Orange Corners Incubation and Acceleration Component - OCIAC

What is OCIAC?

Funding for OCIAC training 

The OCIAC subsidy programme provides funding for entrepreneurial training programmes (incubation and acceleration) for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35. It focuses on target countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

OCIAC provides funds to local organisations to run entrepreneurial training programmes, giving participants the necessary support to build their businesses. Applicants can also use part of the funding to raise awareness of entrepreneurial potential and build their organisation's capacity.

Entrepreneurs who participate in training programmes supported by OCIAC contribute to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They do so through innovative solutions to solve local challenges.

Orange Corners

OCIAC is part of Orange Corners, an initiative of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Orange Corners supports young entrepreneurs through:

• training sessions;
• mentorship;
• networks;
• funding; and
• facilities to start and grow businesses.

Orange Corners also strengthens local entrepreneurial ecosystems through projects that focus on policy development, entrepreneurial education, access to finance, and so on. This contributes to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and decent work for all.

For whom?

This subsidy is available for local businesses and civil society organisations registered in one of the target locations (see 'OCIAC target locations' below) and well-embedded in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The subsidy is for applicants who want to implement an entrepreneurial programme for young entrepreneurs (aged between 18 and 35) in one of the target locations. And those wanting to create a lasting impact on young entrepreneurs after the subsidy period ends.

Applicants should have the capacity, infrastructure, systems and network to manage an entrepreneurial training programme (incubation/acceleration) and experience running these programmes. 

Budget and duration

A total budget of €12 million was available for the first 2 subsidy rounds in 2023. An extra €1.2 million was available for the third subsidy round, which closed in July 2024. €900,000 was available for the fourth subsidy round, which closed in September 2025. €375,000 was available for the fifth subsidy round, which closed in February 2026.

For this sixth subsidy round, we welcome applications for the target location Benin. A total budget of €750,000 is available.

• Applicants can apply for a subsidy of up to 75% of the total project costs, up to a maximum of €750,000.
• OCIAC provides 1 subsidy per target location.
• Projects must run for 5 years, between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2031.

OCIAC target locations

Target locations for the OCIAC training programme include:

• Algeria
• Angola
• Bangladesh
• Benin*
• Burundi
• Côte d'Ivoire
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Egypt
• Ghana
• Iraq (excluding the Kurdistan region of Iraq)
• Jordan
• Kurdistan region of Iraq
• Mali
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nigeria
• Palestinian Territories
• Senegal
• Sudan
• South Africa
• South Sudan

* The current application round is open for this target location (Benin) only.

Conditions

To apply for this subsidy, you must meet the following conditions:

• You represent a local enterprise or civil society organisation legally registered in the target location.
  • Groups or fiscal units can also apply for 1 subsidy per group or fiscal unit.
• You have the capacity, infrastructure, systems and network to carry out training programmes in the target location.
• You have experience in developing and managing entrepreneurial training programmes.

Read the full conditions in the 'Unofficial translation of the Government Gazette amendments to the Administrative Rules’, listed under 'Publications' below.

How to apply

Step 1. Submit a quick scan

To apply for this subsidy, you must first submit a mandatory quick scan. Based on your quick scan, you will receive a non-binding recommendation. You can then apply for an OCIAC subsidy.

• Please carefully read the Administrative Rules before completing your quick scan. You can find them in the 'Unofficial translation of the Government Gazette amendments to the Administrative Rules’, listed under 'Publications' below.
• For reference, you can find an overview of the quick scan questions under 'Reference documents'. You can submit the quick scan via the online form.
• Submit your quick scan at least 2 weeks before the application round deadline, as the advisory process may take up to 2 weeks. The deadline for quick scan submissions is Thursday 21 May 2026, 23:59 CEST (midnight). We recommend submitting your quick scan as early as possible.

Complete the quick scan

Step 2. Submit a subsidy application

You can only submit a subsidy application during an application round. The application round opens on Monday 4 May 2026, 09:00 CEST. The deadline for submitting a subsidy application is Thursday 4 June 2026, 23:59 CEST (midnight).

• Carefully read all documents listed under 'Downloads' and 'Reference documents' before you apply.
• You must include all required documents with your application. Please use the provided templates.
• Submit your subsidy application via the online form.

Required documents

You must submit a complete application in English, including all required documents. Make sure to include the following:

• Quick scan recommendation reference number;
• Activity plan, including a risk analysis (see the mandatory template under 'Downloads');
• Budget (see the mandatory template under 'Downloads');
• Activities timeline;
• CVs of the applicant's staff members who will be involved in the implementation of activities;
• At least 1 Letter of Intent from a private organisation supporting its contribution and the proposed activities (see the optional template under 'Reference documents');
• The most recent financial statements for years T-1 and T-2 (the 2 previous years), reviewed by an external, independent accountant. If reviewed financial statements are not available, please include 1 or more non-reviewed ones.

Downloads

Upload the following templates with your application. Please complete them in English.

Reference documents

Please carefully read the documents below before applying.

Following your application

We will inform you whether your application meets the subsidy criteria within 13 weeks of the closing date. We base our assessment on the criteria in the 'Unofficial translation of the Government Gazette amendments to the Administrative Rules’ (see 'Publications' below).

We only assess complete applications that meet all conditions. Applications qualify for a subsidy if they score at least 65 out of 100 points. The highest-scoring application will qualify first. The second-highest-scoring application will qualify next, and so on. 

We may also conduct follow-up interviews or visit your workspace as part of the assessment. We will contact you separately if this is the case.

Publications

• Government Gazette publication, OCIAC, 13 April 2026, sixth opening (in Dutch);
• Government Gazette publication, OCIAC, 28 November 2025, fifth opening (in Dutch);
• Government Gazette publication, OCIAC, 14 July 2025, fourth opening (in Dutch);
• Government Gazette publication, OCIAC, 14 March 2024, third opening (in Dutch);
• Government Gazette publication, OCIAC, 17 April 2023, first and second opening (in Dutch).

More information

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) carries out Orange Corners on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For more information on Orange Corners projects, please visit the Orange Corners website.