The programme is structured to identify and cultivate young entrepreneurs who possess innovative business ideas, guiding them through a comprehensive incubation process to transform their concepts into viable and sustainable enterprises.
Eligibility Requirements
• Age: Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Nationality/Residency: Must be a national or resident of Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, or Sierra Leone.
• Business Stage: Applicants must have an innovative business idea, concept, prototype, or project in the pre-launch stage.
Eligible Sectors
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Solar and renewable energy
• Agri-silvo-pastoral activities and agricultural value chains
Programme Benefits
• Incubation: Access to a structured business incubation program.
• Training: Comprehensive entrepreneurship training.
• Workshops: Participation in project maturation workshops.
• Mentorship: One-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions.
• Business Development: Support for business model and business plan development.
• Legal Support: Assistance with legal business registration.
• Networking: Opportunities to connect with technical, financial, and institutional partners.
• Funding: Potential for grants to be awarded to the best projects in each country, contingent on available funding.
Application Details
• Application Deadline: 16 July 2026 (23:59 GMT).
• Required Documents: Applicants must submit an updated CV, a valid ID, a concept note detailing the business idea, and a description of the problem, proposed solution, and target market.
• Optional Documents: Supporting documents such as a prototype, mock-ups, images, or proof of concept may be included if available.
• Submission Format: All documents must be merged into a single PDF file.
Application Procedure
• Submission Method: Applications must be submitted via the country-specific email address.
• Guidance: Applicants should refer to the official call for applications and the application guide to find the correct email address for their country.
For complete details and access to application documents, including the 'Call for application EBIP', 'Appel à candidature EYWEP', and 'CONVOCATÓRIA PARA CANDIDATURAS EBIP', interested individuals should visit the Official Webpage of the ECOWAS Regional Business Incubation Programme.