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ANZISHA PRIZE FOR AFRICA’S YOUNGEST ENTREPRENEURS: 2016 APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

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After five years of success, the Anzisha Prize is investing further to
find, celebrate and expand the award to the very youngest entrepreneurs in
Africa. Look for the 2016 Anzisha Prize Tour in cities across the continent as
our ambitious search for this year’s top 12 entrepreneurs begins!

The 6th Anzisha Prize application phase is now open, and the search is on
to find 12 of Africa’s youngest, most innovative social and business entrepreneurs
under the age of 22. Organizers are calling for more nominations from the
public this year to ensure they discover the very best talent on the continent.
African Leadership Academy (ALA) and The MasterCard Foundation – co-hosts
of the Anzisha Prize – are also excited to announce a significant increase in
the support available to selected entrepreneurs over the next five years. Each
of the 12 finalists will now receive a $7,500 USD fellowship package with the
ALA’s Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit (YES-U) which includes the Anzisha Week
boot camp, mentorship and consulting services, travel opportunities to network
and business equipment.
In addition, a new $25,000 USD prize category has been created to recognize
Anzisha Fellows who have created further social and economic value through
their ventures by effectively leveraging the opportunities provided by the
fellowship with ALA.
This brings the total prize pool to $100,000 USD annually, with the Grand
Prize Winner taking home $25,000 USD, 1st Runner-up receiving $15,000 USD and
2nd Runner-up receiving $12,500 USD. The remaining nine finalists will receive
$2,500 USD each.
“It is essential that we nurture young, African entrepreneurial talent if
we want to see the economic gains we all hope for in the future,” says Koffi
Assouan, Program Manager for the Anzisha Prize at The MasterCard Foundation.
“Through the provision of leadership skills, access to finance and business
networking opportunities, these young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to
reach their full potential and to improve their lives and the lives of others.”
The prize is open to any African national under the age of 22 with an
active project, social venture or for-profit business based on the continent.
Judging criteria for the prize have been refined for 2016 to better represent
the entrepreneurial talent that the Anzisha Prize wants to uncover and support.
These criteria can be found in all application materials.
Applications will close on 15 April 2016, and the Anzisha Prize team wants
to encourage nominations from teachers, parents and community members to
identify talented young people. The Anzisha Prize is one of the most accessible
and inclusive pan-African opportunities for youth. Application forms and
information are available in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic, and the
Anzisha Prize Tour team will visit key hubs across the continent and engage
local media in every region. Both paper and electronic applications are
accepted.
“The true impact of our work is only possible if we can find the top
entrepreneurial potential wherever it may be,” comments Grace Kalisha, Manager
of the Anzisha Program at African Leadership Academy, “If anyone out there has
seen or heard of young people running amazing projects or businesses, we want
to hear from you!”
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