The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has launched the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration and Partnership Programme 2026 to support African startups looking to scale across the continent and enter global markets.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Korea Africa Foundation and is expected to provide growth opportunities for high-potential startups through innovation support, collaboration, and international business exposure.
In a statement, the AfCFTA Secretariat described the programme as a flagship initiative focused on strengthening Africa’s innovation ecosystem and helping emerging businesses improve their competitiveness.
The Secretariat said the programme aligns with AfCFTA’s broader goal of promoting cross-border trade and business expansion across Africa. It added that participating startups would gain access to opportunities that could support expansion into Korea and other international markets.
“The programme is designed to strengthen innovation capacity and support the growth of emerging businesses across the continent,” the statement said.
AfCFTA also noted that the initiative would help African entrepreneurs build scalable businesses and compete more effectively in the global digital economy through strategic partnerships and market access support.
