Deadline Date: January 07, 2026
The Innovation Grants offer a valuable opportunity for youth-led organizations that are developing fresh, creative solutions to complex global and intersectional challenges.
Designed to support bold ideas that can drive meaningful change, each grant runs for a 12-month period, providing organizations with the time and resources needed to test, refine and expand their innovative approaches. Across the full cycle, a total of 32 grants will be awarded, with 7 already distributed in the first round, 15 available in the current round and the remaining 10 to be offered in the final phase. Each grant provides funding ranging from a minimum of €30,000 to a maximum of €40,000, giving young leaders the financial backing required to bring transformative ideas to life.
These grants are tailored specifically for youth-driven organizations that operate with a strong social mission. Eligible applicants must be non-profit entities such as community-based organizations, NGOs, civil society organizations or foundations dedicated to creating positive societal impact. To ensure that the work remains youth-centered, the entire governance structure of the organization must be composed of young people aged 18 to 35, who hold full decision-making authority. In addition, more than 80 percent of the individuals involved in conceptualizing and carrying out the organization’s activities must also fall within this age group. Projects submitted for funding must likewise be fully youth-led, with all staff responsible for implementation being between 18 and 35 years old.
To qualify, organizations must be formally registered in their home countries, maintain an organizational bank account and operate within a clear governance framework. They must also be located and registered in one of the twelve African Youth Action Lab focus countries, which include Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Somaliland region of Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. All project activities funded through the grant must take place within one or more of these countries to ensure that the support directly benefits communities across these regions.
Overall, the Innovation Grants represent a powerful opportunity for young leaders to experiment, collaborate and create solutions that respond to pressing challenges affecting their communities and the wider world. With strong financial support, a youth-centered approach and a focus on innovation, these grants help unlock the potential of emerging changemakers who are shaping a brighter and more resilient future.
