Are you an experienced professional who wants to help young Nigerian innovators build real businesses? Young Africa Innovates (YAI), a programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mastercard Foundation, is calling for facilitators, mentors and industry experts to support its Cohort 2 innovators as they build, test and scale their ventures.
This call is for the people who support the innovators, so the programme’s 18–35 age limit for participants does not apply here. The official call does not list a closing date, so express your interest soon.
Quick Facts
- Organisers: UNDP Nigeria and the Mastercard Foundation
- Roles: facilitator, mentor or industry expert
- Length: about two months for facilitators; a staggered eight months for mentors and industry experts
- Who you support: Cohort 2 innovators in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Taraba
- Eligible countries: the call does not restrict who can apply by country; the work supports innovators in Nigeria
- Pay: not stated in the call; confirm the terms with the organisers
- Deadline: not stated; apply early
The Three Roles
Facilitator (about two months). A subject-matter expert who grounds innovators in human-centred design and community user research, and leads hands-on workshops on rapid prototyping and MVP testing. Facilitators turn complex business tools into simple ideas, adapt to local languages and accessibility needs, and work with innovators to produce real business outputs, not just deliver a workshop.
Mentor (staggered, eight months). Gives ongoing, personal guidance through the emotional, strategic and practical challenges of building a venture. Mentors act as a sounding board, keep founders accountable, and help them turn incubation requirements into weekly actions, track progress, solve problems, document deliverables and prepare for the next stage and its funding tranche.
Industry Expert (staggered, eight months). Gives specialist guidance at key points in an innovator’s journey to close regulatory, technical and financial gaps, helping first-time founders build sustainable businesses that meet real community needs and create jobs in their states.
Who Should Apply
- experienced professionals whose expertise can help early-stage founders turn ideas into viable businesses
- people with the time for the role they choose: two months for facilitation, or eight staggered months for mentoring and expert support
- facilitators comfortable running practical workshops and adapting to local languages and accessibility needs
Choose the role that best matches your expertise, capacity and availability.
How to Apply
- Read the role descriptions on the official Call for Experts page.
- Sign in to the expression-of-interest portal.
- Choose your role and fill in the form. You can save as you go and come back; nothing is submitted until you say so.
- Review your answers and submit.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Tips
- Pick one role and show how your experience fits it: workshops you have run, founders you have mentored, or the regulatory, technical or financial problems you have solved.
- Be realistic about your time; mentors and experts commit for eight months.
- Mention any experience in the Cohort 2 states or their local languages.
More Opportunities for Mentors and Innovators
- UNDP Young Africa Innovates Programme 2026–2027: Free Incubation for Young Innovators in 7 Nigerian States (for innovators aged 18–35, closes 18 November 2026)
- timbuktoo UniPods Mentor Network 2026: UNDP Call for AI, Tech and Business Mentors Across Africa (closes 15 November 2026)
Deadline: not stated, apply early. Visit the official Young Africa Innovates Call for Experts.
