Descrição

Overview

The AU–EU Youth Lab Innovation Grants support youth-led organisations seeking to design, test, adapt, scale or improve innovative solutions to global challenges in their communities.

Individual eligible organisations can apply for a grant of €42,000 to implement an innovation with the potential to create lasting benefits for young people and their communities.

What Does the Grant Offer?

Selected organisations will receive:

• €42,000 in grant funding
• Mentorship and capacity-development support tailored to organisational needs
• Opportunities to share their solutions with peers, decision-makers and other stakeholders across Africa and Europe
• Access to a wider platform for learning and knowledge exchange

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be non-profit, formal and youth-led organisations operating as a Trust, Community-Based Organisation (CBO), NGO or Civil Society Organisation (CSO) with a clear social mission.

To be eligible:

• The organisation must be legally registered, have an organisational bank account and a clear governance structure.
• The organisation must be youth-led: 100% of its governance must be aged 18–35, with young people holding primary decision-making power.
• More than 80% of those directly involved in designing and carrying out organisational activities must be aged 18–35.
• 100% of staff implementing the proposed grant project must be aged 18–35.
• The organisation must be registered in one of the 12 eligible countries.
• The proposed activities must take place in one or more of those eligible countries.
• Applications must be submitted by an individual organisation, rather than a consortium.

Eligible Countries

The 12 Youth Action Lab focus countries are:

Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (Somaliland region), Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

What Can Be Funded?

Projects should create tangible benefits for young people and/or their communities while addressing a broader global challenge.

Proposed innovations may involve designing, testing, adapting, scaling or improving an activity, approach, campaign or collaboration. Projects may also contribute to longer-term changes in systems, policies or practices connected with frameworks such as the SDGs or Agenda 2063.

Projects are expected to generate learning that can be shared with other youth actors and stakeholders across Africa and Europe.

Application

Applicants should first review the relevant Funding Manual, available in English, Portuguese and French, confirm their eligibility and prepare a proposal as an individual organisation.

Application deadline: 23 September 2026 at 13:00 Central African Time (CAT)

Information Webinar

An information webinar will take place on 3 September 2026 at 13:00 CAT, including a question-and-answer session on the Innovation Grants.

Contact

Questions that are not addressed in the Funding Manual or FAQ can be sent to: [email protected]