1. Key dates
- Applications open: 9 November 2026
- Applications close: 30 April 2027
- Winners announced: Mid-November 2027
- Projects begin: 1 December 2027
- Project duration: Three months
2. Grant categories
- City and Community Projects — maximum US$3,000.
- National Projects — maximum US$10,000.
- Total first-round funding: US$120,000.
Funding is competitive and subject to assessment, due diligence and budget availability.
3. Eligible applicants
- Farmers' associations
- Agricultural cooperatives
- Automobile spare-parts associations
- Car importers and exporters
- Food vendors and restaurant associations
- Fashion designers
- Real estate associations
- Building materials associations
- Mobile phone importers
- Electronics dealers
- Hotels and tourism associations
- Educational institutions
- Registered charities
- Youth and women's associations
- Chambers of commerce
- Professional organisations
- Other eligible business and community organisations
4. Ineligible activities
- Educational scholarships
- Political campaigns
- Religious promotion
- Purchase of vehicles
- Purchase or construction of buildings
- Purchase of land
- Major fixed assets
- Interest-generating businesses
- Personal loans
- Activities unrelated to digital trade and market development
5. Eligible budget items
- Promotional T-shirts
- Social media campaigns
- Seminars and workshops
- Conferences
- Trade fairs
- Flyers and posters
- Radio and television programmes
- Website development
- Digital marketing training
- Other eligible expenses
6. Supporting documents (PDF, JPG or PNG)
- Registration certificate
- Organisation profile
- Detailed project proposal
- Project budget
- Previous activity photographs
- Bank account confirmation
- Letters of partnership
7. ECOWAS Marketplace
Applicants are strongly encouraged to register at least 20 members or beneficiaries on ECOWAS Marketplace. Genuine participation receives additional assessment consideration but is not a condition of eligibility.
8. Declarations
- Information supplied is accurate
- Organisation is legally established
- Proposed activities comply with grant guidelines
- Grant funds will only be used for approved activities
- Organisation accepts monitoring and reporting requirements
- Organisation will return funds used improperly