FULLY FUNDED: THE AFRICAN UNION CONTINENTAL CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING 2026 FOR YOUNG AFRICAN YOUTH

 Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: African Union Continental Capacity Building Training 2026 for Young African Youth

Africa’s greatest strength lies in its youth — dynamic, innovative, and ready to transform the continent. In 2026, the African Union Commission (AUC), through its Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) and the African Governance Architecture – African Peace and Security Architecture (AGA-APSA) Secretariat, launched the Continental Capacity Building Training Programme for Youth. This initiative is fully funded and open to young Africans across all AU Member States. 

The training aims to strengthen youth participation in democratic governance, elections, and Pan-African leadership, equipping participants with tools to engage meaningfully at community, national, and continental levels. 

📍 Who Is Eligible?

Participation is open to young African citizens who:

- Are between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application. 

- Demonstrate leadership or involvement in democratic governance, civic engagement, peace, elections, or youth advocacy initiatives. 

- Are affiliated with youth-led organizations, civil society, or national institutions working in relevant fields. 

- Show commitment to applying and sharing their training within their communities after the programme. 

- Efforts are made to ensure gender balance, regional representation, and geographic diversity among participants. 

🗓️ Training Logistics & Benefits

📍 Location: African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

📅 Tentative Timing: April 2026 (exact dates subject to change). 

💼 Costs Covered: Travel, visa, accommodation, and full participation costs are fully funded by the AU Commission — meaning no application or participation fee is required. 

📚 Core Training Themes

The programme is designed around key areas including:

- Democratic governance and elections — understanding electoral cycles, civic processes, and democratic norms. 

- Civic engagement and advocacy — how to mobilize communities and influence policy. 

- Pan-African leadership — building skills rooted in shared continental values and leadership frameworks. 

- African Union norms such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) are emphasized to ground discussions in continental legal frameworks. 

- Participants are expected to gain practical leadership, advocacy, and governance skills that can be applied both locally and continentally. 

🧠 Selection Process

Selection prioritizes:

- Motivation and clarity of intent in application essays. 

- Demonstrated contributions to community governance, youth participation, or civic engagement. 

- The potential impact of participants’ work after the training. 

- Shortlisted candidates are contacted directly; long-listed applicants are not guaranteed participation. 

📌 Why This Training Matters

- This continental initiative aligns with Agenda 2063, the AU’s long-term framework for a prosperous Africa driven by its citizens, including youth. Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 emphasises youth empowerment, governance, and inclusive participation — core themes of this training. 

- By focusing on democratic participation and leadership, the programme seeks to prepare a new generation of African leaders who are informed, confident, and equipped to shape the continent’s future. 

📌 Application Deadline: the deadline to submit applications was around 27 February 2026 (11:55 PM Addis Ababa time).

Use the link below 👇🏼 to apply https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdY9JFVV7IqfeS6szz6qWfAUyyul5OT5uAc03_QIam4iWBSKw/closedform

If you are encountering any issues, kindly send an email to mailto:AGA-APSA@africanunion.org