AJF × SDRB Somalia Business Plan Competition 2026 – YOA

Deadline: November 6, 2026

Applications are open for the AJF × SDRB Somalia Business Plan Competition 2026. The Africa Jobs Fund (AJF) and the Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank (SDRB) are on the lookout for bold founders and working groups able to construct the following era of Somali export companies.

You might already be operating an organization, creating an early-stage enterprise, or beginning with a properly-researched thought. Prior traction shouldn’t be required. What issues is the standard of the OPPORTUNITY, your connection to Somalia, and your potential to execute. They extremely encourage Somalis and members of the Somali diaspora to apply, even if you’re not at present primarily based in Somalia or its areas.

Areas

They are desirous about productive and export-oriented companies throughout areas resembling:

• Agriculture & agro-processing: Including sesame, honey, bananas and different crops.
• Livestock & meat processing: Including abattoirs, chilly chain, packaging and halal-licensed merchandise.
• Fisheries: Including chilly storage, processing, canning and refrigerated logistics.
• Natural merchandise: Including frankincense, myrrh, gum arabic and camel milk.
• Light manufacturing & client merchandise: Products made in Somalia for regional and international patrons.
• Export infrastructure & enabling companies: Including testing, certification, packaging, logistics and high quality assurance.
• Other productive companies; Any enterprise with a reputable path to exports, job creation and better incomes.

Prizes

• Seed the venture. The winner receives $20,000 to get the enterprise began.
• Up to $100,000: Prove it really works. All robust tasks, not simply the winner, will likely be thought-about for funding to develop a pilot.
• Up to $1,000,000: Build at scale. A possible pathway to scale-up funding for a profitable pilot.

Eligibility

Applicants should meet the entire following circumstances:

• Have a connection to Somalia
• Be ready to commit full-time to constructing the enterprise

All areas of Somalia are eligible.

They are on the lookout for founders and groups who:

• Have recognized a reputable productive, export-oriented enterprise alternative
• Show robust judgment, initiative and talent to execute
• Understand an important assumptions, dangers and unanswered questions behind the enterprise
• Are dedicated to constructing and working the enterprise, not solely advising it
• Can clarify how the enterprise might create significant financial worth and excessive-high quality jobs

Application

You might want to submit:

• Applicant and workforce data
• An outline of your connection to Somalia
• An idea word of not more than two pages
• CVs for all core founders or working workforce members
• A one-minute introduction video

A pitch deck or detailed monetary mannequin shouldn’t be required. If you have already got one, it’s possible you’ll embrace it as an alternative of the idea word.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to AJF × SDRB Somalia Business Plan Competition.