AU–EU Youth Action Lab: 2026 Powershifting Grants for Youth Initiatives in Africa and Europe
Programme Overview
The AU–EU Youth Action Lab offers a structured platform for youth-led initiatives across Africa and Europe to apply for financial support to implement innovative, community-oriented solutions addressing global challenges. Through its annual call for proposals, the programme encourages young people to exchange ideas, collaborate across continents, and influence policy processes at both the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) levels.
The initiative positions youth as central actors in cross-continental problem-solving by providing resources, peer engagement opportunities, and a participatory funding framework that ensures young leaders retain agency in decision-making. The forthcoming call for proposals will again invite diverse youth groups to apply for grant opportunities tailored to their organisational focus and developmental needs.
Vision and Purpose of the Youth Action Lab
The Youth Action Lab aims to strengthen cooperation between youth in Africa and Europe by:
- Promoting connections, learning exchanges, and collaborative work across the two regions.
- Empowering young leaders to develop and implement practical solutions to major global issues.
- Ensuring youth perspectives meaningfully shape policy discussions at national, regional, and international levels.
Through this programme, youth initiatives gain the resources and visibility needed to scale their impact and contribute to inclusive, sustainable development.
Eligible Countries
Youth initiatives can apply from the following African countries:
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia (Somaliland Region)
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Applicants from all European Union member states are also eligible.
Why the Grants Are Powershifting
The Youth Action Lab emphasises a powershifting approach, ensuring that youth leadership is integral to program design and implementation. This approach reflects three core principles:
1. Nothing About Youth Without Youth
A Youth Advisory Board oversees the evaluation and selection of proposals. This ensures that funding decisions are made by young leaders with a deep understanding of youth priorities and organisational contexts.
2. Strengthening Organisational Capacity
The grants aim to build long-term resilience within youth initiatives by supporting:
- Financial stability
- Operational capacity
- Organisational development
- Sustainability mechanisms
3. Simplified, Youth-Friendly Processes
The programme prioritises accessible and relevant application and reporting procedures, recognising the capacity constraints faced by youth-led organisations. The simplicity of the process enables equitable participation from initiatives with varying levels of experience.
Grant Types Offered
The Youth Action Lab offers four distinct grant categories. Although each addresses different organisational needs, all grant types share the overall mission of advancing youth-led action and cross-border cooperation. Applicants may apply for only one grant at a time. All grants support activities over a maximum period of 12 months.
1. Innovation Grants
Designed for initiatives seeking to conceptualise, test, or scale innovative solutions related to global challenges. Examples include climate resilience tools, digital solutions, or community-driven interventions. These grants prioritise creativity, experimentation, and impact measurement.
2. Entrepreneurship Grants
Targeted at youth initiatives focused on social entrepreneurship, employment creation, and economic empowerment. These grants support business model development, skills training, and youth-led enterprises addressing social challenges.
3. Representation Grants
Designed for young people experiencing marginalisation who work at the grassroots level to elevate their voices. This may include civic engagement efforts, leadership development, advocacy campaigns, and interventions that strengthen representation in policy spaces.
4. Cooperation Grants
Intended for collaborative initiatives between African and European youth. These grants support joint advocacy, research, campaigns, and cross-regional dialogue addressing shared concerns such as governance, climate change, education, and digital transformation.
Application Support and Resources
The programme provides practical guidance to help applicants navigate the submission process. A dedicated application guide is available to clarify:
- Eligibility criteria
- Application requirements
- Key documentation
- Submission procedures
Applicants are encouraged to consult these resources before applying.
Engagement and Communication
The AU–EU Youth Action Lab invites youth organisations and networks to stay informed about funding rounds, events, and programme developments. Interested individuals may subscribe to the newsletter and follow the programme’s communication channels to receive ongoing updates.
Programme Governance and Funding
The initiative is implemented with financial support from the European Commission. The views expressed through the programme materials reflect the perspectives of the implementing partners and not the official position of the European Commission.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the funding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
