LEAP Africa, IYF Launch New Fund for Nigerian Social Innovators

LEAP Africa, a youth-focused leadership development organization and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) have renewed their partnership and launched the Youth Enterprise Fund (YEF). 

The partnership will allow both organisations to implement new and innovative approaches that leverage their shared expertise. 

Technical Advisor on Youth Agency & Engagement of the IYF, Sarah Jonson, said, the initial partnership with LEAP in 2013 which strengthened the Social Innovators Programme, focused on building the skills of young social entrepreneurs, facilitating access to networks and resources for youth-led projects, and advocating for the importance and credibility of youth-led social innovation. 

“We are excited to work together again to build off that model and success and explore new frontiers in facilitating more sustainable access and strengthen the ecosystem for early to mid-stage social entrepreneurs,” he said.

The YEF is funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support the critical work being done by early and mid-stage social entrepreneurs. 

With flexible grants that will be sub-awarded to social innovators within LEAP Africa’s Alumni network, the Youth Enterprise Fund will support them to increase the impact of their work. The fund seeks to build on the success of the Social Innovators Programme by facilitating access to flexible funding for SIP alums.

In addition, the YEF will engage with the Nigerian social entrepreneurship ecosystem to effect lasting change in the services and support that are accessible to young entrepreneurs. The partnership brings together LEAP Africa’s experience working with Social Innovators across Africa and IYF’s experience and expertise in implementing and supporting leadership and development programmes and supporting youth in marginalised and under resourced communities across-the-board Africa.

Kehinde Ayeni, said: “Africa is not in short supply of self-willed, talented, innovative people (particularly young people), but what is lacking is direction, resources, and training to empower and equip our young change-makers to build sustainable and thriving enterprises to address the issues peculiar to Africa. With a partner like the International Youth Foundation (IYF), LEAP Africa looks forward to improving social entrepreneurs’ change outcomes.” 

The Social Innovators Programme Awards aimed at rolling out the Youth Enterprise Fund (YEF), IYF and LEAP Africa will hold in October 2023.