UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Programme 2026

Sub-Saharan Africa is entering a period of significant transformation shaped by rapid demographic growth, digital disruption, evolving trade opportunities, climate pressures, food security challenges, and the urgent need for quality jobs and resilient livelihoods. Across the continent, youth and women are increasingly driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and community-based solutions. However, many promising ideas and initiatives struggle to progress beyond early stages due to limited access to networks, investment readiness, strategic partnerships, and market linkages.

At the same time, there is growing interest in strengthening practical and mutually beneficial collaboration between African and Japanese ecosystems in areas such as innovation, technology, sustainable industrialization, agribusiness, digital transformation, clean technologies, manufacturing, and human-centered economic development.

In this context, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research is launching a multi-phase capacity development programme under the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development 9 (TICAD9) to strengthen the capacity of African youth and women to transform innovative ideas into scalable, partnership-ready, and investment-oriented initiatives aligned with national and regional development priorities.

Implemented by the UNITAR with the support of the Government and People of Japan, the Programme is designed not only to strengthen entrepreneurial and leadership competencies, but also to support participants in formulating practical, financially viable, and implementation-oriented projects that can engage public institutions, financial actors, ecosystem partners, and responsible private-sector stakeholders. Through structured mentorship, applied learning, ecosystem exposure, and international engagement opportunities, participants will progressively develop projects that are credible, collaborative, and positioned for operationalization and long-term impact.

The initiative contributes to building sustainable Africa–Japan relationships grounded in innovation, shared value creation, responsible investment, technology exchange, and inclusive economic transformation.

By the end of the Programme, participants will be able to:

• Design innovative, inclusive, and sustainable business or development solutions aligned with national and regional priorities.
• Apply digital technologies, AI, and emerging innovation tools to address challenges related to food security, climate resilience, employment, trade, healthcare, industrialization, and service delivery.
• Develop operationally feasible and financially viable project concepts with clear implementation pathways and partnership strategies.
• Strengthen leadership, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration competencies.
• Integrate sustainability, gender equality, social impact, and SDG considerations into entrepreneurial and innovation initiatives.
• Formulate partnership-ready and investment-oriented proposals informed by market realities and public–private collaboration principles.
• Communicate project value propositions effectively to investors, development partners, public institutions, and private-sector stakeholders.
• Build long-term professional networks and collaboration opportunities across African and international innovation ecosystems.

• Table of Content
• About United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
• UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training
• Aim and Benefits of UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training
• Requirements for UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training

Aim and Benefits of UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training

• Fees: None. Participation is funded by the Government and the People of Japan. Selected participants for the Japan immersion phase may be responsible for limited personal expenses
• Certification: Certificates of completion will be awarded to participants who complete each phase
• Language: English
• Delivery Mode: Primarily virtual, with a limited in-person component for selected participants during Phase III

Date: 17 Aug 2026 - 28 Feb 2027

Requirements for UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training Qualification

The Programme is open to youth and women professionals aged 18–35 from the following Anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Applicants may include:

• Aspiring or early-stage entrepreneurs
• SME founders and innovators
• Professionals and practitioners
• Researchers and technology innovators
• Social entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders
• Individuals developing scalable solutions with economic or social impact potential

Participants working in, or aspiring to contribute to, the following sectors are encouraged to apply:

• Agri-food Innovation and Bioeconomy
• Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Smart Digital Solutions
• Fintech and Financial Inclusion
• Clean Technologies and Strategic Resources
• Climate and Environmental Solutions
• Healthcare and MedTech
• Sustainable Cities and Mobility
• Blue Economy
• Creative Industries
• Light Manufacturing and Industrial Solutions
• Skills Development and the Future of Work
• Social Impact and Essential Services

Interview date, Process and Venue for UNITAR Empowering Youth and Women Training

The Programme seeks motivated individuals with strong potential to translate ideas into practical impact. Particular consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate:

• Innovation and problem-solving capacity
• Leadership potential and commitment to community or economic development
• Clear project or business ideas with implementation potential
• Openness to collaboration and partnership development
• Commitment to learning, mentorship, and long-term engagement
• Potential for scalability, sustainability, and measurable impact

Progression to subsequent phases of the Programme will be competitive and based on performance, engagement, leadership, and the quality and feasibility of the proposed project or initiative. Due to the high volume of expected applications, UNITAR and its partners will carefully review all submissions and select candidates with the strongest profiles and applications.

Check also:
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more information, kindly visit UNITAR webpage.