AU-EU Youth Action Lab Launches its 2nd call for proposals to Empower African and European Youth for Impactful Solutions to Global Challenges.
Africa, November 2025 – The AU-EU Youth Lab Programme through the Youth Action Lab component, is pleased to announce the launch of the second cohort of its youth grants, reaffirming its commitment to empowering young Africans to design and deliver transformative solutions for their communities.
The new call for proposals will officially open on 12 November 2025, offering a unique opportunity for youth-led organizations, social enterprises, and innovators to access catalytic funding and technical support.
Building on the success of Cohort 1, which reached youth innovators across the continent, Cohort 2 will continue to invest in bold ideas that create scalable impact. Youth organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and European Union member states are encouraged to apply. Details and application guidelines can be found at https://aueuyouth.com.
GRANTS AVAILABLE:
The Youth Action Lab offers a platform for youth-led organisations, innovators, entrepreneurs, and advocates to connect, share ideas, and influence policy decisions local, national, and international levels. Grantees will receive financial support, mentorship, and access to networks that can help amplify their impact.
The four types of grants available to support youth-led projects at different stages are:
- Innovation Grants: €30,000–€40,000 for designing, testing, or scaling new solutions addressing global issues like climate resilience and youth participation.
- Entrepreneurship Grants: €30,000 to support the responsible growth of youth-led social enterprises that combines its social or environmental mission with income-generating activities.
- Representation Grants: €10,000 to amplify marginalized youth voices in policy discussions.
- Cooperation Grants: €50,000 for partnerships between African and European organizations to foster cross-continental collaboration.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Youth-led organisations (age 18 to 35) where young people are the decision-makers.
- Legally registered in one of the 12 African countries or an EU member state.
- Propose projects with clear governance structures and social impact.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested youth organisations should:
- Read the Funding Manual (available in English, French, and Portuguese).
- Meet the eligibility criteria. (Ensure to carefully read the criteria for each category).
- Develop a project proposal as an individual organisation or in collaboration with others.
- Submit the application by the respective deadlines.
For more on how to submit applications: https://aueuyouth.com
MORE INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
To help applicants prepare their proposals, the Youth Action Lab will share dates of webinars to speak about the grants and also share as much information as possible to prepare and guide applicants. For more details, potential applicants should mark the following dates to clarify any questions about the grants:
- More webinars to find out more about the programme and each grant type: 10 November 2025.
- Official launch of the call for proposals: 12 November 2025.
- Webinars to support applicants (mid-call): Dates TBC – depending on each grant type.
- Call for proposals closes: 7 January 2026 for most grants (cooperation grant closing on 15 February 2026).
- Preselected grantees informed: mid/late March 2026.
- Implementation start: between May and July 2026 (12 months, depending on grant type).
By participating in this potential strategic partnership, youth organisations can make their voices heard, build lasting impact in their communities, and influence policy at the highest levels.
