The AU-EU Youth Voices Lab funding youth-led groups
The AU-EU Youth Voices Lab, part of the AU-EU Youth Lab, started its funding scheme called the AU-EU Youth Voices Third-Party-Funding Mechanism. The grants range from EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000 are to support the implementation of initiatives by youth-led organisations and groups targeting hard-to-reach young people across the 15 intervention countries of Cameroon, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Belgium.
In February, a wide-range online campaign about the Mechanism provided instructions on how to apply and timely updates on this opportunity. Digital channels such as social media, newsletters, publications on third-party websites, hosting on partner channels, and more were used to spread this information as much as possible. The call for proposals, the supporting documents, and the promotional material were published in three languages, English, French, and Arabic, to ensure broader access to information and equality for the opportunity.
As a result, 740 applications were received. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Cameroon submitted the most applications. As applications are being evaluated, priority will be given to youth-led initiatives that promote inclusion, advocate for policy changes, and strengthen youth civil society across local, national, and continental levels. Selected groups should organize innovative awareness campaigns, amplify marginalised youth voices, engage power holders with specific policy demands, and foster collaboration between African youth and the diaspora.
A committee will select 15 organisations, conduct due diligence, and develop capacity-building plans. Funding will be disbursed in May 2025, with each project running for 12 months.
