Apply Now: AWLN 8th Intergenerational Retreat 2026 — Fully Sponsored Leadership Retreat in Gabon

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), a flagship initiative jointly supported by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), has opened applications for its 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR 8). This December, 40 young African women leaders will be flown to Libreville, Gabon, for two days of mentorship, knowledge sharing, and networking with some of the continent's most influential women — Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, CEOs, and seasoned changemakers.

If you've been building impact in your community and looking for a platform to scale it, this is the kind of room you want to be in.

Who Is It For?

AWLN is looking for young African women leaders — from the continent and the Diaspora — who have already demonstrated real, measurable impact where they live and work. There's no restriction to a single country; this call is open to applicants across all African countries and the African Diaspora worldwide.

Eligibility at a glance:

-Women aged 18 to 45 years

-Able to show measurable or recognised impact within their community

-Active contributors or innovators within one of AWLN's six focus pillars:

-Peace and Security

-Governance and Political Participation (GPP)

-Financial Inclusion, Economic Development, Natural Resources and Mining

-Agriculture, Rural Economy and Land

-Social Mobilisation

-Youth and Emerging Leaders

-If your work in business, coaching, community development, agribusiness, advocacy, or any of these areas has moved the needle for the people around you, you fit the profile AWLN is looking for.

Why You Should Apply

1. It's fully sponsored. Selected participants get registration, travel, and accommodation covered — no funding barrier standing between you and the room.

2. Direct mentorship from top-tier leaders. You'll be learning and exchanging ideas with Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, CEOs, and other high-level women leaders shaping policy and business across Africa.

3. A real network, not just an event. IGR8 connects you with accomplished women across sectors and generations — the kind of relationships that open doors long after the retreat ends.

4. The AWLN Leadership Award. Recognition tied to the programme, plus strategic support from AWLN's wide network of institutional partners.

5. It's aligned with something bigger. The retreat feeds into the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, meaning your participation connects your local impact to a continental agenda on women's leadership, governance, and development.

In return, AWLN expects selected women to show up fully — actively engage in sessions, contribute to intergenerational dialogue, act as ambassadors for the network, and continue translating what they learn into action long after the retreat.

Key Details

Where: Libreville, Gabon

When: December 2026 (2-day retreat)

Who's selected: 40 young African women leaders

Deadline to apply: August 3, 2026

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online and must be complete to be reviewed — incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

👉 Apply here: awlnafrica.net/apply

For questions, reach out to the AWLN Secretariat directly through the official application platform.

Don't sit on this one. Fully sponsored, continent-wide leadership retreats with this level of access don't come around often — and the deadline is closer than it looks.