Call for Proposals: China-Africa Gen-Z Youth Entrepreneurship Program

To thoroughly implement the spirit of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and actively respond to the call of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee, the Jiangxi China-Africa Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance officially launches a call for project proposals for the China-Africa Gen-Z Youth Entrepreneurship Program. The program aims to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship among young people, promote pragmatic China-Africa cooperation, and provide incubation support and resource matching for outstanding projects. The details are as follows:

I. Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to college and university students and Gen Z youth, born between 1995 and 2009, holding Chinese nationality or citizenship from African countries. Cross-disciplinary teams and cross-national teams with both Chinese and African young participants are preferred. Teams are recommended to consist of 3 to 5 members.

II. Timeline

• Submission Deadline: 24:00 (Beijing Time) on March 31, 2026 (based on email delivery time)
• Announcement of Preliminary Evaluation Results: By April 15, 2026
• Optimization and Practical Empowerment for Shortlisted Projects: April - June 2026
• Final Roadshow and Award Ceremony: July 2026

III. Theme Directions and Key Fields

The project proposal should closely focus on the themes of "China-Africa Cooperation" and "Gen Z Innovation", and is encouraged to be developed around the following areas (including but not limited to):

1. Digital Empowerment and Cross-Border E-Commerce: Local digital solutions in Africa, social e-commerce, inclusive fintech, etc.
2. Green Economy and Clean Technology: Renewable energy applications, circular economy, water resource management, environmental friendly materials, etc.
3. Cultural Creativity, Digital Culture and Tourism: Ceramic art, digitalization of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) crafts, animation games, short video content, immersive tourism experiences, etc.
4. Vocational Education and Skills Development: Online skills training platforms, practical training tools and curriculum systems adapted to African markets.
5. Agricultural Technology and Food Security: Smart agriculture, food processing and safety, supply chain innovation, etc.
6. Health Care and Public Health: Digital health solutions, affordable medical equipment, telemedicine diagnosis, public health education, etc.
7. Sports Economy and Integrated Development: Sports event operations, sports event operations, sports equipment innovation, sports footwear and apparel design, and sports-culture integrated products

IV. Requirements

1. Content Framework (Required Sections)

The project proposal should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary

• Problem Statement and Market Analysis (The target African country or region must be specified. The analysis should include preliminary research or data support on local policies, culture, consumer behavior, etc.)

• Innovative Solutions and Business Model

• Implementation and Localization Strategy

• Team Introduction and Cross-Cultural Collaboration

• Implementation Plan with Milestones

• Financial Plan (Optional but recommended. The completeness and rationale of this section will be an important factor in evaluating project feasibility and growth potential.)

• Social Impact Assessment (including an analysis of social benefits and sustainability)

2. Format Requirements

• Language: Chinese or English (bilingual preferred)
• Page Limit: Main text shall not exceed 20 pages (A4 size, including charts and graphs; attachments are not counted)
• File Formats: Submit two versions (both Word and PDF versions), with the total file shall not exceed 20MB in size. Optional: Applicants are encouraged to include a project introduction video of no more than 1 minute (not included in the page limit).
• File Naming: Project Name + Leader's Name + Affiliation

V. Submission

Please send the application materials—including a scanned PDF of the signed and sealed application form and both PDF and Word versions of the project proposal—to the official email address: jxzfqncylm@163.com. The naming format for the email and the materials should be "China-Africa Gen-Z Entrepreneurship Proposal+ Name of the Project".

VI. Evaluation and Incentives

Evaluation Criteria

1. Innovation and Alignment with Gen Z characteristics (25%) Breakthroughs in technology, business model, or project concept. This includes the use of new media, social platforms, digital tools and other approaches favored by Gen Z, as well as innovation that is engaging for and accessible to youth audiences.
2. Feasibility (40%) Depth of market analysis, clarity of the business model, implementation path, and capabilities in resource integration (including plans for leveraging local partnerships, policy compliance, and resources from the alliance);
3. Social Benefits and Sustainability (35%) Potential contributions to promoting China-Africa exchanges and mutual understanding, generating local value (e.g., employment and skills development), supporting community development, and advancing both environmental and social sustainability of the project.

Empowerment Support

1. Resource Matching: Priority access to enterprises, industrial parks within the alliance, and African partner networks.
2. Entrepreneurship Guidance: Mentorship and guidance from a group of senior professionals within the alliance.
3. Communication and Promotion: Featured reports on outstanding projects and teams through domestic and foreign media platforms to enhance influence.
4. Achievement Application: Selected projects will be included into the "Jiangxi China-Africa Youth Innovation and Cooperation Project Database", and will receive priority recommendations for enterprise visits and international exchange activities organized by the alliance.
5. Prize and Awards:

First Prize (1 entry): RMB 20,000 (pre-tax)

Second Prizes (2 entries):RMB 10,000 (pre-tax)

Third Prizes (3 entries): RMB 5,000 (pre-tax)

Outstanding Project Awards (10 entries): Certificates

Additional Awards: Outstanding Organization Award and Outstanding Mentor Award will also be will be presented in recognition of active contributors and exemplary guidance.

VII. Contact

Download the application form and guidelines: https://ug.link/jxgjcbzx666/filemgr/share-download/?id=7dcea1ecdc194b66b869d84718ca603a (Attached documents are provided for reference.)

Contact Person:  Mr. Zhou Tel: +86-19942161615

Inquiry Email:

• jxzfqncylm@163.com

Youth are the future of China-Africa cooperation, and innovation is the driving force of the times. We look forward to your wisdom and enthusiasm to jointly write a youthful chapter of China-Africa cooperation!

 

Jiangxi China-Africa Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance

                        January 21, 2026