Applications are now open for the 2025 GrowthAfrica Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESO) Uplift Program. This program is designed to equip 45 Entrepreneur Support Organizations by providing them
with the necessary tools to develop effective and impactful programs to support impact enterprises over the next four years.
About GrowthAfrica Entrepreneur Support Organisations Uplift Programme
Opportunity Details
ESO Uplift Program is a component of the Social and Impact Entrepreneurship (SIE) Project co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), implemented
by GrowthAfrica in collaboration with the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) and the Amahoro Coalition. This transformative initiative aims to strengthen Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Ghana, and Egypt, driving sustainable development in Africa.
This program is designed to equip 45 Entrepreneur Support Organizations by providing them
with the necessary tools to develop effective and impactful programs to support impact enterprises over the next four years.
The program is designed to review your current set-up, take stock of your reality, internal
and external, and then assess and redesign your offering to entrepreneurs. The program will
then support you in your efforts to mobilize your ecosystem, access resources, reach the right
entrepreneurs and businesses, as well as ultimately stand by you as you deliver your revised
program and entrepreneur support activities.
The program is structured as follows:
Initial analysis of reality and program redesign:
- 6 virtual workshops from late July to late September
- 1-on-1 follow-up sessions after each workshop from early August to mid-October
Curated pre-readings and preparation resources
Program redesign support
- 1-on-1 program design advisory sessions
- Resource & ecosystem mobilization support
- Access to online resources for content, tools, systems and template development
Networking and experience sharing sessions with peers (across cohorts & geographies)
Program execution support
- Add-hoc content delivery troubleshooting
- Monthly progress check-ins
- Quarterly peer learning sessions
Benefits of GrowthAfrica Entrepreneur Support Organisations Uplift Programme
This programme is designed to help your organisation to:
- Elevate your programme quality and impact: Gain access to the best practice methodology, content, tools and resources for entrepreneur training and support, enabling you to build effective and impactful programmes that truly drive entrepreneurial success.
- Strengthen your organisational foundation: We provide solutions to streamline your organisation and its management, optimising your operational efficiency. Furthermore, we equip you with the strategies and insights needed to identify and acquire the right entrepreneurs for your programmes, ensuring impactful engagement. Our support also focuses on enhancing your internal capacity to run effective capacity building programmes and to develop the necessary expertise to support entrepreneurs in their growth efforts.
- Cultivate a thriving ecosystem: We facilitate the development of a robust network by helping you build an ecosystem of supporters and contributors, fostering a collaborative environment for entrepreneurship. You will also have opportunities to connect with and learn from peers; form knowledge and resource sharing networks, enriching your knowledge base and expanding your reach.
- Enhance financial sustainability: Our resources include guidance and strategies to improve your fundraising and revenue generation, ensuring the long-term viability and growth of your ESO and its initiatives.
- Amplify your achievements: Learn effective methods for documenting and communicating your impact, allowing you to showcase your successes, attract further support, and refine your strategies for even greater outcomes.
- Trained and selected organisations are expected to utilise the knowledge and skills they have gained to accelerate social enterprises that will be considered for investment by Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK). These organisations will foster the growth of innovative social enterprises and be empowered to independently manage comprehensive support programmes. Acting as either accelerators or incubators, they will effectively engage local stakeholders to create a supportive ecosystem for social impact enterprises.
GrowthAfrica Entrepreneur Support Organisations Uplift Programme Requirements
Organizations interested in applying must meet the following criteria:
- The organization must be legally registered and operating in one of the target countries:
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Ghana, or Egypt.
- Support social impact enterprises: Actively works with social impact ventures or entrepreneurs tackling pressing social, environmental, or economic challenges, and can demonstrate previous or current impact (eg, number of ventures supported, jobs created, lives impacted).
- Minimum of 2 years of operation supporting entrepreneurs or small businesses: Proven experience in providing incubation, acceleration, mentorship, training, or venture support services.
- Capacity and commitment: Has a dedicated team and capacity to participate fully in the program over its duration.
- Language and communication: Ability to communicate effectively in English (language program).
Application Date and Process
- If you meet the eligibility requirements, click on the link to te application website to apply.
Application Deadline
26 May, 2025
Scholarship Application Portal
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GrowthAfrica Entrepreneur Support Organisations Uplift Programme
Apply for GrowthAfrica Entrepreneur Support Organisations Uplift Programme
