UNDP African Youth Co-Creators Council 2026 | Fully Funded Opportunity for Young African Leaders

Applications are now open for the UNDP African Youth Co-Creators Council 2026, a prestigious initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa. The programme seeks to recruit 11 exceptional young leaders from Africa and the African diaspora to serve on a two-year advisory council that will help shape UNDP’s youth agenda across the continent.

The Council provides a unique platform for young people to advise, co-create, and amplify youth-centred solutions while working closely with UNDP teams and partners across Africa.

Programme Summary

• Host Organisation: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa
• Programme: African Youth Co-Creators Council
• Programme Type: Youth Leadership and Advisory Council
• Number of Participants: 11 young leaders
• Duration: Two-year term
• Eligible Applicants: Young Africans from the continent and the African diaspora
• Application Deadline: 31 July 2026

About the Council

The African Youth Co-Creators Council is designed to ensure that young people actively influence the design and implementation of UNDP’s programmes and policies across Africa.

Council members will work with UNDP Regional Service Centres and Country Offices to ensure youth voices remain central to development initiatives. The Council’s work follows a Triple-A Strategy:

• Advise – Provide strategic advice on youth priorities and emerging issues.
• Anticipate – Identify future opportunities and challenges affecting young Africans.
• Amplify – Elevate youth voices, innovations, and solutions across the continent.

Benefits

Selected Council members will receive:

• Opportunity to directly influence UNDP’s youth agenda across Africa.
• Engagement with senior UNDP leadership and development partners.
• Participation in high-level policy discussions and decision-making processes.
• Leadership development opportunities.
• Networking with exceptional young leaders from across Africa and the diaspora.
• Opportunities to contribute to the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of youth-focused initiatives.
• Travel, accommodation, meals, and digital communication costs for official Council activities covered by UNDP.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be 18–34 years old.
• Be an African national or a member of the African diaspora.
• Demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to youth development.
• Have experience leading initiatives in their community, organisation, or country.
• Be passionate about creating youth-centred solutions.
• Be willing to contribute to UNDP’s work throughout the two-year Council term.
• Have the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders across Africa.

Areas of Expertise

UNDP encourages applications from young leaders working in areas including:

• Climate action.
• Entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Governance.
• Peace and security.
• Gender equality.
• Technology and digital transformation.
• Education and skills development.
• Social entrepreneurship.
• Community development.
• Youth advocacy and civic engagement.

Roles and Responsibilities

Council members will:

• Advise UNDP on youth-related priorities.
• Co-create programmes and policies for young people.
• Represent youth perspectives in strategic discussions.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of youth initiatives.
• Strengthen partnerships between UNDP and young people across Africa.
• Promote youth participation in sustainable development initiatives.

Selection Process

Applicants will be assessed based on:

• Leadership experience.
• Demonstrated impact in their communities.
• Commitment to youth empowerment.
• Ability to collaborate and influence change.
• Vision for Africa’s development and youth inclusion.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Visit the official UNDP African Youth Co-Creators Council application page.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Provide all requested information and supporting documents.
4. Submit the application before 31 July 2026.

Application Deadline

31 July 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Conclusion

The UNDP African Youth Co-Creators Council 2026 offers an exceptional opportunity for young African leaders to shape policies and programmes that affect millions of young people across the continent. Through this fully supported two-year advisory role, participants will gain leadership experience, expand their professional networks, and work directly with UNDP to co-create innovative, youth-driven solutions for Africa’s future. Eligible young leaders are encouraged to apply before the 31 July 2026 deadline.