RFAs: National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs (South Africa)

The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs supports young South African business leaders with strong job-creation potential to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town. Selected entrepreneurs receive a fully funded Summit scholarship, networking and mentoring opportunities, access to investors and partners, and ongoing support through the One Young World Ambassador Community and Action Accelerator programme.

About the National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs

The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs is a One Young World initiative focused on addressing youth unemployment in South Africa by supporting young entrepreneurs who are building businesses capable of creating significant employment opportunities.

The programme coincides with the One Young World Summit 2026, which will take place in Cape Town from 3 to 6 November 2026.

The bursary aims to identify promising South African entrepreneurs who are not only running businesses but also have the potential to generate meaningful employment within their communities.

Objectives of the Programme

The programme seeks to:

• Support young entrepreneurs creating employment opportunities.
• Address youth unemployment in South Africa.
• Connect entrepreneurs with an international network of young leaders.
• Provide access to experienced mentors and business leaders.
• Create opportunities to meet potential investors and business partners.
• Help promising businesses develop and scale.
• Strengthen long-term entrepreneurial leadership through continued support after the Summit.

What Selected Entrepreneurs Will Receive

Successful applicants will receive scholarships to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town.

The scholarship provides access to:

• The One Young World Summit 2026.
• A global network of more than 20,000 young leaders from over 190 countries.
• Mentoring and networking opportunities.
• Exclusive One Young World Ambassador opportunities.
• Regional networking events.
• Engagement with established members of the South African start-up ecosystem.
• A dedicated networking opportunity with potential investors and partners.
• Lifelong membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community.
• Access to the annual post-Summit Action Accelerator programme.

These opportunities are intended to help entrepreneurs expand their networks, strengthen their businesses and increase their potential for job creation.

Who Is Eligible?

The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs is aimed primarily at young South African entrepreneurs.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Be a South African national.
• Be a resident of South Africa.
• Generally be aged 18 to 30, although some flexibility may be available for older candidates.
• Lead a business or enterprise with significant potential to create jobs.
• Hold direct decision-making authority within the business.
• Be available to attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026.

The strongest candidates are expected to demonstrate that their enterprises can make a meaningful contribution to employment creation and economic opportunity.

What Types of Entrepreneurs Are Supported?

The programme is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs whose businesses can demonstrate clear employment-generation potential.

Applicants should be able to show how their enterprise:

• Creates or can create jobs.
• Addresses an important community or market need.
• Has potential for growth and expansion.
• Contributes to local economic development.
• Provides sustainable employment opportunities.
• Has an entrepreneur with meaningful decision-making responsibility.

The focus is therefore not simply on having a business, but on demonstrating job-creation potential and entrepreneurial leadership.

Why This Bursary Matters

South Africa continues to face significant youth unemployment challenges. Young entrepreneurs can play an important role in creating employment while developing products, services and solutions for their communities.

This bursary provides more than an opportunity to attend an international leadership event. It connects emerging entrepreneurs with a global community of leaders and provides opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, investment and business development.

Participation can help entrepreneurs:

• Build international connections.
• Learn from other young business leaders.
• Identify potential partnerships.
• Access business mentors.
• Present their ideas to potential investors.
• Strengthen their leadership skills.
• Develop strategies for scaling their businesses.

One Young World Summit 2026

The One Young World Summit 2026 will bring together young leaders from around the world in Cape Town.

Selected bursary recipients will have the opportunity to participate alongside an international community of young entrepreneurs, innovators, activists and changemakers.

For South African entrepreneurs, hosting the Summit in Cape Town also provides an opportunity to showcase locally developed businesses and solutions to an international audience.

Post-Summit Support

Support does not end when the Summit concludes.

Selected entrepreneurs become members of the One Young World Ambassador Community, providing an ongoing international network for collaboration and leadership development.

Recipients can also access the annual Action Accelerator programme, which is designed to help participants turn ideas and commitments developed through the One Young World network into practical action and scale their initiatives.

How the Programme Works

Applicants should approach the opportunity as both a scholarship application and an entrepreneurship opportunity.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Check that you meet the basic requirements, particularly:

• South African nationality and residency.
• Appropriate age range.
• Leadership or decision-making responsibility in your enterprise.
• Demonstrable job-creation potential.
• Availability for the Summit dates.

Step 2: Prepare Your Business Story

Be prepared to clearly explain:

• What your business does.
• Which problem it addresses.
• Who benefits from the business.
• How many people it currently employs, if applicable.
• How many jobs it could create as it grows.
• Why your business has potential for significant employment generation.

Step 3: Demonstrate Your Leadership

Explain your personal role in the enterprise and provide evidence that you have direct authority over important business decisions.

Highlight achievements, milestones, partnerships, growth and community impact where relevant.

Step 4: Explain Your Future Potential

A strong application should make the connection between the Summit opportunity and your business ambitions clear.

Explain how access to:

• Mentors,
• Investors,
• International entrepreneurs,
• Business networks, and
• Post-Summit support

could help your enterprise grow and create additional employment.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Complete the official application process and provide accurate information about your nationality, residency, business, leadership role and employment-generation potential.

Applicants should also ensure they are available to participate in the full Summit programme in Cape Town.

Tips for a Strong Application

Entrepreneurs can strengthen their applications by focusing on measurable evidence rather than broad claims.

Consider highlighting:

• Current number of employees.
• Jobs expected to be created.
• Business growth figures.
• Revenue or customer growth where appropriate.
• Number of communities or customers served.
• Partnerships already established.
• Evidence of demand for the product or service.
• Previous entrepreneurial achievements.
• A realistic growth strategy.

Most importantly, clearly explain how your business can contribute to solving South Africa’s employment challenge.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Providing vague descriptions of their business.
• Failing to explain their personal leadership role.
• Making unsupported claims about future job creation.
• Focusing only on personal benefits from attending the Summit.
• Ignoring the connection between business growth and employment.
• Providing inconsistent information about the enterprise.
• Applying without confirming availability for the Summit dates.

A clear, evidence-based explanation of the business and its employment potential is likely to be more effective than a generic entrepreneurship statement.

Key Details at a Glance

• Programme: National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs
• Organiser: One Young World
• Location: Cape Town, South Africa
• Summit dates: 3–6 November 2026
• Target group: Young South African entrepreneurs
• Age: Generally 18–30, with some flexibility for older candidates
• Main focus: Job creation and entrepreneurship
• Funding type: Summit scholarship
• Additional support: Mentoring, networking, investor connections and post-Summit development
• Citizenship requirement: South African
• Residency requirement: South Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs?

Young South African nationals and residents who lead businesses or enterprises with significant potential to create employment can apply, subject to the programme’s eligibility requirements.

What is the main purpose of the bursary?

The bursary aims to support young entrepreneurs with strong job-creation potential and connect them with global networks, mentors, investors and business-development opportunities.

How much funding does the bursary provide?

The opportunity provides scholarships to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 rather than a stated cash business grant. Selected recipients receive access to the Summit and associated networking and development opportunities.

Where will the One Young World Summit 2026 take place?

The Summit will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3–6 November 2026.

Do applicants need to own a business?

Applicants must lead a business or enterprise with significant job-creation potential and have direct decision-making authority within it.

What happens after the Summit?

Selected participants become part of the One Young World Ambassador Community and can access ongoing networking, regional opportunities, mentoring and the annual Action Accelerator programme.

What should entrepreneurs emphasize in their applications?

Applicants should clearly demonstrate their entrepreneurial leadership, the problem their business addresses, existing achievements and, most importantly, the potential of their enterprise to create significant employment opportunities.

Conclusion

The National Bursary for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs offers young South African business leaders an opportunity to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 while gaining access to international networks, mentors, investors and long-term entrepreneurial support. By focusing on businesses with significant job-creation potential, the programme aims to strengthen young entrepreneurship and contribute to tackling South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge.