- Background
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development for Fragility Reduction (EIDFR) Project is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and executed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Launched in August 2026 and expected to run until December 2027, the project seeks to strengthen institutional capacity for entrepreneurship, innovation development, and job creation in selected IGAD member countries, namely South Sudan, Sudan and Djibouti. Please visit www.igad.int for more information about IGAD.
Enhancing Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) skills and job creation has the potential to reduce fragility and enhance resilience within the IGAD region. Skills development and job creation play an important role in fragile environments, given their contribution to poverty reduction, productivity enhancement, economic growth, and their effect on social cohesion and reduction of risk of violence.
EIDFR Project therefore aims at bringing together learning institutions (at university and TVET level), the private sector and respective governments to: (a) strengthen E&I at institutional, national and regional levels; and (b) stimulate employment opportunities for youth by supporting and promoting establishment of start-ups led by young entrepreneurs. The project is implemented in partnership with the University of Juba anchored in the existing Incubation Centre.
- Eligibility and minimum criteria
EIDFR Project is seeking youth-led innovative ideas to be nurtured for addressing climate change challenges in agriculture and livestock value chains while creating jobs for youth and women and ultimately contributing to reduced fragility. In line with the project activity is a National Youth E&I Challenge Call aimed at providing training, mentorship, coaching and seed funds to actualize ideas of successful applicants.
Eligible applicants
- Be aged between 18-35 years, as per the National Identification Card or Passport.
- Be citizens of IGAD member states legally residing and allowed to own businesses in Sudan; preference will be given to citizens of Sudan. Female applicants are encouraged to apply.
- Be current students or recent graduates (last 5 years) certified from university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
- Be co-founder of the proposed initiative and not currently employed full-time.
- Preference will be given to paired applicants (male and female co-founders).
Eligible innovations/ideas
‘Innovation’ in this context refers to creating or enhancing a product or service by applying new processes, techniques, or business models that create new value. This may include the transfer of an existing technology, product, service or business model to Sudan from another country.
- Should address major climate change challenges (drought/heat waves/flooding) locally affecting agriculture and livestock value chains. Examples include initiatives that promote dryland agriculture, agro-processing, access to markets, and alternative, diversified climate resilient livelihoods and income generating activities.
- Should be commercially viable based on the demand and profitability projections.
- Should promote inclusion of youth and women through direct jobs and downstream activities.
- Should contribute to reduced fragility (risks of instability due to internal/external pressure).
- Should be feasible to launch within 12 months after incubation.
- Selection Process
Guided by the selection criteria (section B above), the Selection Committee will review the concept notes on a rolling basis until the set deadline for submission. An initial pool of forty (40) potential cases for the subsequent steps outlined below;
- Boot camp training (5 days)
Successful applicants will receive training and coaching to refine their innovation ideas and business models as per the submitted concept note. The boot camp training will include group sessions and individual tasks on aspects of Business planning, marketing, profitability analysis and capital raising. At the end of the boot camp, each applicant will pitch to the Selection Committee which will further shortlist thirty (30) best-ranking cases for incubation.
- Incubation (6 months)
Co-founders of the thirty (30) innovations selected following the boot camp training will undergo in-depth training, coaching and mentorship to further finetune their concepts. This will be provided through the incubation center both physically and virtual. The key focus of the incubation phase will include aspects of business registration, tax compliance, financial management, supply chain management and go-to-market strategies.
- Seed Fund award
Entrepreneurs graduating from the incubation phase will pitch to the Selection Committee upon which twenty (20) finalists will be awarded seed funds of up to USD 10,000 per innovation. These funds will be used to support prototyping, patenting, market testing and other justifiable start-up costs per the award agreements signed between the recipient and IGAD.
How to Apply
Eligible candidates can complete the Concept Note Form (English Version) available at www.igad.int and or www.icpald.org
The Concept Note Form can also be downloaded, completed and submitted through SUDinnovation@igad.int
Please send your inquiries and grievances through: osman.babikir@igad.int Disclaimer
This call for applications and selection process DOES NOT require payments at any stage and the decision of the Selection Committee will be final and binding.
Download the Concept Note Template
Sudan Concept Note Form 20260917
