Young South African entrepreneurs with businesses capable of creating significant employment opportunities have an opportunity to connect with a global network of young leaders through the One Young World National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs 2026.
The programme has been created as part of One Young World’s wider commitment to addressing one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges: youth unemployment. It seeks to identify and support young entrepreneurs who are not only building businesses but are also creating pathways to employment and livelihoods for other young people.
Applications for the programme opened on 11 August 2026, and the application deadline is 12 September 2026.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to join the global One Young World community and participate in the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3–6 November 2026.
About the One Young World National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs
The National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs has been developed in connection with the One Young World Summit taking place in Cape Town.
One Young World describes the programme as part of a legacy commitment designed to respond to youth unemployment in South Africa through practical, business-led approaches to employment and job creation.
The programme recognises that young people are not only future employees. They can also be powerful creators of employment within their communities when they have the right businesses, networks, knowledge and opportunities to scale.
The initiative therefore focuses on entrepreneurs whose businesses have the potential to generate significant numbers of jobs and contribute meaningfully to economic opportunities for young people.
Rather than focusing solely on entrepreneurship as an individual career pathway, the programme places particular emphasis on entrepreneurs as job creators.
Why the Programme Was Created
Youth unemployment remains an important challenge in South Africa, and the programme aims to contribute to solutions that place young entrepreneurs at the centre of employment creation.
The information provided by One Young World highlights research indicating that 35% of young South Africans identify the creation of new, well-paying jobs as one of the most important steps Africa can take to progress. According to the programme information, this was the highest response among the 16 countries surveyed.
This finding reinforces the relevance of a programme focused on entrepreneurs who can create employment opportunities.
The One Young World Summit in Cape Town is therefore intended to be more than a global gathering. Through initiatives such as this programme, the Summit is also positioned as an opportunity to support practical solutions to national and regional challenges.
What the Programme Is Looking For
The programme is designed for young South African entrepreneurs who are actively leading businesses or enterprises and have the potential to create significant employment opportunities.
Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate that they are not simply interested in entrepreneurship but are already taking a leadership role within an organisation or business.
The programme specifically requires applicants to:
- Lead a business or enterprise.
- Have significant job-creation potential within their business.
- Have direct decision-making authority within their organisation or company.
- Be South African nationals and residents.
- Meet the programme’s age requirements.
- Be available to attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town.
The focus on job creation makes this opportunity particularly relevant to entrepreneurs whose businesses are growing or have the potential to scale and employ more people.
Connection to the One Young World Global Community
One of the major aspects of the programme is its connection to the wider One Young World Ambassador Community.
Participants can become part of a global network of more than 20,000 young leaders across more than 190 countries.
This creates opportunities for young entrepreneurs to connect with individuals working on different social, economic and community challenges around the world.
Being part of such a network can expose participants to different approaches to entrepreneurship, employment creation, leadership and social impact.
The programme is therefore not only focused on the individual business of an entrepreneur. It also seeks to connect young business leaders with a broader international community of people working to create positive change.
Opportunities Available to Participants
The programme information states that participants will have access to several opportunities through their connection to One Young World.
These include:
1. Access to a Global Network
Participants will be connected to a global community of more than 20,000 young leaders from over 190 countries.
This international network brings together young people working across different sectors, industries and areas of social impact.
For entrepreneurs, such a network can provide exposure to new ideas, perspectives and potential professional relationships.
2. Ambassador Opportunities
Participants can gain access to exclusive opportunities available to One Young World Ambassadors.
These may include:
- Speaking opportunities.
- Regional networking opportunities.
- Mentoring sessions.
- Other engagement opportunities within the Ambassador Community.
These activities can support continued leadership development beyond the Summit itself.
3. Understanding the Youth Unemployment Challenge
The programme will also provide participants with an opportunity to improve their understanding of solutions to the youth unemployment crisis.
This is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs whose businesses already contribute to employment or have the potential to create additional jobs.
By engaging with other young leaders and the wider One Young World community, participants can explore different approaches to employment, entrepreneurship and economic participation.
4. Strengthening Enterprise Growth
Another important focus is increasing participants’ capacity to scale their enterprises as generators of employment opportunities.
The programme therefore connects entrepreneurship with the broader objective of creating sustainable jobs.
For a business leader, this can mean thinking beyond the survival of an individual enterprise and considering how business growth can translate into opportunities for other people.
One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town
Successful participants are expected to participate in the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3–6 November 2026.
The Summit provides an international platform where young leaders can connect, exchange ideas and engage with other people working on significant social and economic challenges.
For participants in the National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs, the Cape Town Summit will provide an opportunity to engage with a global leadership community while contributing perspectives from South Africa’s entrepreneurship and employment landscape.
The Summit is therefore a central component of the programme and applicants must be available to participate during the specified dates.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
To be eligible for the National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs, an applicant must:
- Be between 18 and 30 years of age.
- Be a national of South Africa and resident in South Africa.
- Be leading a business or enterprise with the potential for significant job creation.
- Have direct decision-making authority within their organisation or company.
- Be available to participate in the One Young World Summit from 3–6 November 2026.
Applicants Over 30
The programme notes that most delegates participating in the One Young World Summit are between 18 and 30.
However, applicants older than 30 may be considered where they can demonstrate appropriate levels of:
- Personal impact.
- Initiative.
- Willingness to engage.
Applicants who will be under 18 at the time of the Summit, which takes place from 3–6 November 2026, cannot apply.
Who Should Consider Applying?
This programme may be particularly relevant to young South African entrepreneurs who are already running businesses and are interested in expanding their impact through employment creation.
Potential applicants could include entrepreneurs whose businesses operate in areas where growth can directly lead to new employment opportunities.
The key consideration is not simply having a business idea. The eligibility requirements specifically refer to applicants leading a business or enterprise that has the potential for significant job creation.
Applicants should therefore consider how their business contributes, or could contribute, to employment opportunities and economic participation.
The Importance of Direct Leadership
Another important eligibility requirement is that applicants must have direct decision-making authority within their organisation or company.
This means the opportunity is intended for entrepreneurs who have meaningful leadership responsibility rather than individuals who are simply employees or passive participants in a business.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their role in making decisions and leading the organisation.
Nationality and Residency Requirement
The National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs is specifically focused on young entrepreneurs in South Africa.
Applicants must be both:
- A national of South Africa; and
- Resident in South Africa.
The opportunity information provided does not identify other countries as eligible.
Consequently, entrepreneurs from other African countries or other regions should not assume that they qualify for this particular national programme unless One Young World provides additional eligibility information.
Age Requirement
The standard age range for the programme is 18 to 30 years.
The programme does, however, allow for consideration of applicants over the age of 30 where there is evidence of appropriate personal impact, initiative and willingness to engage.
There is also a firm restriction concerning applicants under 18. The programme states that applications cannot be accepted from individuals who will be under 18 at the time of the One Young World Summit.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs is:
12 September 2026
The application period opened on 11 August 2026.
Applicants should ensure that they submit their applications before the stated deadline and carefully review the official application requirements before completing their submission.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the official One Young World application platform.
Interested applicants should use the official application link provided on the programme page and complete the application process before the deadline.
Apply for the National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs
Applicants should ensure that the information they provide accurately reflects their entrepreneurial leadership, business activities and potential for job creation.
Key Dates to Remember
The most important dates associated with the opportunity are:
- Application opening date: 11 August 2026
- Application deadline: 12 September 2026
- One Young World Summit: 3–6 November 2026
- Summit location: Cape Town, South Africa
Applicants should pay particular attention to the 12 September 2026 application deadline.
For more information, Visit HERE.
Why Job-Generating Entrepreneurs Matter
Entrepreneurship can play an important role in addressing unemployment by creating businesses that provide opportunities for other people.
A successful enterprise can generate direct employment while also supporting wider economic activity through suppliers, customers, service providers and other businesses.
The National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs reflects this approach by focusing on entrepreneurs who have the potential to create significant numbers of jobs.
The programme therefore places the entrepreneur within a wider economic and social context: building a business is not only about personal success but can also become a pathway to employment and livelihoods for others.
What Makes This Opportunity Different?
The programme stands out because of its specific focus on job-generating entrepreneurship.
While many entrepreneurship opportunities focus on developing business ideas, skills or individual enterprises, this initiative specifically seeks young entrepreneurs whose businesses can contribute to solving the employment challenge.
It also combines national entrepreneurship priorities with international leadership development through the One Young World network.
Participants can therefore connect a local challenge, namely youth unemployment in South Africa, with a global community of young leaders.
International Networking and Exposure
Joining the One Young World community can provide participants with an international perspective on leadership and social impact.
The network includes young leaders from more than 190 countries, creating an environment where participants can encounter different approaches to entrepreneurship, innovation, community development and employment creation.
For South African entrepreneurs, international exposure can also provide opportunities to learn from businesses and leaders working in different economic environments.
Leadership Development
The programme is also connected to One Young World’s wider focus on young leadership.
Through networking, speaking opportunities, mentoring and engagement with other Ambassadors, participants can continue developing their leadership capabilities.
The experience may be particularly valuable for entrepreneurs who want to strengthen their ability to lead organisations while increasing their social and economic impact.
What Entrepreneurs Should Highlight in Their Applications
Eligible entrepreneurs should ensure that their applications clearly communicate the aspects of their work that align with the programme’s objectives.
Important areas to demonstrate include:
- The business or enterprise they lead.
- Their role and decision-making authority.
- The problem their business addresses.
- Current or potential employment opportunities created by the business.
- The potential for the enterprise to scale.
- Their personal leadership and impact.
- Their contribution to their community or wider society.
- Their availability to participate in the One Young World Summit.
The strongest applications should make it clear how the applicant’s entrepreneurial work connects with the programme’s central focus on job creation.
Important Information for Prospective Applicants
Before applying, prospective candidates should carefully assess whether they meet the programme’s requirements.
In particular, applicants should confirm that they:
- Are South African nationals.
- Currently reside in South Africa.
- Meet the age requirements.
- Lead a business or enterprise.
- Have direct decision-making authority.
- Can demonstrate significant job-creation potential.
- Can attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026.
Meeting these requirements is important because the programme is specifically designed for young South African entrepreneurs who can contribute to the objective of creating employment opportunities.
Conclusion
The One Young World National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs 2026 provides a platform for young South African entrepreneurs whose businesses have the potential to create significant employment opportunities.
By connecting participants to the One Young World community of more than 20,000 young leaders across more than 190 countries, the programme provides an opportunity to engage with an international leadership network while addressing a critical national challenge.
The initiative places particular emphasis on entrepreneurs as drivers of employment, recognising that young business leaders can contribute directly to creating livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities for other young people.
Eligible entrepreneurs should carefully review the requirements and submit their applications before the 12 September 2026 deadline.
The One Young World Summit will take place in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026, providing selected participants with an opportunity to engage with a global community of young leaders while contributing to conversations and solutions around entrepreneurship, employment and youth unemployment.
CLICK HERE for more OFY Scholarship opportunities.
