Africa-Europe Youth Academy Call for Tenders: New Leaders Lab Leadership Development Programme

Ednah Carrick 2 weeks ago

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Closing Date: 2 February 2026

Africa-Europe Youth Academy Call for Tenders: New Leaders Lab Leadership Development Programme

The Africa-Europe Youth Academy has officially launched a call for tenders inviting training centers, incubators, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to co-create and deliver the New Leaders Lab Leadership Development Programme. This initiative represents a major opportunity for institutions working in youth leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement to shape the next generation of Africa-Europe leaders.

The New Leaders Lab is designed to strengthen cross-continental cooperation by equipping young people with the leadership skills, values, and networks required to address shared global challenges. Through this call for tenders, the Africa-Europe Youth Academy seeks experienced and mission-driven partners capable of delivering high-impact leadership training programmes.

Overview of the Africa-Europe Youth Academy

The Africa-Europe Youth Academy is a flagship initiative aimed at fostering long-term collaboration between Africa and Europe through youth leadership, skills development, and policy engagement. The Academy focuses on empowering young leaders to play an active role in shaping inclusive, sustainable, and resilient societies across both continents.

By partnering with training institutions, incubators, and civil society organizations, the Academy ensures that leadership development is context-specific, innovative, and responsive to the needs of young people.

What Is the New Leaders Lab?

The New Leaders Lab is a leadership development programme under the Africa-Europe Youth Academy that brings together emerging leaders from Africa and Europe to:

Build transformative leadership skills
Strengthen civic engagement and policy influence
Encourage ethical, inclusive, and collaborative leadership
Foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact
Promote cross-regional cooperation and mutual understanding

The programme blends structured training, mentorship, peer learning, and applied projects to ensure participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical leadership experience.

Purpose of the Call

The call seeks qualified and experienced organizations to co-design and implement the New Leaders Lab programme. Selected partners will play a critical role in shaping curriculum content, delivery methods, and learning outcomes.

The Africa-Europe Youth Academy is looking for partners who can:

Deliver high-quality leadership development training
Integrate youth-centered and participatory learning approaches
Support innovation, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership
Facilitate cross-continental collaboration and dialogue
Ensure inclusion, diversity, and gender responsiveness

Who Can Apply?

This call is open to African changemakers in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda from:

Training Centers

Institutions with proven experience in leadership development, capacity building, policy training, or professional education.

Incubators and Innovation Hubs

Organizations supporting youth-led startups, social enterprises, and innovation-driven initiatives.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

Non-profits and NGOs working in youth empowerment, governance, social innovation, civic engagement, or sustainable development.

Key Responsibilities of Selected Partners

Successful tender applicants will be expected to:

Co-design leadership curricula aligned with the New Leaders Lab vision
Deliver training through in-person, online, or hybrid formats
Facilitate mentorship, coaching, and peer learning sessions
Support youth-led projects and leadership initiatives
Monitor and evaluate programme impact and outcomes
Contribute to cross-regional knowledge exchange between Africa and Europe

Programme Focus Areas

The New Leaders Lab leadership programme may cover themes such as:

Youth leadership and governance
Civic engagement and democratic participation
Social innovation and entrepreneurship
Sustainable development and climate leadership
Digital transformation and inclusion
Gender equality and social justice
Policy advocacy and systems change

These thematic areas reflect shared priorities across Africa and Europe and align with global development agendas.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The Africa-Europe Youth Academy call for tenders is more than a procurement opportunity — it is a chance to shape the future of leadership across two continents.

Strategic Impact

Selected partners will contribute directly to building a generation of leaders equipped to address global challenges such as inequality, climate change, unemployment, and governance gaps.

Institutional Visibility

Organizations gain recognition as official partners of a high-profile Africa-Europe initiative, strengthening credibility and international visibility.

Long-Term Collaboration

The programme opens doors to sustained partnerships, knowledge exchange, and future funding or programme opportunities.

Youth-Centered Innovation

Partners will work closely with young people, ensuring leadership development is practical, inclusive, and impact-driven.

How to Prepare a Competitive Tender Application

To strengthen your submission:

Demonstrate Relevant Experience
Highlight past leadership training, youth programmes, or innovation initiatives.
Showcase Methodology
Present participatory, inclusive, and outcome-focused training approaches.
Emphasize Impact and Scale
Explain how your organization delivers measurable results and can scale impact.
Highlight Cross-Regional Expertise
Experience working across cultures, regions, or international partnerships is a strong advantage.
Align with Youth Needs
Clearly show how your approach centers youth leadership, inclusion, and empowerment.

The call for the New Leaders Lab Leadership Development Programme presents a unique opportunity for training centers, incubators, and civil society organizations to contribute meaningfully to youth leadership across Africa and Europe.

By co-creating and delivering this programme, selected partners will help nurture ethical, innovative, and globally minded leaders capable of driving positive change in their communities and beyond. Organizations with a strong commitment to youth empowerment, leadership development, and cross-continental collaboration are strongly encouraged to apply.