Application Deadline: 23 September at 13.00pm Central African Time.
Applications are now open for the 2026 AU-EU Youth Action Lab Grants. The AU-EU Youth Action Lab offers funding for youth-led initiatives in Africa and Europe. The AU-EU Youth Action Lab connects youth initiatives with their peers to share ideas, learn from each other, and collaborate. It also creates opportunities for young people to bring their voices and solutions to decision-makers, including the European Union and African Union!
In August, the Youth Action Lab will launch its final Call for Proposals, inviting young people in their diversity to apply. Eligible countries are Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (Somaliland Region), Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Youth Action Lab has 2 different grant types available for its final Call for Proposals:
Each grant will last for a period of 12 months from January 2027 to December 2027.
You can find more information on each Grant Type using the following links:
INNOVATION GRANTS
To support youth initiatives that want to design, test and/or scale innovations that are linked to global challenges.
This category may be particularly relevant to organisations developing practical solutions in areas such as climate action, social inclusion, technology, community development, education, youth participation and other challenges affecting their communities.
The emphasis is on giving youth-led initiatives the resources and organisational support needed to turn promising ideas into practical action.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANTS
To support youth initiatives that advocate for an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs.
This makes the opportunity relevant to youth organisations working on entrepreneurship policy, access to opportunities, youth economic participation, business ecosystems and advocacy for young entrepreneurs.
Benefits
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab describes its approach as “powershifting”, placing young people at the centre of decisions about the funding they receive.
Youth participation in decision-making
A Youth Advisory Board will review and select proposals for funding. This approach is intended to ensure that decisions affecting youth initiatives involve young people themselves.
Organisational capacity building
The grants are also intended to strengthen the stability, resilience, financial security and organisational capacity of youth initiatives, rather than focusing only on individual project activities.
Simplified application and reporting
The programme aims to make application and reporting processes practical and appropriate for youth-led organisations.
How to Apply
Eligible youth-led initiatives should first review the requirements for both grant categories and select the opportunity that best matches their project.
Applicants can then:
- Choose one grant type – Innovation or Entrepreneurship.
- Review the specific eligibility and application requirements for the selected grant.
- Develop a clear project proposal explaining the challenge, proposed solution, target beneficiaries and expected results.
- Demonstrate the youth-led nature of the initiative and its relevance to the applicant’s local context.
- Prepare the required application information and supporting materials.
- Submit the application before 23 September 2026 at 13:00 CAT.
Applicants needing assistance with the subm
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the AU-EU Youth Action Lab Grants
