The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened applications for the Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026, inviting young entrepreneurs from 23 countries across Africa and the Middle East to apply ahead of the 9 March 2026 deadline.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scholarship is offered in partnership with the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO) and One Young World. It is aimed at entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 who are leading or working in scalable start-ups or small to medium-sized enterprises with social or environmental impact.
Eligible Countries for the Scholarship
Nationals and residents of the following countries are eligible to apply: 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 the Kurdistan region), Sudan, Mali, and Algeria.
Applicants must meet both nationality and residency requirements at the time of application.
Programme Structure and Summit Participation
Selected candidates will receive a scholarship to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town. The summit will bring together around 2,000 young leaders from more than 190 countries.
The Enterprising Futures programme will run full time from October 30th to November 7th 2026 and includes pre- and post-summit activities. All programme sessions will be conducted in English, and participants must be available for the full duration.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old by the date of the summit in November 2026. They must be leading or be part of a scalable start-up or small to medium-sized enterprise with demonstrable social or environmental impact.
Candidates must have a working understanding of English. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to submit additional documentation, including references.
Expectations for Selected Scholars
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires selected scholars to actively participate throughout the programme. Previous scholarship recipients have contributed to ecosystem mapping, advised on development initiatives, and participated in events organised by the ministry or its partners.
To support ongoing engagement, selected candidates’ contact details may be shared with Dutch embassies in the eligible countries.
Application Timeline
Applications for the Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026 opened on January 19th 2026. The deadline to apply is March 9th 2026. Applications must be submitted through the official application portal.
Apply through link
