Deadline: June 12, 2026
Applications for the LEAP Africa Social Innovators Programme (SIP) 2026 are now open. 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.
For the past 13 years, LEAP Africa, through the SIP, has empowered over 294 young social innovators, transforming the lives of over 4 million people across 14 African countries, with over $7.8 million in funding and revenue generated.
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
Eligibility
- You are a citizen of an African nation OR You are a permanent resident of an African nation.
- Your current and future enterprise is geographically located in a local community in an African nation.
- You have founded or co-founded a social venture(s) with at least one (3) year of impact.
- You will be between 18 – and 35-years-old as at April, 2026.
- You are professionally proficient in English (spoken and written). applications must be completed in English.
- 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.
Application
The 2026 Social Innovators Programme application will close by May 2026. In order to avoid technical glitches or other problems due to issues such as internet access, it is strongly advised that you complete the application early. Due to the number of applications received, LEAP Africa cannot be responsible for applications that are not submitted on time, regardless of the reason.
For more information, visit SIP.
