75 impact-driven African entrepreneurs support each other through two new Social & Inclusive Business Camps

In East Africa and North Africa, two new cohorts of the Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) have just been launched. Over a six-month period, 75 impact-driven entrepreneurs will receive support to develop innovative solutions to the continent’s social and environmental challenges.

They are working on solutions in agroecology, clean energy, the circular economy, and responsible tourism. What they have in common is a commitment to addressing major social and environmental challenges while building sustainable and viable business models.

An intensive support program combining training, mentoring, and peer learning

Originally dedicated to the African continent, the program has supported more than 400 high-impact entrepreneurs since its creation in 2017, helping them scale up—that is, maximize their social and environmental impact and prepare for fundraising.

With the launch of two new Social & Inclusive Business Camps (SIBC) in North Africa and East Africa, the AFD Group Campus and its regional directorates for North Africa (DRAN) and East Africa (DRAE) are continuing their commitment to impact entrepreneurship across the continent. Over six months, 75 entrepreneurs will benefit from intensive support combining training, mentoring, peer learning, and bootcamps to help structure their projects, scale up, and build a dynamic community of innovative entrepreneurs.

In North Africa: supporting the emergence of a social entrepreneurship ecosystem

The first North Africa SIBC cohort has just begun with an online launch event bringing together 25 entrepreneurs selected from five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. The program aims to strengthen the skills of mission-driven entrepreneurs, support the structuring of social entrepreneurship ecosystems, and promote a shared culture of impact across the region. Two key milestones will punctuate the program: bootcamps held in Marseille and Tunis, fostering exchanges between entrepreneurs, experts, and investors.

An overview of inspiring projects being supported:

• Agro Solar (Tunisia), which develops photovoltaic solutions for communities and farmers;
• Ziara (Algeria), which promotes authentic local tourism by connecting travelers with local professionals;
• Fadhili Taamir (Morocco), which focuses on upcycling and local craftsmanship;
• PLSTKA Technology (Egypt), which optimizes waste management through a gamified loyalty app that rewards recycling;
• Libya EOD (Libya), which works toward peace and climate resilience by creating safe spaces for inclusive community dialogue.

The North Africa SIBC will support 25 entrepreneurs per year over three years. This launch marks the beginning of a structured regional initiative to strengthen impact entrepreneurship in North Africa.

In East Africa: accelerating solutions for the energy transition

In East Africa, a new edition of the SIBC focused on energy transition has also begun. It supports 50 entrepreneurs from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia who are developing solutions to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy. Participants were specifically selected for their work in the energy sector, in line with the themes of the Africa Forward Summit, which will take place in Nairobi in May 2026.

The supported projects illustrate the diversity of innovations in impact entrepreneurship: production of biomass briquettes as alternatives to charcoal (Eco-Charge, Kenya), conversion of plastic waste into clean cooking gas (Kyuka Ventures, Uganda), deployment of solar-powered cold storage hubs for poultry with smart energy management (Earthwise Storage, Rwanda), and development of accessible solar solutions for households and businesses (Green Scene, Ethiopia).

A bootcamp organized in Kenya during the Africa Forward Summit will be a highlight of the program, strengthening collaboration and connections within the regional ecosystem and enabling young entrepreneurs to contribute to reshaping Africa–France relations.

Building a dynamic community of innovative entrepreneurs

The Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) is a training program offered by AFD in partnership with social entrepreneurship stakeholders. It aims to support African entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools needed to develop high-impact social and environmental business models.

The program is based on a practical and collaborative approach: online modules, group workshops, case studies, expert testimonials, and feedback sessions enable participants to work directly on their projects.

Beyond individual support, the SIBC also helps structure communities of committed entrepreneurs and strengthens local social innovation ecosystems.

With these two new editions, AFD Group Campus reaffirms one of its key priorities: supporting entrepreneurs who are developing concrete, on-the-ground solutions for more inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.

Who funds, leads, and implements the program?

Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the program is led by the AFD Group Campus and AFD’s regional office in North and East Africa.

In North Africa, the 2026 SIBC is implemented by Lab’Ess, I&P Conseil, and Pulse, in partnership with several local incubators: HDN Algeria, Impact Lab, IceAlex, and Tafaseei.

In East Africa, the program is implemented by CEFE, in partnership with a consortium of local incubators including Terra Energy (Rwanda), Sahara Consult (Tanzania), MDF (Uganda & Kenya), and Inter Ethiopia.