ECOWAS has Opened Applications portal for COYWA 2026 Entrepreneurship Training for Young Entrepreneurs and Women
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has opened applications for the COYWA 2026 Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Programme targeted at young entrepreneurs and women across the ECOWAS region.
The programme is delivered under the Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) initiative in partnership with the Centre for Dialogue, Humanitarian, Social and Sustainable Development Studies (CDJS), the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
COYWA Entrepreneurship Programme Overview
The COYWA programme is designed to support young entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas that can contribute to economic and social development within their communities. The initiative focuses on strengthening entrepreneurship capacity among women and young people across ECOWAS member states.
According to programme organisers, the selection process targets participants with viable ideas or existing businesses capable of generating measurable impact at the community level.
Results From First Cohort
The first edition of the programme recorded participation from 47 young entrepreneurs drawn from 25 African countries. Training sessions covered financial literacy, digital skills, branding, and digital marketing.
Organisers reported a 99 percent success rate among participants based on programme evaluation metrics. Fifteen participants were identified for advanced roles and are being prepared as mentor-facilitators for future cohorts.
COYWA 2026 Training Structure
The second cohort will adopt a hybrid training model combining online and physical sessions.
Selected participants will undergo four weeks of virtual training followed by five days of in-person sessions. The physical training is scheduled for June 2026 at the Business Lab of the University of Cabo Verde in Praia, Cabo Verde.
Eligibility and Participation
The programme will select 75 participants across ECOWAS member states, including 25 participants from Cabo Verde as the host country.
Eligible applicants include young entrepreneurs and women with active businesses or scalable business ideas within the region.
Training Areas
The COYWA 2026 curriculum covers entrepreneurship development, innovation, branding, financial literacy, digital skills, and business growth strategies.
The programme also includes mentorship opportunities and structured learning aimed at supporting business expansion and sustainability.
Application Process
Applications for COYWA 2026 are currently open. Interested candidates are expected to submit their applications through the official COYWA application portal before the stated deadline.
Application portal: eywep.cdjscedeao.org/fr/ressources/8
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