Deadline: March 9, 2026
Applications are open for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026. They invite young entrepreneurs who are leading scalable start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises, with social or environmental impact.
By 2030, more than two billion young people around the world will be shaping the future of their economies. This presents an exciting opportunity for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth, especially in emerging and frontier markets. Young entrepreneurs are already at the forefront of this change, building businesses that respond to local challenges and create lasting impact in their communities.
Entrepreneurs play a vital role in strengthening local economies. By developing new products and services, growing innovative business ideas, and expanding into new markets, they help create more resilient and dynamic business environments. However, many young entrepreneurs still face barriers such as limited access to networks, resources, and international exposure.
To help address these challenges, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), partners with One Young World to offer an annual scholarship for young entrepreneurs and business leaders. The scholarship is designed to support promising changemakers who are building scalable solutions to sustainability challenges and are ready to take their impact to the next level by connecting with a global community.
Scholarship recipients will attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, where 2,000 young leaders from over 190 countries come together to share ideas, learn from global experts, and collaborate on solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. The Summit offers an inspiring environment to grow professionally, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and build meaningful international connections that can support long-term success.
Benefits
Enterprising Futures Scholars will receive:
- Access to additional events organised by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the pre-programme.
- Access to the One Young World Summit 2026, taking place from 3 – 6 November in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme, Action Accelerator and lifetime membership to the One Young World Ambassador Community.
- Hotel accommodation for the duration of the pre-programme and Summit dates.
- One night of hotel accommodation (if required) for the visa application process.
- Return travel from your country of residence to Cape Town (flights in economy).
- Domestic travel costs to the airport to take the international flight.
- Visa costs, if applicable (including visa application fee and required travel for visa appointment).
- Catering which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the pre-programme and the Summit.
- Transport between the Summit accommodation and the Summit venue.
Eligibility
Candidates must be:
- Aged 18 – 35 by the date of the One Young World Summit 2026 in November.
- Leading or part of a scalable start-up or small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), with demonstratable social and/or environmental impact, either as an entrepreneur or similar role.
- Nationals of and residents of one of the following countries:
- Ethiopia
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Mozambique
- Uganda
- Tunisia
- Palestine
- Egypt
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Kenya
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Benin
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ghana
- South Africa
- Burundi
- Iraq (including Kurdistan region of Iraq)
- Sudan
- Mali
- Algeria
- All candidates will be required to have a working understanding of English, as both the One Young World Summit and Enterprising Futures pre- and post-programmes will be held in English.
- Candidates must be available to join the programme full time between 30 October – 7 November, as well as pre- and post-programme dates.
Application
For more information, visit Enterprising Futures Scholarship.
