Deadline: 15-May-2026
The Harmony Enactus Challenge 2026 is a national competition for Enactus South Africa university teams. It aims to help students create scalable and sustainable enterprises that address unemployment, poverty, food insecurity, and limited economic opportunities in underserved communities.
Teams are encouraged to develop market-driven solutions that improve:
- Food security
- Health outcomes
- Youth employability
- Entrepreneurship
- Community resilience
- Sustainable job creation
Funding and Awards
The competition offers:
- R12,000 grant funding for each of the top 10 semi-finalist teams
- R15,000 cash prize and trophy for the winning team
- R10,000 cash prize and trophy for second place
- R5,000 cash prize and trophy for third place
Who Is Eligible?
The challenge is open to:
- Enactus South Africa university teams
- New or existing social enterprise projects
- Teams working on food security, health security, entrepreneurship, employability, and community development initiatives
Participating teams must commit to all reporting, communication, and adjudication requirements during the programme.
How the Challenge Works
Teams are expected to:
- Research community challenges
- Develop entrepreneurial solutions
- Build Minimum Viable Products (MVPs)
- Test and improve their ideas
- Present scalable enterprises with measurable social impact
Projects must demonstrate:
- Sustainability
- Scalability
- Innovation
- Community impact
- Financial viability
Why This Challenge Matters
The programme helps address major South African challenges such as:
It also promotes sustainable entrepreneurship and long-term community development through student-led innovation.
Tips for Applicants
To build a strong application:
- Focus on real community needs
- Create sustainable business models
- Use measurable impact data
- Show scalability potential
- Involve local communities in the project
Avoid projects that rely only on donations without a long-term sustainability plan.
FAQ
Who can apply?
Only Enactus South Africa university teams can participate.
Can existing projects apply?
Yes, existing projects are eligible if they show scalability and sustainability potential.
What is an MVP?
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is an early version of a product or service used to test demand and impact.
What do judges look for?
Judges evaluate innovation, sustainability, scalability, financial viability, and social impact.
What sectors are prioritized?
Food security, health security, employability, entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development.
Conclusion
The Harmony Food & Health Security, Employability & Entrepreneurship Enactus Challenge 2026 gives university students an opportunity to build impactful and sustainable social enterprises. Teams with innovative, scalable, and community-driven solutions will have the strongest chance of success.
For more information, visit Enactus South Africa NPC.