LeadGreen Fellowship 2026: Join a 12-Week Climate Leadership Programme for Young Africans

The LeadGreen Fellowship 2026 is inviting applications from young Africans who are passionate about environmental sustainability, climate action and community development.

The fellowship is designed to equip emerging environmental changemakers with practical green skills, mentorship, leadership experience and a network of peers working towards a more sustainable Africa.

The programme is free to participate in and is suitable for university students and recent graduates who want to turn their environmental interests into practical community action.

Important: The LeadGreen Fellowship is a free climate and environmental leadership programme, not a conventional scholarship. It does not advertise a tuition award or cash scholarship.

About the LeadGreen Fellowship

LeadGreen exists to empower Africa’s next generation of climate leaders who are taking action in their communities.

The fellowship helps young people understand environmental challenges, develop practical solutions and lead initiatives that contribute to a greener and more sustainable continent.

The programme combines:

• Environmental education
• Practical green skills
• Expert conversations
• Live masterclasses
• Peer learning
• Community-based environmental action
• Mentorship
• Leadership development
• A network of African changemakers

The initiative has built a growing network of young people taking measurable environmental action across Africa.

LeadGreen’s Reported Impact

According to the organisation’s website, the programme has recorded:

• 2,000 LeadGreen Fellows
• 500 unique projects
• 1,200 hours dedicated
• 2,000 lives positively impacted
• A network of changemakers from 54 African countries

What Participants Will Experience

The LeadGreen Fellowship takes participants through a journey from environmental awareness to practical action.

The programme is delivered online and includes self-paced learning, weekly activities, live sessions and community project work.

1. Environmental Foundations

Participants will learn about environmental challenges affecting Africa and their local communities, including:

• Plastic pollution
• Unmanaged waste
• Deforestation
• Biodiversity loss
• Flooding
• Climate change

This section helps fellows understand environmental problems and identify areas where they can make a meaningful difference.

2. Green Skills and Solutions

Participants will explore practical approaches to addressing environmental challenges, including:

• Waste management
• Recycling
• Climate action
• Afforestation
• Sustainable living
• Green technology

The goal is to help fellows develop the knowledge and skills needed to turn environmental problems into opportunities for innovation and sustainable development.

3. Environmental Action Missions

The fellowship goes beyond theoretical learning.

Participants are expected to complete practical environmental missions in their communities, document their activities and share evidence of their impact.

The programme encourages fellows to move from simply caring about the environment to taking measurable action.

4. Community and Impact

Fellows will connect with other young Africans working on environmental issues.

They will have opportunities to:

• Collaborate with peers
• Share ideas
• Learn from environmental practitioners
• Discuss community challenges
• Build relationships with other changemakers
• Become part of a growing environmental movement

The network is designed to continue beyond the completion of the fellowship.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is designed for young Africans who meet the following criteria:

• Must be between 18 and 29 years old, according to the eligibility FAQ.
• Must be a university student or recent university graduate.
• Must come from a low-income or first-generation background.
• Must have an interest in environmental sustainability, climate action or community development.
• Must be willing to participate actively in the fellowship.
• Must have reliable internet and access to a suitable device.
• Must be able to use virtual platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and Slack.

The homepage describes the programme as being designed for young environmental changemakers aged 20–30, while the application FAQ states 18–29 years old. Applicants should review the current application form and eligibility information carefully if they fall near the age limits.

Is Previous Leadership Experience Required?

No. Previous leadership experience is not strictly required.

However, applicants should demonstrate:

• A genuine interest in environmental issues
• A willingness to learn
• A desire to create positive change
• The ability to participate in community-focused activities
• Motivation to develop as a leader

The programme is intended for people who have the drive to make an impact, even if they have not previously held a formal leadership position.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected participants will receive access to:

• A free environmental leadership fellowship
• Environmental foundations training
• Practical green skills development
• Live masterclasses
• Peer learning
• Expert conversations
• Mentorship and guidance
• Environmental action missions
• Community project development
• Leadership and teamwork opportunities
• A network of young African environmental changemakers
• Opportunities to collaborate with other fellows
• A digital certificate for participants who successfully complete the fellowship, subject to the certificate issuance terms

The programme does not advertise a tuition scholarship, monthly stipend or cash award.

Programme Duration and Time Commitment

The LeadGreen website describes the core learning experience as a 12-week fellowship.

However, the current application form asks applicants to commit to staying involved for the full four-month duration.

The website also provides two different time expectations:

• The FAQ estimates approximately 3 hours per week for course materials, live peer sessions and the community project framework.
• The application form asks applicants to commit to 5–10 hours per week.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to dedicate regular time to the programme and follow the commitment stated in the application form.

Application Document Checklist

The application form does not list a long academic document requirement. Instead, applicants are asked to provide personal information, background details, motivation responses and a headshot.

Before applying, prepare the following:

Required Upload

• Headshot photograph
  • Accepted formats: SVG, PNG, JPG or GIF
  • Maximum file size: 5MB

Information and Responses to Prepare

Applicants should also have the following information ready:

• First name
• Last name
• Email address
• WhatsApp number, including country code
• Country
• City
• Age
• Gender
• Education or profession
• Climate or social impact experience
• Leadership experience, if any
• Reason for applying to LeadGreen
• Environmental problem they care about
• Change they want to see
• Preferred climate area
• Proposed project or environmental action
• Leadership or teamwork experience
• Interest in serving as a team lead or co-lead
• General weekly availability

Applicants must also confirm that they:

• Can dedicate 5–10 hours weekly
• Can remain involved for the full four-month duration stated in the application form
• Have reliable internet and device access
• Can access virtual platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and Slack
• Are willing to pay a small fee if they choose to receive the digital certificate, as a certificate issuance fee may apply

Application Form Sections

The application is divided into the following sections:

Personal Information

Applicants provide:

• First name
• Last name
• Email
• WhatsApp number
• Country
• City
• Age
• Gender
• Headshot upload

Background

Applicants provide:

• Education or profession
• Climate or social impact experience
• Leadership experience

Motivation

Applicants answer:

• Why do you want to join LeadGreen?
• What environmental problem do you care about?
• What change do you want to see?

Action and Leadership

Applicants provide:

• Preferred climate area
• Proposed project or action
• Leadership or teamwork experience
• Whether they are interested in becoming a team lead or co-lead

Commitment and Access

Applicants must confirm:

• Their ability to dedicate 5–10 hours weekly
• Their commitment to the full four-month duration
• Their access to reliable internet and a device
• Their ability to use virtual platforms
• Their general weekly availability

Final Confirmation

Applicants must:

• Indicate whether they would be willing to pay a small fee for certificate issuance
• State how they heard about the fellowship
• Confirm that all information provided is accurate and their own

False information may lead to disqualification.

2026 Cohort Application Timeline

The website currently lists the following information:

• Cohort: Cohort 4 – 2026
• Application period: August 23 – September 20, 2026
• Application deadline: September 20, 2026

Applicants should submit their applications before the stated deadline because each cohort has its own application window.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should complete the online application form through the official LeadGreen website.

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Provide your personal details, educational or professional background, environmental interests, proposed project and leadership information.

Step 2: Upload Your Headshot

Upload a clear headshot in one of the accepted formats:

• SVG
• PNG
• JPG
• GIF

The maximum file size is 5MB.

Step 3: Confirm Your Commitment

Confirm that you can participate actively, dedicate the required weekly hours and access the necessary online platforms.

Step 4: Submit the Application

Review all your information carefully and submit the application.

The organisation states that applications will be reviewed and applicants will be contacted after submission.

Examples of Previous Fellow Experiences

The LeadGreen website features reflections from previous fellows.

Alimot Okoya — Nigeria, Cohort 3

Alimot explained that the fellowship helped her become more confident in taking initiative, leading others and understanding how her skills could contribute to solving real-world problems.

She described serving as Team Lead for the Solar Photovoltaic team, where she researched topics, coordinated discussions, communicated ideas and helped move the team project forward.

Samuel Oluwaseun Akinyemi — Nigeria, Cohort 3

Samuel said LeadGreen gave him a stronger understanding of climate action, a community committed to change and the confidence to use his creative skills for meaningful impact.

During the fellowship, he worked with a team exploring Waste-to-Energy solutions, including municipal waste diversion mandates and market-based biogas hubs.

The experience helped him understand waste not only as something to dispose of, but also as a resource that can be transformed into cleaner energy and economic value.

Julius Markson — Nigeria

Julius described LeadGreen as an avenue for young people and women to demonstrate leadership, community development and engagement.

He also stated that the programme helped him gain knowledge about renewable energy and community development.

Conclusion

The LeadGreen Fellowship 2026 offers young Africans an opportunity to develop environmental knowledge, practical green skills, leadership experience and community-based action skills. University students and recent graduates from low-income or first-generation backgrounds who are passionate about climate and sustainability are encouraged to apply.

Application deadline: September 20, 2026.