Kilimo Corps Fellowship 2026 Opens Applications for Young Africans
Young Africans interested in agriculture, agribusiness and regional trade can now apply for the 2026 Kilimo Corps Free Markets & Agripreneurship Fellowship.
This fellowship is a three-month programme designed to help participants turn agricultural ideas into practical, market-ready ventures.
The Pan-African fellowship, organised by Kilimo Corps Africa, will select 20 young Africans aged 18 to 35 for the fully online programme. Participation is free, and the fellowship is scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026.
Applications are open to young farmers, early-stage agripreneurs, agricultural and TVET graduates, food-system innovators, youth leaders, professionals exploring agricultural enterprise and others with actionable ideas around agriculture and regional trade.
Applicants do not need to have an established business. They can apply with an agricultural challenge, market opportunity, enterprise idea or early-stage initiative that they want to develop.
What the Fellowship Offers
Over the 12-week programme, selected fellows will develop practical skills in agribusiness and enterprise development, market and value-chain analysis, costing and pricing, financial planning, customer research, and regional agrifood trade.
The programme will also introduce participants to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and how expanded regional markets can create opportunities for agricultural enterprises.
Fellows will progress through four stages — understanding, designing, testing and presenting — before completing a practical capstone project focused on a genuine agricultural or market-access challenge.
The organisers say participants will also gain access to mentorship from agriculture, enterprise and policy practitioners, peer learning and a Pan-African network of emerging agrifood leaders.
Importantly, the two strongest completed capstone projects will receive funding support, based on programme performance, quality and readiness for implementation. Successful participants who meet the completion requirements will also receive certificates.
Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be 18 to 35 years old
- Be a citizen of an African country
- Be able to participate in English
- Commit 5–7 hours per week throughout the three-month programme
- Attend online sessions and complete practical assignments
- Develop and present a capstone project
- Demonstrate an interest, experience or actionable idea connected to agriculture, agribusiness, food systems or regional trade.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is September 20, 2026, while the fellowship begins on November 1, 2026.
Interested applicants can submit their applications through the official Kilimo Corps Africa application portal.
Application: Apply for the Kilimo Corps Fellowship
This opportunity offers young Africans an avenue to move beyond agricultural ideas by testing them against real markets, developing commercially viable solutions and building connections across the continent.
