AU-EU Youth Action Lab Grants 2027
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab Grants 2027 are providing funding opportunities for young people and youth-led initiatives across selected African countries. The program connects young people from Africa and Europe, helping them exchange ideas, develop solutions, collaborate with peers, and bring youth perspectives to decision-makers.
For its final Call for Proposals, the Youth Action Lab is offering two types of grants: Innovation Grants and Entrepreneurship Grants. Both opportunities are designed to support youth-led initiatives while strengthening organizational capacity and giving young people greater influence over decisions that affect them.
The grants will run for 12 months, from January 2027 to December 2027.
Scholarship/Grant Summary
- Program: AU-EU Youth Action Lab Grants 2027
- Host Region: Africa and Europe
- Grant Duration: 12 months
- Grant Period: January 2027 to December 2027
- Grant Types: Innovation Grants and Entrepreneurship Grants
- Eligible Countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (Somaliland Region), Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
- Target Group: Young people and youth-led initiatives
- Application Deadline: 23 September 2026 at 13:00 Central African Time
- Application Limit: Applicants can apply for only one grant opportunity
- Application Method: Online
About the AU-EU Youth Action Lab
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab aims to strengthen cooperation between young people across Africa and Europe. The program creates opportunities for youth initiatives to share experiences, learn from one another, and work together on solutions to common challenges.
It also provides young people with opportunities to contribute their perspectives and solutions to decision-makers, including representatives of the African Union and European Union.
The final Call for Proposals is intended to support youth-led initiatives through funding that focuses on long-term organizational development and meaningful youth participation.
Degree Level
- Non-Degree
Available Subjects
- All subjects
Benefits
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab describes these opportunities as powershifting grants, with a focus on putting young people at the center of decision-making and organizational development.
Key features include:
Funding for eligible youth-led initiatives
Support for innovation and entrepreneurship-focused initiatives
A 12-month grant period
Opportunities to strengthen organizational capacity
Support for organizational stability and resilience
Opportunities to improve financial security
Youth participation in the proposal review and selection process
Simplified application and reporting mechanisms
Opportunities to connect and collaborate with youth initiatives across Africa and Europe
Opportunities for young people to bring their ideas and solutions to decision-makers
Why Are These Called Powershifting Grants?
The Youth Action Lab highlights three main principles behind its powershifting approach.
Nothing About Youth Without Youth
A Youth Advisory Board will review and select proposals that receive funding. This approach gives young people a direct role in deciding which initiatives should be supported.
Organisational Capacity
The grants are intended not only to support individual activities but also to help youth initiatives develop greater stability, resilience, financial security, and organizational capacity.
Simplified Application and Reporting
The program aims to make its application and reporting processes more accessible and practical for youth initiatives.
Available Grant Opportunities
The Youth Action Lab offers two grant categories under its final Call for Proposals.
1. Innovation Grants
The Innovation Grants are designed for youth initiatives that want to design, test, or scale innovative solutions connected to global challenges.
This opportunity may be suitable for youth-led organizations or initiatives that have an innovative idea and want to develop, test, or expand their approach.
Applicants interested in this grant should review the specific requirements and application instructions provided by the Youth Action Lab.
2. Entrepreneurship Grants
The Entrepreneurship Grants support youth initiatives working to advocate for an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs.
The grant is intended for initiatives that seek to improve conditions for young entrepreneurs and contribute to stronger entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Applicants should review the detailed eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
Eligible Nationalities
Young people and youth initiatives from the following countries are eligible for this final Call for Proposals:
Ethiopia
Kenya
Mozambique
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia (Somaliland Region)
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Applicants should ensure that they meet all additional requirements for their selected grant type.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should be youth-led initiatives based in one of the eligible countries and must meet the specific requirements of the grant category they choose.
The final Call for Proposals is open to initiatives in:
Ethiopia
Kenya
Mozambique
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia (Somaliland Region)
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Because the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Grants have different purposes, applicants should carefully check the requirements for their preferred grant before applying.
Important Application Rule
Applicants should note that they cannot apply for both grant opportunities at the same time.
You must choose either:
Innovation Grants, or
Entrepreneurship Grants.
It is therefore important to review both opportunities and select the grant that most closely matches your organization's objectives and activities.
Application Procedure
Applicants can follow these general steps to apply:
Review the two available grant opportunities.
Decide whether the Innovation Grant or Entrepreneurship Grant is more suitable for your initiative.
Read the detailed eligibility requirements for the selected grant.
Prepare the information and documents requested in the application.
Complete the online application form.
Submit the application before the deadline.
Make sure the application is submitted for only one of the two grant opportunities.
The Youth Action Lab also provides a separate guide explaining how to submit an application.
Application Deadline
The final deadline to apply for the AU-EU Youth Action Lab Grants is:
23 September 2026 at 13:00 Central African Time.
Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline and allow sufficient time to complete the application process.
Grant Duration
Each successful grant will run for 12 months, beginning in January 2027 and ending in December 2027.
