Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship 2017

​Application Period:  22 June – 7 August 2017

The Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship aim to recognize some of the continent’s most innovative and impactful entrepreneurs. Over the past 8 years, AAE has attracted over 7000 applications from industries and sectors ranging from education. health, transport, energy among others.

Applications for nominations to The Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship (AAE) are now open. The awards aim to recognize Africa’s most talented entrepreneurs across 4 categories:  

1. Best Growing Business: high growth companies

2. Best Mature Business: legacy companies with significant revenue base and continental footprint

3. Youth Entrepreneur of the Year :entrepreneurs under the age of 35

4. Social Entrepreneur of the Year:social impact oriented enterprises

Previous winners of this prestigious award include Spark Schools (South Africa), Astro Mobile (Zimbabwe), Prep Class (Nigeria) and Aspen Holdings (Mauritius).

After undergoing a rigorous nomination and selection process, 12 finalists (3 per category) will be invited to attend the African Leadership Network (ALN) Annual Gathering which will be hosted in Mauritius in November this year, where one winner per category will be announced. The Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship are an initiative of the African Leadership Network.

Eligibility

• Only African companies are eligible for these awards. You will be required to provide proof that your core operations are on the continent.
• They look for a track record of innovation, profitability, business excellence and social impact
• Businesses from any sector are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants interested in the Outstanding Young Entrepreneur category must be 35 years old or below.
• Applications must be filed by a single company representative.      

Selection Criteria

1. Leadership, culture and values: This majorly points out to how your organisation invests in its employees as well as the values ethics that drive it.

2. Innovation: We look for companies that are providing creative and leading edge solutions that add real value to the lives of customers

3. Profitability:  Your business should be commercially sustainable and demonstrate a robust financial position

4. Long term Business Strategy: Your business should demonstrate a sound and coherent strategy for future growth and continued value addition

5. Social & Economic impact on communities: Your business should be adding value to their communities. We are looking for companies that have a demonstrable commitment to using business for social impact

How to apply

The first step is to fill in the application form and upload your supporting  documents online via the ALN Website. You will be notified about the status of your application by the end of August. Shortlisted candidates will the interviewed by our panel of judges via skype interview. Successful candidates will be invited to attend the  award ceremony in Mauritius.

Click here for more details

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Boosting Entrepreneurship in Africa

The key drivers of this continent (human resource) are being wasted. African countries are gifted with strong people who can engage in entrepreneurship at higher standards. This is evidenced in many big International business companies and leaderships in the World. The best example is the current President of United States of America, Barack Obama. Effective utilization and engagement of such people after their end of term in Office and coming back to Africa will boost business in Africa because; they already have networks across the world. This starts with the foundation of children at school levels. In other continents where educational system and vocational training supply the labour market with adequate skills in number and quality, development of human resource is not a major social responsibility of the country. On the other hand, African countries where the educational system is weak, training and development of human resource falls largely on other countries. For many young Africans, the workplace is the first “real” school where they can fill the gaps of poor initial training, learn work discipline and acquire professional skills.

The article was written by Kenneth Rubangakene from Uganda. Kenneth has represented Uganda at many high forums like-High Level Youth Policy Dialogue on SDGs  in 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters. He is volunteering as Africa Regional Coordinator for IYONS Africa program. He headed 54 top young emerging leaders from all the 54 countries in Africa for the Launch of IYONS Global program in Chennai, India in 2015.

Connect with him on Facebook.

Call for Articles by the African Youth Corner

The African Youth Corner (AYC) is pleased to announce its Call for articles. This is an opportunity to lend your voice to the world on pertinent global matters as it applies to Africa. Articles should highlight Africa’s peculiarity in practice, growth pattern, challenges and prospects. Experience sharing is highly encouraged.

Selected Topics

Articles should be on any of the following topics:

• Women and Girls Rights;
• Education;
• Technology in Africa;
• Entrepreneurship;
• Climate Change and Environment;
• Democracy and Governance.

Eligibility

Open to everyone.

How to Apply

• Attach article (as attached .docx or .PDF), minimum of 250 words and send to africanyouthcorner@gmail.com with the subject as “Your Name, Article Topic, Country”
• Articles should be written in English.
• Give a brief description of yourself in not more than 50 words. Type this in the body of the mail and include your social media handles.

Selected articles will be published on the African Youth Corner Website. Authors will be duly informed and acknowledged.

Join other young Africans on the AYC Facebook Page.

Apply for the Global Youth Entrepreneurs Summit 2015

Deadline: October 10, 2015

The Global Youth Entrepreneurs Summit 2015 Bangladesh is an event of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is going to be the world’s biggest platform for entrepreneurs. The Summit will take place on 20-22 November , 2015 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Bangladesh.

Global Youth Entrepreneurs Summit 2015 Bangladesh (GYES) aims to focus and support the innovative ideas of the youth Entrepreneurs.

Eligibility

• Open to 500 young entrepreneurs between 18 to 35 years of age from around the world.

Costs

• Accommodation from 19 November 2015 to 23 November will be provided only for International Delegates (Non Bangladeshi) at a renowned hotel in Dhaka covered by DYDF.
• Delegates with top 10 innovative ideas and projects will be rewarded by DYDF in Entrepreneurship Night.
• Every delegate will receive a participation certificate and all other conference kits.

How to apply

• To apply you should fill in the online application form before the deadline.
• For any question please send e-mail
  at id- dydfbd@gmail.com.

Click here for more information.