The Youth Challenge Fund has announced the launch of its fourth round, inviting innovative applications from vibrant youth activist groups across West and Central Africa.
Building on the successes of its previous iterations, this fund is dedicated to nurturing the innovation, creativity, and energy of young activists who are actively working within their local communities to drive meaningful change.
This initiative aims to provide essential support to groups committed to advancing gender equality and addressing critical issues faced by young people in the region. The fund is specifically designed for unregistered and registered groups, collectives, and/or organizations led by girls or young feminists.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 30, with a prioritization for groups led by young feminists aged 15-24.
- Crucially, groups must consist of at least three members, and applications from individuals will not be accepted.
- The fund welcomes a diverse range of group structures, whether they identify as collectives, networks, organizations, or other forms.
- Applications must be submitted in either English or French.
- Geographically, applications are strictly accepted from groups based in one of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Focus areas
Proposals should align with one of seven key areas of activism identified as priorities by youth activists in the region:
- Girls’ employment & entrepreneurship
- Protection from violence,
- Youth leadership and mentorship
- Girls’ access to quality education
- Climate change, environment and livelihoods
- Sexual and reproductive health rights
- And humanitarian response and emergency
Funding and other benefit details
- Successful groups can receive up to €5,000 for new projects
- Previous grantees are potentially eligible for up to €7,000.
- These funds are notably flexible, empowering groups to decide how best to allocate them for their activities.
- While bank transfers are the recommended method for disbursement, having a group bank account is not a mandatory requirement, and the fund administrators will collaborate with selected groups to identify the most suitable and accessible way to disburse funds.
- Eligible expenses cover a wide range, including community services, materials, salaries, campaigning, event costs, equipment, and communications, among others.
- Successful applicants will join a vibrant network, receiving accompaniment support to strengthen their activism journey.
Important dates
- The application deadline is September 8, 2025.
- Successful applicants will be contacted in late September 2025 with requests for documentation to confirm eligibility.
- All unsuccessful groups will be informed by early October.
- Funding is slated for disbursement by the end of October 2025, after which groups will have a seven-month period to implement their projects.
Click HERE to apply
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Summary not available at this time.
