About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
Programme Aims to Build Africa’s Next Generation of Women Leaders
According to AWLN, the retreat is designed to strengthen leadership capacity by bringing together emerging and established women leaders from diverse sectors and countries.
Participants will engage in discussions, mentorship sessions, and collaborative activities aimed at developing practical leadership skills while building lasting professional networks across Africa and the Diaspora.
The programme seeks to transform mentorship and dialogue into meaningful action that advances women’s leadership and sustainable development across the continent.
Eligibility Criteria for the AWLN Intergenerational Retreat 2026
AWLN is inviting applications from young African women leaders who have demonstrated measurable impact within their communities.
Applicants must:
Be between 18 and 45 years of age.
Be from Africa or the African Diaspora.
Demonstrate recognised or measurable community impact.
Be innovators or active contributors in at least one of AWLN’s six thematic pillars.
The six focus areas include:
Peace and Security
Governance and Political Participation
Financial Inclusion, Economic Development, Natural Resources and Mining
Agriculture, Rural Economy and Land
Social Mobilisation
Youth and Emerging Leaders
Selected Participants Will Receive Mentorship and Leadership Development
Successful applicants will benefit from a range of leadership development opportunities throughout the retreat.
Participants will receive:
Mentorship from distinguished women leaders, including Heads of State, Vice Presidents, Cabinet leaders, and Chief Executive Officers.
Access to AWLN’s extensive network of influential women leaders across Africa and the Diaspora.
Advanced leadership and personal development training.
Eligibility for the AWLN Leadership Award.
Strategic support through AWLN’s partnerships and leadership ecosystem.
Participants Expected to Champion Women’s Leadership Beyond the Retreat
AWLN emphasised that participation extends beyond attending the event, with selected delegates expected to become long-term ambassadors for the network.
Participants will be expected to:
Engage actively in all retreat sessions and collaborative activities.
Share knowledge, experiences, and best practices with fellow participants.
Build partnerships across countries, sectors, and generations.
Promote AWLN’s mission and values within their communities.
Implement or strengthen initiatives that advance women’s leadership and gender equality after the programme.
Remain active within the AWLN network through mentorship, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
The organisation noted that participants will be selected not only for their achievements but also for their commitment to contributing to the continued growth and impact of the African Women Leaders Network.
The Intergenerational Retreat is AWLN's signature platform for connecting young women leaders with the seasoned voices shaping Africa's future. It exists to strengthen women's leadership in transforming the continent, in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
More than a convening, IGR is designed as a launchpad: a space where mentorship, dialogue, and cross-generational exchange translate into real leadership capacity and lasting networks across countries, sectors, and generations.
Who Should Apply
AWLN is calling for applications from young African women leaders, from the continent or the Diaspora, who have demonstrated impact in their communities.
Eligible applicants are:
Aged 18 to 45 years
Able to show measurable or recognized impact within their community
Innovators or active contributors within one of AWLN's six 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
What Participants Will Gain
Selected candidates will be fully sponsored, with registration, travel, and accommodation covered. Beyond logistics, the Retreat offers:
Mentorship from high-level women leaders, including Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, and CEOs
Access to a network of highly accomplished women leaders across Africa and the Diaspora
Strengthened leadership skills and personal development
The AWLN Leadership Award
Strategic support from AWLN's wide network of partners
What We Expect from Participants
The AWLN Intergenerational Retreat is more than an event, it is a platform for leadership, collaboration, and collective action. Participants are expected to actively contribute to the success and long-term impact of the Retreat by:
Actively engaging in all sessions, discussions, and collaborative activities
Sharing their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to enrich intergenerational dialogue
Building meaningful connections and fostering collaboration across countries, sectors, and generations
Acting as ambassadors of AWLN by promoting its values, mission, and initiatives within their communities and professional networks
Translating learning into action by implementing or strengthening initiatives that advance women's leadership and gender equality after the Retreat
Contributing to the AWLN network beyond the event through continued engagement, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and collaboration
Participants are selected not only for what they have achieved, but also for their willingness to contribute, inspire others, and strengthen the collective impact of the African Women Leaders Network even after the Retreat
How to apply