YALS 40 Under 40: Africa’s Changemakers 2026 – Nominate Outstanding Young Africans
The YALS 40 Under 40: Africa’s Changemakers 2026 is now accepting nominations for its new cohort of young Africans whose leadership, ideas and work are creating real, measurable change across Africa and beyond.
The annual recognition, organised by the Young African Leaders Summit (YALS) 2027 organising committee and the Young Global Leaders Network, will recognise 40 outstanding young Africans, with five honourees selected across each of eight categories. Nomination, application and selection are completely free, and there is no cash prize attached to the recognition.
YALS 40 Under 40 2026 – Quick Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | YALS 40 Under 40: Africa’s Changemakers |
| Cohort | 2026 |
| Organiser | Young African Leaders Summit organising committee & Young Global Leaders Network |
| Number of honourees | 40 |
| Age | 18–39 on the nomination closing date |
| Eligibility | Africans and people of African heritage whose work clearly benefits Africa or African communities |
| Categories | 8 categories |
| Honourees per category | 5 |
| Application fee | Free |
| Nomination fee | Free |
| Selection fee | Free |
| Cash prize | None |
| Nominations opened | August 30, 2026 |
| Deadline | October 31, 2026 at 23:59 GMT |
| Final 40 announced | December 15, 2026 |
| Recognition ceremony | YALS 2027, Accra, November 25–27, 2027 |
Who Can Apply?
The programme accepts both self-nominations and third-party nominations.
You may be eligible if you:
- Are 18 to 39 years old on October 31, 2026.
- Are an African citizen, regardless of where you currently live.
- Are a dual national whose nationalities include an African country.
- Are a person of African heritage whose work clearly benefits Africa or African communities.
- Live in Africa or in the African diaspora.
- Are a founder, professional, employee, researcher, creative, public servant, civic or community leader, or innovator.
Who May Be Ineligible?
You may not be eligible if:
- You are outside the 18–39 age range on the closing date.
- You are a previous honouree of the same recognition.
- Your work does not have a genuine African connection.
- Someone nominates you without your consent.
- Your application contains false information.
- You are a sitting judge, verification officer or member of the selection team assessing that cohort.
Previous unsuccessful applicants can apply again in a later cohort, but previous honourees cannot receive the same recognition again.
Eight Categories
Applicants must select one primary category, with an optional second category.
1. Business, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation
For founders and operators creating jobs, growing SMEs, opening markets, building supply chains or financing African enterprises.
2. Technology, Science and Innovation
For engineers, scientists, researchers, product builders and others using technology or scientific work to solve African challenges.
3. Education and Youth Development
For educators, school and platform builders, skills trainers, mentorship leaders and founders of youth programmes.
4. Social Impact and Community Development
For community organisers, NGO leaders, humanitarian responders and people building local institutions and services.
5. Governance, Public Service, Policy and Diplomacy
For public servants, policy influencers, civic accountability leaders, election-integrity workers and young diplomats.
6. Health and Wellbeing
For clinicians, public-health leaders, mental-health advocates and people developing health-access systems, products and services.
7. Climate, Agriculture and Sustainable Development
For climate innovators, agripreneurs, conservation leaders and people developing clean energy, water and food systems.
8. Creative Industries, Media and Culture
For filmmakers, journalists, artists, designers, fashion and music entrepreneurs, and cultural-institution builders.
How to Enter
There are two ways to enter.
Option 1: Nominate Yourself
- Start your application from the YALS 40 Under 40 page.
- Receive your personal application link by email.
- Complete the multi-step application form. You can save your application and return to it later.
- Upload your supporting evidence.
- Review your information and submit.
Option 2: Nominate Someone Else
If you know a young African who deserves recognition:
- Provide their details and explain why they should be considered.
- Provide their websites, profiles and recent coverage of their work.
- Submit the nomination.
- YALS will acknowledge the nomination.
- The nominee receives a secure invitation to accept or decline.
- If they accept and give consent, they complete the full application themselves.
A third-party nomination is not assessed until the nominee accepts it and submits their own completed application. Nominators do not see the nominee’s application.
What You Need to Apply
Applicants should prepare:
- Personal and professional details
- Your main category and optional second category
- An impact statement of approximately 400–500 words
- Evidence of your achievements, including dates and locations
- Links to your website and public profiles
- Two referees, with at least one being a professional referee
- Referees cannot be family members
- Supporting documents in PDF, DOCX, JPG or PNG
- A 90-second video, or an audio recording or written alternative
- A high-resolution professional headshot
- Your consent and declarations.
Evidence You Can Provide
Evidence may include:
- Reports
- Media coverage
- Publications
- Certificates
- Letters of support
- Project records
- Measurable results with dates and locations.
The programme places much more emphasis on documented impact than popularity or follower numbers.
Video Requirement
An introduction is required, but applicants have options.
A 90-second video is preferred, but an audio recording or short written statement is also accepted.
Production quality, accent and equipment are not judged.
Headshot Requirement
The photograph should be:
- Recent
- Clear
- A professional head-and-shoulders portrait
- In portrait format
- Taken against an uncluttered background
Do not submit:
- Filtered photographs
- Screenshots
- Group photos
- ID-document photographs.
How Are Applicants Selected?
The selection process has 10 stages:
- Nomination and application – Self-nominations and accepted third-party nominations are completed.
- Eligibility and completeness review – Age, African connection, required answers and evidence are checked.
- Application screening and scoring – Complete applications are scored against the published criteria.
- Internal review – Trained reviewers examine applications and may request additional information.
- Independent judging – External judges independently score longlisted applications.
- Verification and referee checks – Identity, roles, major claims and referees are checked for provisional finalists.
- Final moderation – A moderation panel considers quality, evidence, categories, regions and gender.
- Confidential notification – Selected applicants are privately informed and asked to accept under embargo.
- Public announcement – The final cohort is announced and profiled.
- Recognition and summit engagement – Honourees receive their recognition, certificates and badges, join the alumni network and participate in YALS-related activities.
The programme uses two independent judges per application, and every finalist is verified. Selection decisions are made by people and are not automatic.
Assessment Criteria
Your application is assessed using seven fixed criteria, which together account for 100% of your score:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Demonstrable impact | 30% |
| Leadership & personal contribution | 15% |
| Credibility of evidence | 15% |
| Sustainability & growth | 15% |
| Innovation & problem-solving | 10% |
| Values, integrity & inclusion | 10% |
| Public engagement & influence | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
Demonstrable impact carries the largest weight and looks at what actually changed, including people reached, outcomes, scale and evidence.
Leadership focuses on your personal role and decisions, rather than simply the achievements of an organisation you belong to.
Credibility looks at the reliability and independent support for your claims, while sustainability considers whether your work can last, grow or be replicated.
Innovation considers what is genuinely different or creatively solved.
Values, integrity and inclusion assess ethical leadership, accountability, inclusion and learning.
Public engagement represents only 5% and focuses on the substance of your public voice rather than your follower count.
What Do the Final 40 Receive?
Being selected does not come with a cash award, but the recognition provides several benefits.
Recognition
The 40 honourees receive:
- Official YALS 40 Under 40 title
- Personalised certificate with a unique verification number
- Digital badge for profiles and signatures
- Official recognition letter
Visibility
Honourees receive:
- Profile on the YALS website
- Feature in the official digital publication
- Social media announcement
- Press-release template for local media
- Interview and media opportunities
Access
They also receive:
- Invitation to the recognition ceremony
- Consideration for relevant speaking and panel opportunities
- Access to selected YALS activities
- Appropriate introductions and collaboration opportunities
Community
Honourees become part of the:
- YALS 40 Under 40 alumni network
- Private honouree community
- Mentoring and collaboration opportunities
- Future judging and advisory opportunities
Summit Benefits
Honourees also receive:
- 50% reduction on the standard YALS Summit registration fee
- One discounted place for a guest or colleague
- A personal promotional code for their wider network
- Recognition during the summit programme in Accra.
Is the YALS Summit Free for Honourees?
No.
Summit attendance is optional, and honourees keep their recognition whether or not they attend.
However, honourees receive a 50% reduction on the standard summit registration fee, one discounted guest/colleague place and a promotional code for their wider network.
Travel, visa, accommodation and personal expenses are not covered.
Speaking opportunities may be considered, but speaking places are not guaranteed.
The 40 Under 40 recognition itself carries no cash prize.
Important Dates
August 30, 2026
Nominations open
October 31, 2026 – 23:59 GMT
Nominations close
November 2026
Review and judging
Late November – Early December 2026
Verification and referee checks
December 7–14, 2026
Confidential notification of selected applicants
December 15, 2026
The Final 40 announced
November 25–27, 2027
YALS 2027 Recognition Ceremony in Accra
From December 2026
Alumni network begins and continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the YALS 40 Under 40 nomination free?
Yes. Nomination, application and selection are completely free, and honourees never pay to receive the recognition.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes. Self-nomination is encouraged and does not put you at a disadvantage compared with a third-party nomination.
Can I nominate someone else?
Yes. You can nominate another person by providing their details, websites, profiles, recent coverage and reasons why they should be considered.
Can Africans living outside Africa apply?
Yes. Africans in the diaspora can apply. People of African heritage can also apply where their work clearly benefits Africa or African communities.
Do I need to have many social media followers?
No. Follower numbers do not determine selection. Public engagement represents only 5% of the assessment, and the programme prioritises substantive impact and evidence.
Can previous unsuccessful applicants apply again?
Yes. Applicants who were unsuccessful in a previous cohort may reapply.
Can previous honourees apply again?
No. Previous honourees are not eligible for the same recognition again, although they may later participate as judges, advisers or alumni.
Is the video compulsory?
An introduction is required, but you can submit a 90-second video, audio recording or short written statement.
Will referees be contacted?
Yes. Referees are contacted during the verification stage for provisional finalists. Their responses remain confidential.
Is attendance at YALS 2027 compulsory?
No. Attendance is optional, and your recognition remains valid even if you do not attend the summit.
Is there a cash prize?
No. The YALS 40 Under 40 is a recognition programme, not a cash award. Its benefits centre on verified recognition, visibility, networking, community and access.
Scholarships Expiring Soon
Conclusion
The YALS 40 Under 40: Africa’s Changemakers 2026 is an opportunity for young Africans who are already creating measurable change to receive continental recognition and join a growing community of African leaders.
The programme is open to African citizens, Africans in the diaspora and people of African heritage whose work clearly benefits Africa or African communities, provided they are aged 18–39 on the October 31, 2026 closing date.
The most important thing to remember is that this is not a scholarship and there is no cash prize. Instead, the final 40 receive a verified title, certificate, digital badge, media visibility, networking and collaboration opportunities, alumni membership, mentoring opportunities and discounted participation in the YALS Summit.
Nominations close: October 31, 2026 at 23:59 GMT
Final 40 announced: December 15, 2026
Cost: FREE
