Application Deadline: 9 March 2026
Opportunity Announcement: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026 for Participation in the One Young World Summit in Cape Town
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is inviting applications for the Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026, aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs who are at the helm of scalable start-ups or small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that generate significant social or environmental impact. This scholarship will enable recipients to attend the prestigious One Young World Summit 2026, taking place in Cape Town.
About the Scholarship
With over two billion young people globally expected to influence the world’s economies by 2030, this demographic represents a tremendous potential for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development—particularly within emerging and frontier markets. Young entrepreneurs are pivotal agents of change, crafting solutions tailored to local problems while creating meaningful and lasting benefits for their communities.
Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in bolstering local economies by introducing new products and services, nurturing groundbreaking business models, and expanding into novel markets. These efforts contribute to forming more resilient, vibrant, and dynamic economic environments. However, many youth-led enterprises still encounter significant hurdles such as restricted access to vital networks, resources, and international platforms.
To help overcome these challenges, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborates with the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO) and One Young World to annually award scholarships to a select group of young entrepreneurs and business leaders. The Enterprising Futures Scholarship is crafted to support promising changemakers developing scalable solutions to sustainability issues and who aspire to elevate their impact by joining a global ecosystem of peers and mentors.
What the Scholarship Offers
Recipients of the Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026 will receive the opportunity to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town. This flagship event gathers 2,000 young leaders from more than 190 countries, creating a unique forum to exchange ideas, learn from international experts, and collaborate on tackling some of the world’s most urgent challenges. The Summit is an inspiring venue for professional growth, sharpening entrepreneurial capabilities, and forging valuable international connections that can drive long-term success.
Application Details
Applications are currently open for the Enterprising Futures Scholarship 2026 cohort. One Young World seeks forty extraordinary entrepreneurs who are either leading or actively engaged in scalable start-ups or SMEs that deliver measurable social or environmental benefits.
Interested candidates must submit their applications through the official portal. It is important to note that those who progress to the longlist stage may be requested to provide supplementary documents, including professional references.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years old by November 2026, the month of the One Young World Summit.
- Candidates should be founders, leaders, or key team members of scalable start-ups or SMEs demonstrating clear social and/or environmental impact.
- Applicants must be nationals 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)
- Sudan
- Mali
- Algeria
- Proficiency in English is required as the One Young World Summit and the associated Enterprising Futures programmes (both pre- and post-Summit) will be conducted entirely in English.
- Applicants must be available to participate full-time during the programme dates: 30 October to 7 November 2026, including any pre- and post-programme activities.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment and warmly encourages eligible young entrepreneurs from both rural and urban areas to apply.
Responsibilities of Selected Scholars
Previous Enterprising Futures Scholars have played an active role in conducting ecosystem mappings to support development projects, provided insights and guidance on new initiatives, and shared their entrepreneurial journeys at various events hosted by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and affiliated partners.
The Ministry aims to expand its network of young role models and entrepreneurs across Africa and the Middle East. Therefore, scholars’ contact information may be shared with Dutch embassies in the eligible countries to facilitate ongoing engagement and collaboration.
Selected participants are expected to actively engage throughout the duration of the programme and contribute meaningfully to its success.
