About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The KOICA Youth Leaders Program is a comprehensive leadership development initiative targeting young professionals from:
Ghana
Nigeria
Cameroon
Côte d’Ivoire
Senegal
The programme focuses on strengthening participants’ competencies in:
Leadership and accountability
Digital innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Entrepreneurship
Public policy development
Governance modernization
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Social impact creation
Participants will undergo intensive training through online learning, in-country workshops in Ghana, and an opportunity for top performers to attend an advanced leadership programme in the Republic of Korea.
Three-Stage Training Structure
Stage One: Online Leadership Training
Dates: 20 – 31 July 2026
The online phase will accommodate:
100 Public Sector participants
100 Private Sector participants
A total of 40 participants will be selected from each participating country, including:
20 Public Sector participants
20 Private Sector participants
Training topics will include:
African youth leadership
Accountability and governance
Sustainable Development Goals
Problem-solving methodologies
SWOT analysis
Generative AI tools and applications
Digital transformation strategies
Stage Two: Local Training in Ghana
Training will take place at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, Ghana.
Public Sector Track: 2 – 15 August 2026
Private Sector Track: 16 – 29 August 2026
Participants will engage in practical workshops, field visits, mentorship sessions, and action plan development exercises tailored to their professional backgrounds.
Stage Three: Invitational Training in South Korea
The final phase will take place at Hallym University in Chuncheon, Republic of Korea, during June 2027.
Only the top 60 participants will be selected for this stage based on overall performance throughout the programme.
Selection will include:
30 Public Sector participants
30 Private Sector participants
To ensure balanced representation, successful participants will be evenly distributed across the five participating countries and both programme tracks.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
Be between 19 and 34 years old
Be citizens of one of the participating countries
Work in the public sector, private sector, or academia
Demonstrate interest in leadership and digital innovation
Possess English communication skills
Be available for training in Ghana
Be eligible to obtain visas for Ghana and the Republic of Korea
Priority will be given to applicants who:
Hold an associate degree or higher qualification
Have at least two years of relevant professional experience
Demonstrate strong leadership potential
Have experience in policy development, entrepreneurship, AI, or ICT
Come from rural communities
Are female applicants
Public Sector Track
The Public Sector Programme is specifically designed for:
Government officials
Public administrators
Policy planners
Academic researchers
Training areas include:
Public policy design and implementation
E-government systems
Digital public service delivery
Civic leadership and advocacy
AI-driven governance solutions
Public sector innovation
Participants will develop policy proposals or project concept papers focusing on areas such as:
AI-based youth employment systems
Digital public services
E-government transformation
Youth data governance platforms
Civic technology solutions
Field visits will include engagements with:
Ghana’s National Youth Authority
Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT
Private Sector Track
The Private Sector Programme targets:
Startup founders
Technology innovators
Social entrepreneurs
Corporate technology professionals
Participants will receive training in:
Design thinking
Lean startup methodologies
Business model development
Market analysis
AI integration
Startup financing
Pitch development
The programme includes practical sessions on:
No-code application development
AI-powered business solutions
Venture fundraising
How to apply