Call for Applications: Leap Africa Social Innovators Programme 2024

In 2004, LEAP Africa came to the realization that while negative reports of youth restiveness and crimes were widespread in local and foreign media, the positive contributions of young Nigerians towards national transformation were unrecognized.

This understanding birthed the Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Awards (ANYLA); which was hosted annually in Lagos, Nigeria, to celebrate the youth driving these contributions. After about a decade, LEAP Africa realized that while Nigeria had witnessed increased youth interest in social innovation, many of them lacked the essential skills and support to establish effective and sustainable initiatives that could accelerate the transformation.Therefore, in 2013, the programme was redefined to bridge this gap into a yearlong fellowship- Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA).

Applications are encouraged from entrepreneurs in the following focus areas: Quality education, healthcare, affordable and clean energy,  climate action, agriculture, technology, gender & social inclusion, and workforce development.

About LEAP Africa

LEAP Africa is a youth-focused leadership development nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, empower and equip a new cadre of leaders with skills and tools for personal, organization and community transformation. Its interventions for youth, bridges gaps in effective leadership, education, employability, entrepreneurship and awakens civic participation in citizens to demand good governance or creatively address social issues. The vision of is to be recognized as the premier resource centre for developing dynamic, innovative and principled leaders, who will drive Africaâ€&... continue reading

Social Innovators Programme

Aim and Benefits of Social Innovators Programme

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. 

Requirements for Social Innovators Programme Qualification

• 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.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

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.

For more details,visit Leap Africa website