Application Deadline
Application Deadline: May 11, 2026
Program Overview
The Green RISE Africa (Resilient Impact through Sustainable Entrepreneurship) Fellowship is designed to equip women and youth living in poverty to build a more inclusive and sustainable green economy. Throughout the Fellowship, entrepreneurs gain practical tools, frameworks, and community to strengthen their leadership capacity, refine their business models, expand inclusive green jobs, and grow climate-aligned solutions across the region.
Requirements
- You lead an enterprise that provides a green-focused good or service that has demonstrated the capacity to solve problems of poverty and has created work opportunities for young rural women and youth below the age of 35.
- You have demonstrable traction over the last 12-months.
- You have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience and are able to demonstrate your commitment to solving issues of poverty.
- You are based and operating in West Africa (Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, The Gambia).
- You can provide evidence that your leadership supports efforts to make the enterprise more environmentally sustainable and inclusive.
- You have a reliable internet connection and will be fully available to participate throughout the entirety of the program.
Benefits
- Once you are selected as a Green RISE Africa Fellow Candidate, Acumen covers all program-related expenses during the Fellowship. This includes all costs associated with the immersives including lodging, food, and transportation.
Program Details
Fellows remain in their jobs and participate in a 6-month hybrid program consisting of virtual sessions, in-person immersives, and self-paced learning. Fellows are expected to commit up to 10 hours each month to the Fellowship.
- One 3-day virtual Orientation
- One 2-day virtual Workshop
- Two 5-day full-time in-person immersives (8 hours of assignments for each immersive consisting of self-paced learning and group calls). In-person immersives will be held in Nigeria and Kenya.
- Three Learning Labs (4 hours each along with assignments)
- Monthly virtual cohort learning and peer connection sessions requiring attendance at specific dates and times
- One-on-one support calls with the program team throughout the Fellowship
- Self-paced work to be completed by the individual Fellow (including online lessons, assignments, and readings)
Upon completing the Green RISE Africa Fellowship, entrepreneurs join The Foundry, Acumen’s global alumni community, and a climate-focused Community of Practice to grow green jobs for young women and youth in rural Africa.
For the first 6 months after graduation, Fellows will contribute ~10 hours per month engaging in this collaborative space to learn, share practical experience, and strengthen solutions that drive real-world impact.
Fellows may also get access to opportunities that help catalyze youth-in-work initiatives, including the potential for project funding to deepen impact.
Application Process
- Read the to prepare your application.
- Submit online application: Application has been designed to understand more about you, your work and impact, as well as your program readiness.
- Shortlisted applicants are invited to participate in a 2-day virtual Selection Conference.
- The team will notify selected applicants, and support them as they start their Fellowship journey.
Grant Atlas