Tony Elumelu Foundation Grant 2024 | APPLY NOW

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is a leading philanthropic organization that empowers a new generation of African entrepreneurs, drives poverty eradication, catalyzes job creation in all 54 African countries, and ensures inclusive economic empowerment.

Details:

Since the inception of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and distributed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Foundation’s mission is based on Africapitalism, which sees the private sector, particularly entrepreneurs, as a catalyst for Africa’s social and economic development. The Foundation’s ability to fund, train, mentor, and network young African entrepreneurs has resulted in a unique platform for catalyzing growth across the African continent.

The foundation typically selects candidates from a large pool of applications from all 54 African countries. The selected candidates are then trained and mentored for a 12-week period. At the end of the program, the finalists receive $5000 in non-refundable first-stage seed capital to launch their proposed business. A second stage returnable investment will then be made available to candidates whose businesses proved successful.

Since its inception in 2015, the TEF Foundation’s empowerment program has been carried out on an annual basis.

The robust ability of the Foundation to reach entrepreneurs across geographies and sectors, has enabled it to conduct innovative partnerships with the European Union,United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United States Government via the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), The French Development Agency (AFD), The German Development Finance Institution (DEG), The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), The African Development Bank (AfDB), and Google, with bespoke programs including targeting female empowerment and growth in fragile states.

Eligibility:

• Interested applicants must have already existing innovative businesses in the gestation stage of 0 to 3 years or have a very viable business idea. The business or business idea must also be profitable.
• The applicant must be an African startup entrepreneur that has a business or business idea based in Africa.
• Applicants with businesses will be counted valid as long as they meet the criteria irrespective of the sector.
• Applicants with Businesses or those with viable business ideas must make sure the business can create employment.

Documents Required:

When filling the application form on TEFConnect, you will be required to upload the documents below. Also, please ensure to use valid phone numbers that are on WhatsApp to apply to the programme.

The documents are:

• Valid Government-issued Identification- This applies to everyone.
• Official Business Registration Certificate- Businesses already operational
• Official Evidence of Business Ownership- Businesses already operational
• Official Evidence of Directors- Businesses already operational
• Official Consent by Partners to apply- This applies to businesses with partners

Selection Process and beneficiaries:

• Following the closure of applications, shortlisted candidates will be notified and would have to undergo business training.
• Selected candidates will also have to prepare and submit a viable business plan.
• Entrepreneurs with the best performance during the 12 weeks of training will undergo a pitching phase in the 54 African countries.
• After the pitching phase, the Top entrepreneurs will receive a non-refundable seed capital of $5,000 (five thousand dollars)
• The beneficiaries will then be announced at the TEF Forum and have their success pasted on the TEFconnect website.

TEFconnect (8th edition) application process:

For this edition of the TEF Connect program, the foundation has decided to train and fund 2000 candidates. This includes the 1000 candidates from the 2020 batch who did not start last year, as well as the 1000 new candidates who will be shortlisted this year. However, unsuccessful applicants from last year will be barred from applying this year in order to provide new applicants with a fair chance of being selected.

Application:

For registered users:

• Visit the official TEFconnect website www.TEFconnect.com sign in and apply.
• At the Home Page, Click on “PROGRAMMES,” and click APPLY on the TEF 2024 Programme.
• Fill in the information required on the Application form as accurately as possible. Then click SUBMIT. Note that the application form is divided into four parts: Personal Information, Business Information, Cognitive Assessment, and Declaration.
• An eligibility status directing you TO CONTINUE OR NOT will be displayed on the screen and sent to your email.
• If you are eligible, an email will be sent from the TEF team to direct you on how to commence your “TRAINING.”

For more information

Deadline: 1 March, 2024

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