Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Enterprising Futures Scholarship to attend the One Young World 2026

About the Scholarship

By 2030, more than two billion young people around the world will be shaping the future of their economies. This presents an exciting opportunity for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth, especially in emerging and frontier markets. Young entrepreneurs are already at the forefront of this change, building businesses that respond to local challenges and create lasting impact in their communities.

Entrepreneurs play a vital role in strengthening local economies. By developing new products and services, growing innovative business ideas, and expanding into new markets, they help create more resilient and dynamic business environments. However, many young entrepreneurs still face barriers such as limited access to networks, resources, and international exposure.

To help address these challenges, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), partners with One Young World to offer an annual scholarship for young entrepreneurs and business leaders. The scholarship is designed to support promising changemakers who are building scalable solutions to sustainability challenges and are ready to take their impact to the next level by connecting with a global community.

Scholarship recipients will attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, where 2,000 young leaders from over 190 countries come together to share ideas, learn from global experts, and collaborate on solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. The Summit offers an inspiring environment to grow professionally, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and build meaningful international connections that can support long-term success.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

In November 2026, the One Young World Summit returns to Africa for the first time since Johannesburg 2013, with Cape Town set to host the Summit. Taking place as South Africa marks 50 years since the Soweto Youth Uprising, the Summit will honour this legacy and celebrate the young leaders shaping our future through innovation, entrepreneurship, and bold action.

As Africa’s most business-friendly city and a strategic gateway between emerging and developed markets, Cape Town is the ideal setting for this global gathering. Welcoming over 8 million international visitors each year and recognised as the continent’s leading destination for world-class events, the city offers a vibrant and inspiring backdrop for next-generation leadership dialogue.

With its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and warm hospitality rooted in Ubuntu, South Africa is ready to welcome the world. 

What is One Young World?

One Young World was founded in 2009 by David Jones and Kate Robertson. We are a UK-based charity that gathers together the brightest young leaders from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections to create positive change. 

We stage an annual Summit where the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGOs, universities and other forward-thinking organisations are joined by world leaders, acting as the One Young World Counsellors.

Delegates participate in four transformative days of speeches, panels, networking and workshops. All delegates have the opportunity to apply to give keynote speeches, sharing a platform with world leaders with the world’s media in attendance. As well as listening to keynote speakers, delegates have the opportunity to challenge world leaders, interact and be mentored by influencers. Delegates make lasting connections throughout the Summit, celebrating their participation at social events and the unforgettable Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

After each Summit, the delegates, who are then known as One Young World Ambassadors, work on their own initiatives or lend the power of the One Young World network to those initiatives already in existence. Of those in employment, many returns to their companies and set about creating change from within, energising their corporate environment.