JCI intends to defend and support entrepreneurship. Likewise, JCI is willing to foster camaraderie and networking through business leadership around the world for young people between the ages of 18 and 40.

In 2005, JCI originally launched JCI CYEA (JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur Awards) because we strongly believe young entrepreneurs make a difference. As young active citizens, they not only have good ideas, but also the will to turn them into reality. They use their new thinking and hard work to create positive change, bring new concepts and products to market and create jobs and wealth. This program targets young entrepreneurs nationwide. JCI provides a platform where young people can learn, discover and share their initiatives or projects to enhance entrepreneurship towards better societal and economic prospects.

The JCI Africa and the Middle East Entrepreneurship Award will recognize creative young entrepreneurs from JCI Africa and the Middle East between the ages of 18 and 40 who have started a business using creativity in product development, service development and market approach. They have had to bring creativity to solve a problem/challenge or change a process to create a positive change in their business operations.

The project will be restricted to JCI Africa and the Middle East members for the 2020 edition as it aims to encourage/motivate members from Africa and the Middle East to present their projects and also provides the platform where we can better utilize the internal assets and resources of Africa and the Middle East in accordance with the investment strategy of the JCI Action Plan.

These are :

• Honoring JCI members who are creative young entrepreneurs ;
• Promote and support creativity and business development ;
• Developing a sense of entrepreneurship among young people aged 18-40 in Africa and the Middle East.

In accordance with the JCI Strategic Plan 2019-2023, we are committed to bringing the JCI CYEA philosophy to the Africa and Middle East (AME) Region. AME is the youngest continent with strong potential while at the same time it has its challenges such as the youth unemployment rate in the ME is > 21%, > NA 25%, Africa > 35% (World Bank, 2019), through the JCI AME CYEA Program to strategically empower young people and motivate them to use the sphere of entrepreneurship to find sustainable solutions to youth unemployment. In addition, this entrepreneurship program is also an avenue to support the Sustainable Development Goals, instilling a culture of sustainability and eco-business.

• The competition is open to owners / managers of an existing business. Start-up projects, startups ready with their MVP, i.e. companies that have not yet been incorporated and/or are not yet in operation, are eligible if a complete prototype is available and tested ;
• JCI Members from Africa and the Middle East are eligible to participate in this program ;
• An applicant must be an owner/manager who is primarily responsible for the recent performance or start-up of a private business ;
• An applicant must be a resident of the Africa and Middle East region and/or where the project is being implemented in Africa and the Middle East, and must be present at the Conference in Burkina Faso during the competition process and for the awards ceremony ;
• The application must be approved by the National President

• If you are pre-selected, you will participate in a pitching session during the Conference ;
• After checking the application form, if the details mentioned are not true, you (the participant) will be disqualified from the award program ;
• Your participation in the JCI Africa and the Middle East Conference is mandatory and failure to be physically present may result in disqualification from participating in this award ;
• The competition is open to owners of an existing business. Start-up projects, that is, businesses that have not yet been incorporated and/or are not yet in operation, are not eligible to participate ;
• Men and women between the ages of 18 and 40 are eligible to participate in this award. Candidates must not have reached the age of 41 by 17 June 2020 ;
• An applicant must be an owner who is primarily responsible for the recent or start-up performance of a private business ;
• An applicant must be a resident of the Africa and Middle East region (Proof of permanent residence will be required) ;
• Any JCI member who is not a member of the Conference Organizing Committee team may enter the competition ;
• Only for-profit companies may apply.