African Youth Negotiators Fellowship (AYNF) 2026 – 5th Cohort: Fully Transformative Pan-African Climate Leadership & Negotiation Programme for Young Africans

Are you a young African (15–35 years) with a burning passion for climate justice, climate diplomacy, and shaping global climate policy? The African Youth Negotiators Fellowship (AYNF) 2026, now in its prestigious 5th Cohort, is now open for applications.

Organized by the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Ghana and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), this highly competitive pan-African climate fellowship builds the next generation of skilled African youth negotiators ready to engage effectively with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Climate Change and influence outcomes at COP31 and beyond.

This climate leadership fellowship Africa 2026 equips participants with technical knowledge, advanced negotiation skills, and strategic confidence to amplify African youth voices in international climate governance.

Programme Structure – 3 Intensive Phases

Phase 1 (Foundational Learning): Online courses via the Ghana Climate Literacy Portal (GCLP). All applicants must complete Climate Science 101 and upload the certificate. Shortlisted candidates may complete additional modules, quizzes, or assignments.
Phase 2 (Intensive Training): One-week hybrid training in Ghana featuring advanced negotiation sessions, policy writing, simulations, negotiation frameworks, UNFCCC architecture, and regional policy intersections.
Phase 3 (Advanced Engagement): Deep-dive mentorship, thematic negotiation labs, policy brief development, and coordinated pre-, during-, and post-COP31 activities.

The entire programme is delivered in English and requires full commitment to all phases.

Who Can Apply? Full Eligibility Criteria

Citizen of any African country
Aged between 15 and 35 years
Strong passion for climate justice and diplomacy
Experience or genuine interest in international and/or national climate policies
Proficient in English (the language of instruction)
Able and willing to commit fully to all three phases
Must complete Climate Science 101 on the Ghana Climate Literacy Portal (GCLP) and upload the certificate (mandatory — you cannot submit without it)

How to Apply for AYNF 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Visit the Ghana Climate Literacy Portal: https://gclportal.com/
Click “Start Learning”, sign up or log in, and complete the Climate Science 101 course
Download your certificate of completion
Fill the official application form and upload the certificate
Submit before the deadline

Applications Open: March 30, 2026 at 7:00 AM GMT
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT

Official Application Link: https://youthnegotiators.com/apply (redirects to the Google Form)

For enquiries: aynf@greenafricayouth.org

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Why Join the African Youth Negotiators Fellowship?

Gain expert climate negotiation skills and deep technical knowledge of the UNFCCC system
Build strategic confidence for global climate governance
Receive mentorship from leading experts
Join a powerful network of young African climate leaders
Contribute meaningfully to national, regional, and international climate policy

This is one of the most impactful youth climate fellowships and climate diplomacy programmes available to young Africans.

Mandatory First Step: Complete Climate Science 101 on https://gclportal.com/ today. Without the certificate, your application cannot be submitted.

Share this opportunity widely with every young climate activist, environmental science student, policy enthusiast, and youth leader across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and the entire continent. Tag friends who are passionate about climate justice.

Deadline is fast approaching — April 30, 2026. Start the mandatory course immediately and submit your application today to become part of Africa’s next generation of climate negotiators.

Summary Table of AYNF 2026 Details

Aspect	Details
Programme Name	African Youth Negotiators Fellowship (AYNF) 2026 – 5th Cohort
Organizers	Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), EPA Ghana & CDKN
Target Age	15 – 35 years
Eligibility	African citizen, passion for climate justice, English proficiency, full commitment
Mandatory Requirement	Complete Climate Science 101 on https://gclportal.com/ and upload certificate
Phases	1. Online foundational (GCLP) 2. One-week hybrid training in Ghana 3. Advanced mentorship & COP31 engagement
Application Opens	March 30, 2026 (7:00 AM GMT)
Application Deadline	April 30, 2026 (11:59 PM GMT)
Application Link	https://youthnegotiators.com/apply
Enquiries	aynf@greenafricayouth.org
Language	English