Leap Africa 2024 Social Innovators Programme for Nigerian Entrepreneurs for Fellowship

Eligibility Criteria

• Aspiring SIP fellows must be between 18 and 35
• Aspiring fellows must be African or Nigerian citizens where the funder is insistent.
• Aspiring fellows must be one of the social enterprise's primary decision-makers (Founder, ED, Co-Founder).
• Aspiring fellows’ enterprises must address quality education, healthcare, affordable and clean energy,  climate action, agriculture, technology, gender & social inclusion, and workforce development. Where aspiring fellow’s enterprise does not align with these specific impact areas, it must have a significant and measurable positive impact on communities or the environment.
• Aspiring fellows’ enterprises must have a significant and measurable positive impact on communities or the environment. 
• Aspiring fellows must articulate the intended social outcomes and demonstrate an understanding of the target beneficiaries.
• Aspiring fellows must be social entrepreneurs in the early and mid-stage of their enterprise (2-5 years), showing potential for growth and scalability and needing access to financing and capacity-building support to scale or sustain their enterprises.
• Aspiring fellows must be able to commit their time and effort to participate fully in the fellowship, as it includes 100% mandatory attendance at workshops, mentorship sessions, and other programme activities.
• Aspiring fellows enterprise is a mission-driven social enterprise, meaning that the sole objective is not just to make a profit but also to have a lasting impact on the community they serve.

Offered Benefits

The Social Innovators Programme aims to strengthen and advance youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa through capacity building, catalytic funding, and access to networks that enhance the sustainability of social entrepreneurs. 

Application Process

All sessions are mandatory, exemption from a session must be made with prior notice to the SIP team. Full participation in these sessions would determine graduation from the fellowship.

There may be occasional optional sessions that highlight special and or timely opportunities. In total, participants can expect to dedicate an average of 12–14 hours per month over the course of the fellowship.