ECOWAS Commission relaunches ECOWAS Startup Awards to bolster the regional ecosystem

The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially launched the second edition of the ECOWAS Startup Awards in August 2026, a regional startup competition designed to identify and support innovative startups and to promote digital entrepreneurship, innovation and economic integration in West Africa. This new edition comes nearly five years after the first regional startup gathering held in Niamey in November 2021.

The initiative aims to identify young technology companies capable of delivering solutions tailored to local realities and addressing market needs in sectors such as EdTech, HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, clean technologies, climate solutions, tourism and TravelTech, around a competition schedule set for 28–30 September 2026.

A competition positioned as a driver of digital sovereignty

The relaunch of the ECOWAS Startup Awards is presented by ECOWAS as a step in building regional digital sovereignty, at a time when digital innovation is described as a lever for growth, integration and job creation in West Africa. ECOWAS presents entrepreneurship and innovation as levers of competitiveness, job creation and economic growth in the region. Access to finance is also among the challenges the Commission seeks to address through its initiatives in support of MSMEs, young people and women entrepreneurs.

This dynamic builds on earlier regional initiatives in support of innovative entrepreneurship, following ECOWAS's organization of a first West African Startup Summit in Niamey in 2021, which led to the adoption of a draft charter for micro, small and medium enterprises and to the establishment of a regional selection jury.

60 startups expected and a USD 65,000 prize pool

More than 6,000 startups had already submitted applications for the second edition of the ECOWAS Startup Awards, according to Peter Oluonye, interim director of the private sector and industry division of the ECOWAS Commission. Sixty startups from member states are to be selected to participate in the initiative, which is themed around scaling up West African startups to support digital transformation, regional integration and the development of a sustainable value chain ecosystem that promotes market access.

The competition carries a total prize pool of USD 65,000, split into a first prize of USD 30,000, a second prize of USD 20,000 and a third prize of USD 15,000, on top of non-financial support.

ECOWAS had already awarded a total of USD 50,000 to the three best startups at the African Forum for Research and Innovation (FARI 2025), held in Cotonou from 5 to 9 May 2025. The winning projects focused on reducing maritime transport costs, assisting people with visual impairments and screening for cervical cancer.

A further building block in ECOWAS's strategy for innovative entrepreneurship

The launch of the ECOWAS Startup Awards comes as the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre has also opened, on 12 July 2026, a call for applications for the ECOWAS Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Programme (EYWEP), which seeks to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of young people and women, promote innovation and facilitate access to funding opportunities in member states.

Implemented in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA‑NEPAD) and with financial support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), EYWEP seeks to support young and women entrepreneurs through capacity building, mentoring, access to business networks, technical support and tailored financing mechanisms.

Recurring calls from FARI participants for regional platforms to share best practices, access markets and co‑develop solutions have helped to shape this approach, which now combines thematic forums, incubation programmes and prize‑based competitions.

Towards the final selection of laureates in autumn 2026

Applications are currently open to select 60 startups from ECOWAS member states. The programme then provides for virtual masterclasses from 21 to 25 September, followed by a physical event held in Abuja from 28 to 30 September 2026. The three laureates of the ECOWAS Startup Awards will be announced at the conclusion of the competition.