About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The initiative, led by the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA), will bring together 11 outstanding young leaders from Africa’s five regions and the diaspora to serve a two-year term. Council members will work closely with UNDP regional teams and country offices to co-create innovative solutions that respond to the priorities, challenges, and aspirations of Africa’s rapidly growing youth population.
Applications are open until 31 July 2026.
A Platform for Africa’s Young Leaders
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with more than 60 percent of its people under the age of 25. Across the continent, millions of young people are already driving social change by launching businesses, developing technology, advocating for better governance, and creating innovative solutions to local and global challenges.
Recognizing this immense potential, UNDP has established the African Youth Co-Creators Council to ensure that young Africans actively contribute to shaping development strategies rather than simply benefiting from them.
The Council will collaborate with UNDP teams based in:
Addis Ababa
Dakar
Nairobi
Pretoria
Members will also engage with UNDP Country Offices operating across 46 African countries, providing youth perspectives that strengthen programme design, implementation, monitoring, and learning.
Purpose of the African Youth Co-Creators Council
The Council will play a central role in supporting the development of UNDP’s new Africa Youth Portfolio, ensuring that youth voices remain at the heart of regional development initiatives.
Its work is built around a Triple-A Strategy:
Advise
Council members will:
Provide strategic guidance on UNDP programmes and flagship initiatives
Contribute to project design and implementation
Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes
Recommend practical solutions to improve programme effectiveness
Anticipate
Members will identify:
Emerging youth trends
Future development opportunities
Risks affecting young Africans
Innovative policy recommendations to address evolving challenges
Amplify
The Council will strengthen members’ own leadership capacities through:
Professional development opportunities
Capacity-building activities
Regional collaboration
Knowledge-sharing experiences
Participants will also transfer newly acquired skills back to their communities, helping strengthen youth leadership across Africa.
Key Responsibilities
Throughout the two-year mandate, Council members will participate in a variety of strategic activities, including:
Engaging in regional consultations and policy discussions
Identifying and documenting scalable youth-led innovations
Collaborating with UNDP Country Offices
Working alongside UN country-level youth structures
Participating in dialogues with institutions such as the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities
Contributing to a final continental report highlighting youth priorities and emerging development trends across Africa
The report produced at the end of the Council’s term will serve as an important resource for UNDP and other development partners working to strengthen youth inclusion.
International Relations
Participation and Commitment
Most Council meetings will be conducted virtually, providing flexibility for members across different countries.
However, selected participants will also attend several in-person events, including:
Council onboarding
Mid-term review meeting
Closing ceremony
Members are expected to participate in at least 75 percent of all Council activities.
While participation is voluntary, UNDP will cover reasonable costs associated with official Council activities, including:
Travel
Accommodation
Meals
Digital communication expenses
Who Can Apply?
UNDP encourages applications from passionate young Africans who are committed to driving inclusive development across the continent.
Applicants must:
Be African nationals aged 18–34 years at the time of selection
Reside either in Africa or within the African diaspora
Demonstrate leadership, innovation, or community engagement experience
Be committed to youth empowerment and inclusive development
Have strong written and spoken English language skills
Be available for regular virtual meetings and occasional in-person engagements
Serve in a personal, independent, and non-political capacity
How to apply