National Call for Applications in the Sudan

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.

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.