RFAs: National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs (South Africa)

Deadline: 12-Sep-2026

The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs supports young South African business leaders with strong job-creation potential to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town. Selected entrepreneurs receive a fully funded Summit scholarship, networking and mentoring opportunities, access to investors and partners, and ongoing support through the One Young World Ambassador Community and Action Accelerator programme.

About the National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs

The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs is a One Young World initiative focused on addressing youth unemployment in South Africa by supporting young entrepreneurs who are building businesses capable of creating significant employment opportunities. The programme coincides with the One Young World Summit 2026, which will take place in Cape Town from 3 to 6 November 2026. The bursary aims to identify promising South African entrepreneurs who are not only running businesses but also have the potential to generate meaningful employment within their communities.

Objectives of the Programme

The programme seeks to:

Support young entrepreneurs creating employment opportunities. Address youth unemployment in South Africa. Connect entrepreneurs with an international network of young leaders. Provide access to experienced mentors and business leaders. Create opportunities to meet potential investors and business partners. Help promising businesses develop and scale. Strengthen long-term entrepreneurial leadership through continued support after the Summit. What Selected Entrepreneurs Will Receive Successful applicants will receive scholarships to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town.

The scholarship provides access to:

The One Young World Summit 2026. A global network of more than 20,000 young leaders from over 190 countries. Mentoring and networking opportunities. Exclusive One Young World Ambassador opportunities. Regional networking events. Engagement with established members of the South African start-up ecosystem. A dedicated networking opportunity with potential investors and partners. Lifelong membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community. Access to the annual post-Summit Action Accelerator programme. These opportunities are intended to help entrepreneurs expand their networks, strengthen their businesses and increase their potential for job creation. Who Is Eligible? The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs is aimed primarily at young South African entrepreneurs. Applicants should meet the following requirements: Be a South African national. Be a resident of South Africa. Generally be aged 18 to 30, although some flexibility may be available for older candidates. Lead a business or enterprise with significant potential to create jobs. Hold direct decision-making authority within the business. Be available to attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026. The strongest candidates are expected to demonstrate that their enterprises can make a meaningful contribution to employment creation and economic opportunity. What Types of Entrepreneurs Are Supported? The programme is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs whose businesses can demonstrate clear employment-generation potential. Applicants should be able to show how their enterprise: Has an entrepreneur with meaningful decision-making responsibility. The focus is therefore not simply on having a business, but on demonstrating job-creation potential and entrepreneurial leadership. Why This Bursary Matters South Africa continues to face significant youth unemployment challenges. Young entrepreneurs can play an important role in creating employment while developing products, services and solutions for their communities. This bursary provides more than an opportunity to attend an international leadership event. It connects emerging entrepreneurs with a global community of leaders and provides opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, investment and business development. The One Young World Summit 2026 will bring together young leaders from around the world in Cape Town. Selected bursary recipients will have the opportunity to participate alongside an international community of young entrepreneurs, innovators, activists and changemakers. For South African entrepreneurs, hosting the Summit in Cape Town also provides an opportunity to showcase locally developed businesses and solutions to an international audience. Post-Summit Support Support does not end when the Summit concludes. Selected entrepreneurs become members of the One Young World Ambassador Community, providing an ongoing international network for collaboration and leadership development. Recipients can also access the annual Action Accelerator programme, which is designed to help participants turn ideas and commitments developed through the One Young World network into practical action and scale their initiatives. How the Programme Works Applicants should approach the opportunity as both a scholarship application and an entrepreneurship opportunity.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Check that you meet the basic requirements, particularly: Leadership or decision-making responsibility in your enterprise. Demonstrable job-creation potential. Availability for the Summit dates.

Step 2: Prepare Your Business Story

Be prepared to clearly explain:

What your business does. Which problem it addresses. Who benefits from the business. How many people it currently employs, if applicable. How many jobs it could create as it grows. Why your business has potential for significant employment generation.

Step 3: Demonstrate Your Leadership

Explain your personal role in the enterprise and provide evidence that you have direct authority over important business decisions. Highlight achievements, milestones, partnerships, growth and community impact where relevant.

Step 4: Explain Your Future Potential

A strong appl