Feeding the Next Billion Food Innovation Fellowship 2026 for young Nigerian innovators – Opportunities For Africans

Application Deadline: March 10, 2026

Applications at the moment are open for the 2026 Feeding the Next Billion Food Innovation Fellowship. The « Feeding the Next Billion » Food Innovation Fellowship is a transformative 5-day residential program designed to empower young Nigerian innovators in the vital space of meals worth addition. Organized by Farm Central Intelligence (FarmCI), supported by UNESCO and Nestlé by the « Because You Matter » Program, with technical experience from Soilless Farm Lab, this fellowship addresses the twin challenges of meals waste and youth unemployment in Nigeria.

Participants will interact in intensive, hands-on coaching targeted on changing uncooked agricultural produce—particularly greens, spices, and peppers—into high-value, market-ready merchandise. The curriculum is meticulously crafted to equip fellows with sensible abilities in processing, preservation, packaging, branding, and fundamental enterprise administration. Beyond technical abilities, the program fosters an entrepreneurial mindset, selling sustainable practices that cut back post-harvest losses and contribute to nationwide meals safety.

Benefits

Selected fellows for the « Feeding the Next Billion » Food Innovation Fellowship will obtain a complete bundle of help designed to facilitate their studying and kick-start their entrepreneurial journey:

1. Fully Sponsored Residential Training: All prices related to the 5-day intensive residential program, together with lodging, meals, and coaching supplies, might be totally coated.
2. Transportation Support: Fellows will obtain monetary help to cowl their transportation prices to and from the coaching venue in Ogun State.
3. Hands-on Training & Mentorship: Access to professional trainers and mentors from FarmCI and Soilless Farm Lab, offering sensible steering and trade insights.
4. Starter Kit: Each fellow will obtain a customized setup equipment containing important instruments and supplies to right away start implementing their meals worth addition enterprise upon returning to their communities.
5. Networking Opportunities: Connect with a vibrant group of fellow innovators, trade consultants, and program companions, fostering collaborations and peer help.
6. Certificate of Completion: A proper recognition of their participation and profitable completion of the fellowship program.
7. Post-Program Support: Access to ongoing mentorship and assets to help the institution and development of their companies.

Program Timeline:

Phase 1: Application & Selection

This preliminary section is your alternative to affix the fellowship. It begins with the official program announcement and the opening of the application interval. You will submit your application, and our workforce will conduct a radical evaluation and choice course of. Successful candidates will obtain notification of their acceptance.

Phase 2: Preparing for the Fellowship

Once chosen, you’ll obtain complete onboarding communications, together with detailed details about the residential coaching, what to anticipate, and the way to put together. This section ensures you might be prepared for the intensive 5-day program in Ogun State.

Phase 3: The Fellowship Experience

This is the core of your fellowship journey: a 5-day intensive residential coaching at the Soilless Farm Lab. You will interact in hands-on workshops, sensible classes, obtain mentorship from consultants, and community with fellow innovators. This immersive expertise is designed to rework your abilities and entrepreneurial mindset.

Phase 4: Post-Fellowship Support & Growth

After finishing the residential coaching, you’ll obtain your personalised starter equipment and a Certificate of Completion. This section supplies preliminary mentorship and enterprise improvement help that will help you instantly apply your new abilities. We may even comply with up in your progress and gather your success tales as you determine and develop your meals enterprise.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Feeding the Next Billion Food Innovation Fellowship