ASEN

Register

9–10 October 2026 · Krystal Palace Hotel Douala

A gathering for Africa’s social entrepreneurs.

What is the contribution of the African Social Entrepreneurial Network to social entrepreneurship in the era of the AfCFTA: stakes, opportunities, and challenges?

View ticketsApply to the network
9–10 October 2026Krystal Palace Hotel DoualaAfCFTATwo-day summitCameroon pilotRoyal Green World

Why this summit

Leave with a next step.

The summit brought peers, investors, and institutions together for two days at Krystal Palace Hotel Douala.

  1. Meet the people who build

    Entrepreneurs, funders, and public partners from across the continent, in one place.

  2. Test ideas in the open

    Workshops and exchanges on models that already work in African markets.

  3. Leave with a next step

    Concrete introductions, not just inspiration — toward funding, policy, and scale.

  4. Stay in the network

    The summit is the flagship moment of a year-round community.

500+Target active members
300+Annual summit participants
100+Entrepreneurs to fund
2026–28Cameroon pilot phase

Why ASEN exists

Fragmented effort, gathered on purpose.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces deep structural pressure: more than 40% of people live below the poverty line, 15 million new jobs are needed each year by 2030, and climate shocks have multiplied since 1970. Social entrepreneurs are already responding — but they work in isolation. ASEN turns that fragmentation into collective power.

Panel discussion on financing social entrepreneurship with ASEN branding and orange chairs on stage

Mission

To give African social entrepreneurs the knowledge, networks, and capital pathways they need to scale impact — starting with a replicable Cameroon pilot.

Vision

An Africa where locally led enterprises are a recognised engine of jobs, dignity, and sustainable development.

Gallery

Gallery

Open the gallery

Photographs from the summit at Krystal Palace Hotel Douala.

  • ASEN leadership at a press briefing in front of a Krystal Palace Hotel backdrop in Douala
  • Wide view of a summit plenary in a red-seat auditorium with Sustainable Development Goals on the projection screen
  • Speaker delivering a keynote from a podium in the summit auditorium
  • Panel discussion on financing social entrepreneurship with ASEN branding and orange chairs on stage
  • Group portrait of summit participants in the red-seat auditorium at Krystal Palace, Douala, with the Sustainable Development Goals on the screens
  • Kate Orock speaking on accountability from the podium at Krystal Palace, Douala
  • Speaker in a white jacket delivering remarks from a clear podium, with a Royal Green World banner behind her
  • Speaker at the Krystal Palace podium, with orange chairs on stage and the audience in red seats
  • Participants taking notes from the red seats during a plenary
  • Two delegates seated together in the auditorium, one looking at a phone and the other holding a notebook
  • Participant speaking into a handheld microphone from the auditorium
  • Delegates in conversation around tables in the hotel lounge
  • A catering table of bread, salads and covered dishes during the summit
  • Café Royale bottles and spices arranged on an exhibitor table
  • Press interviewing an exhibitor at the OLY stand in front of the 2026 summit backdrop
  • Visitors browsing packaged goods at an exhibition table
  • Group portrait of participants in front of the African Social Entrepreneurial Network banner
  • A speaker taking questions from Dash TV, Balafon and CRTV microphones
  • Delegates applauding from the red seats
  • Two participants in conversation in front of the African Social Entrepreneurial Network backdrop
  • Delegates arriving at the hotel entrance
  • Packs of OLY pineapple chips and safou chips on a display table

How the network works

Five pillars

Ecosystem and networking

A pan-African platform connecting entrepreneurs with investors, governments, and support structures.

Investment readiness

Pathways to impact funds, development banks, incubators, and structuring support.

Capacity and incubation

Workshops, peer exchange, and the annual summit — skills that travel with members.

Advocacy and policy

Dialogue and research that help governments and donors build enabling environments.

Visibility and markets

Legitimacy with decision-makers, partners, and the markets members serve.

Where the work sits

Four axes of action

  1. Annual summit

    The flagship gathering — 300 or more participants exchanging practice and signing new collaborations.

  2. Digital platform

    Thematic groups by sector, country, and Sustainable Development Goal, active all year.

  3. Resource access

    Direct introductions to funds, mentors, and incubation — targeting more than US$1 million mobilised by year two.

  4. Advocacy

    Studies and formal dialogue in three or more countries to strengthen the ecosystem.

2026–2028

Roadmap

  1. 01

    Phase 1

    Launch and structuring

    3 months

    Network setup, platform, partners, first members, and country focal points.

  2. 02

    Phase 2

    Operational deployment

    12 months

    Inaugural summit, support programmes, thematic groups, and the first investor connections.

  3. 03

    Phase 3

    Consolidation and scale

    9 months

    Expansion, advocacy, impact evaluation, and a model ready for continental rollout.

Guests

They were there.

Meet the speakers

Journal

Notes from the network.

All news and resources

Sustainable Development Goals

The goals this network is built around

1No Poverty2Zero Hunger3Good Health and Well-being4Quality Education5Gender Equality7Affordable and Clean Energy8Decent Work and Economic Growth10Reduced Inequalities13Climate Action15Life on Land17Partnerships for the Goals

Take part

Two ways to take part

Summit ticket

The 2026 summit was held on 9 and 10 October. Students, NGOs, and private organisations each had a published category. Those rates remain on this site as a record.

View tickets

Network membership

Join ASEN as a year-round member — with or without a summit ticket. Members receive a continental peer group, learning that travels, capital conversations, and mentorship.

Apply to the network

Tickets

Rates from the 2026 summit.

These are the published rates for the summit held on 9–10 October 2026. Fixed reference: 1 USD = 665 XAF. Early bird rates closed on 15 August 2026.

Students

  • Early Bird10,000 XAF · US$15

    Essential access for early registrants.

  • Regular25,000 XAF · US$38

    Standard summit access.

  • Late50,000 XAF · US$75

    Last window to join.

  • Premium100,000 XAF · US$150

    Full student experience.

NGOs

  • Early Bird50,000 XAF · US$75

    Preferential NGO rate.

  • Regular150,000 XAF · US$225

    Standard access with extras.

  • Standard300,000 XAF · US$450

    Full workshop access.

  • Premium500,000 XAF · US$750

    Mentorship and VIP access.

  • Platinum1,000,000 XAF · US$1,500

    Maximum visibility for your NGO.

Private / professional

  • Early Bird100,000 XAF · US$150

    Launch rate for professionals.

  • Regular300,000 XAF · US$450

    Standard professional access.

  • Standard500,000 XAF · US$750

    Advanced workshops and networking.

  • Premium1,000,000 XAF · US$1,500

    Private mentorship and VIP lounge.

  • Platinum2,500,000 XAF · US$3,750

    Speaking and visibility.

  • Enterprise10,000,000 XAF · US$15,000

    Full sponsorship and 10 passes.

Partners

Supported by

Convenor

  • Royal Green World

Strategic partners

  • MINJEC
  • UNDP
  • UNICEF
  • UN Women
  • UNHCR

People

Focal points

  • OA

    Okae Ambrose Otee

    Focal point

    Uganda

  • JB

    John Baptist Okello

    International Coordinator

    Uganda

  • WN

    Winnie Nyakio Omwenga

    Focal point

    Kenya

The 2026 summit has taken place.

It was held on 9 and 10 October at Krystal Palace Hotel Douala. Membership in the network continues.

View ticketsApply to the network

Cookies. Analytics stays off unless you accept. The choice is stored in a first-party cookie on this site.