The Africa-EU Youth Voices Grant 2026
primarily refers to the Youth Voices Third-Party Funding Mechanism (YV-TPFM or TPFM), the second edition of which opened on 8 June 2026 under the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective.
The Africa-EU Youth Voices Grant 2026 is a microgrant scheme within the broader AU-EU Youth Lab programme, aimed at empowering youth-led initiatives across Africa and Europe (with a focus on specific intervention countries). It is not the same as the larger AU-EU Youth Action Lab grants (e.g., Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Representation, or Cooperation Grants, which have different deadlines like January/February 2026 and higher funding amounts).
Background and Objectives
– Programme: The AU-EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective is a four-year EU-co-funded initiative (part of the wider AU-EU Youth Lab) implemented by a consortium including Oxfam, Restless Development, Search for Common Ground, Youthmakers Hub, and ComDev Africa.
- It seeks to foster a more youth-responsive and inclusive society in Africa and Europe by enhancing youth engagement, empowerment, connection, policy influence, and accountability.
- Purpose: Provide small, flexible grants to youth-led groups to turn local ideas into action. Projects should address youth needs, strengthen participation/advocacy/accountability, and link local efforts to national, regional, continental, or AU-EU levels.
- It emphasizes power-shifting: Young people (via a Youth Advisory Board) play a central role in decision-making. Priority for marginalized/hard-to-reach groups (e.g., rural youth, young women, people with disabilities, refugees, indigenous communities).
Grant Details (2nd Edition, 2026)
- Funding Amounts: €1,000 to €10,000 per group/collective (small: ~€1k; medium: ~€5k; large: ~€10k).
- Duration: 6–12 months maximum.
- Number of Grants: Limited per round (overall programme aims for ~30 grants across rounds).
- Eligible Activities (examples): Workshops/trainings, youth-led research, advocacy campaigns, public events/dialogues, community consultations, publications/reports, awareness materials, accountability initiatives, hackathons, policy briefs, coalition-building, diaspora collaboration.
- Priority Themes: Youth participation/rights, accountability/governance, policy dialogue, inclusion/gender equality, climate justice, education/employment, peacebuilding, civic engagement.
Projects must show sustainability beyond the grant period and target at least 50% young women/minorities + 10% involvement of youth with disabilities.
Eligibility
- Youth-Led: Decision-makers aged 15–35; founder under 35 at founding; at least 70% staff/volunteers under 35; focus on underrepresented/marginalized youth.
- Legal Status: Registered (or informal groups/collectives, NGOs, associations, networks, etc.) with proven experience working with marginalized communities.
- Location: Must be based in and implement activities in one or more of these 15 intervention countries :
– Africa: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
– Europe: Belgium.
- Diaspora elements may be supported in some cases (check manual).
- Strong community connections, inclusive/safe/ethical approaches, and clear impact potential required.
Note: You can only submit one application per call.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
1. Review Key Documents: Read the Funding Manual (available in English, French, Arabic) for full details on eligibility, rules, budget templates, assessment criteria, etc.
2. Attend Support Sessions (strongly recommended):
– Pre-launch webinar (already held around early June).
– Support webinar: 19 June 2026 — for application guidance, Q&A.
3. Prepare Your Proposal: Use the official online form. It covers organization details, project relevance/justification, activities/deliverables, capacity, budget (standard template provided), sustainability, etc. Be clear on problem, impact, target groups, and alignment.
4. Submit: Via the official online application form (Google Form link provided on the site).
How to Apply
– Interested persons can apply via the Google Docs Form in the Application link 👉 Here
After Submission:
– Screening by Youth Advisory Board + Restless Development team (eligibility, relevance, feasibility, etc.)
– Due diligence/organizational checks for shortlisted applicants.
– Grant agreements, possible coaching/support, implementation, reporting, and visibility requirements.
– Notifications around early October 2026 (for this round); payments in installments depending on size.
Contact for Questions: au-euyvlfund@restlessdevelopment.org
Tips for a Strong Application
- Demonstrate deep community roots and youth leadership.
- Prioritize inclusion, sustainability, and links to broader advocacy.
- Be realistic with budget and timeline.
- Align with programme goals (youth voices in AU-EU partnership).
- Use the webinars and manual for examples and requirements.
Important Notes
– This is a competitive process with limited spots—strong, well-justified proposals from eligible entities have the best chance.
- Funding is flexible but must follow grant agreement rules (financial management, reporting, safeguarding).
- Broader programme includes trainings, an AU-EU Youth Voices Lab App, hackathons, and dialogues—consider engaging beyond just the grant.
This opportunity is a great way for youth-led groups to access resources while contributing to cross-continental youth empowerment. Good luck!
Application Deadline
Deadline for submition of Applications is 29 June 2026, 23:59 EAT
