Location: Africa
Program Type: Fully‑Funded Youth Peace & Leadership Program (International Youth, Africa)
Reference: African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAP) Program by the African Union (AU)
Deadline: See official AU / Opportunity Tracker page (via Opportunity Tracker link)
About the Program
The African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAP) Program, under the AU’s Youth for Peace (Africa) Programme (Y4P), empowers young African changemakers to play a central role in promoting peace, security, and social cohesion across the continent. Launched to advance the AU’s Youth, Peace & Security (YPS) agenda, AYAP ensures young people are not just observers but active agents of change.
Throughout a two‑year (non‑renewable) tenure, selected AYAPs work alongside the AU Youth Envoy to influence continental policy, lead peace‑building initiatives, and represent youth voices in key regional and pan‑African peace and security platforms.
What the Program Offers
- A prestigious continental platform to advocate for youth inclusion in peace and security processes.
- Opportunities to engage in multi‑stakeholder dialogues, mediation efforts, and community‑level peace activities.
- Access to AU networks, connecting with policymakers, youth leaders, civil society organisations, and peacebuilding stakeholders across Africa.
- Experience in conflict resolution, advocacy, resource mobilisation, and regional cooperation, valuable for personal growth and professional development.
Who Should Apply
- Young Africans aged 18 – 35 (or within the AU youth age framework).
- Those with a bachelor’s degree (or higher), ideally in fields such as international relations, peace and conflict studies, political science, law, or related areas, or at least 2 years of relevant experience in peace, security, or community work.
- Individuals with proven track record in community engagement, advocacy, youth mobilization, conflict‑resolution or mediation, and resource mobilization.
- Candidates fluent in one of the AU’s official working languages (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili, or Spanish); additional AU language proficiency is a plus.
- Young people passionate about promoting peace, youth inclusion, social justice, and reconciliation, especially from underrepresented groups (women, displaced persons, persons with disabilities).
Application Process & Timeline
Applicants should follow the link on the official call page (via Opportunity Tracker) to start their application. Necessary documents often include a CV, evidence of previous work/experience in peace, security or youth advocacy, a motivation or statement of purpose outlining commitment to peacebuilding, and any relevant certificates or credentials.
All applications are screened for commitment to youth peace and security work. Selected applicants will serve as AYAPs for a two‑year term, during which they will engage with AU platforms, regional peace efforts, and youth‑led initiatives across Africa.
Source: Opportunity Tracker listing (via opportunitytracker.ug)
