Why this is on the list
Echoing Green has backed some of the most well-known social enterprises in the world at their earliest stage — Teach For America, City Year, and One Acre Fund all came through this fellowship. It is competitive and it is global, which means African applicants compete on equal terms with people building in the US and Europe. The fellowship is not just funding; it is a two-year relationship with an organisation that takes your development seriously. Apply when you have a clear theory of change and at least some evidence that your model works. If you are not ready to apply yet, reading their website and past fellow profiles is itself a good education in what a compelling social enterprise looks like.