Call For Applications to join the African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance 2026 is open (limited funding available to support participants)

Ednah Carrick June 12, 2026

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Closing Date: 5 July 2026

Call For Applications to join the African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance 2026 is open (limited funding available to support participants)

Applications are now open for AYC 2026!

Are you passionate about climate action, natural resource governance, environmental sustainability, youth leadership, research, advocacy, entrepreneurship, or community development?

Are you a young innovator, advocate, entrepreneur, or change maker working on environmental or natural resource solutions? Do you want to share your story, contribute your ideas, and inspire others across Africa and beyond?

The African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (AYC 2026) is calling on young leaders, innovators, policymakers, researchers, students, activists, and development practitioners from across Africa to be part of this transformative continental gathering.

AYC-NREG 2026 invites passionate and proactive youth to join them in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for Africa’s natural resources. This year, the conference provides a powerful platform for youth-led solutions and innovations, not just to discuss challenges, but to showcase impact, connect with others, and influence decision-making across Africa and globally.

Join hundreds of changemakers as we engage in critical conversations, share innovative solutions, build strategic partnerships, and shape Africa’s sustainable future. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and lead alongside Africa’s next generation of environmental and development leaders.

Overview

As Africa advances toward energy transition, green industrialization, and circular economy models, there is a pressing need for practical, locally driven solutions. Youth across the continent are developing innovations such as clean-tech, climate-smart agriculture, waste-to-wealth enterprises, and green manufacturing.Yet, systemic barriers, limited finance, mentorship, market access, policy support, and visibility often prevent these solutions from scaling and reaching the communities that need them most.

The African Youth Conference 2026 is scheduled for two (2) days from 22nd to 23rd October 2026 in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and is expected to attract approximately 2,000 in-person and virtual participants, including youth leaders and green entrepreneurs from across Africa’s five regions, government officials, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, investors, development partners, academic researchers, and media.

Participants will have the opportunity to pitch solutions, access seed funding, connect with technical partners, and gain structured guidance to advance their projects. The conference will not only celebrate innovation but also catalyze actionable projects that contribute to sustainable development, job creation, and environmental stewardship.

In this way, AYC-NREG 2026 moves beyond dialogue to accelerate tangible solutions, creating a generation of empowered young leaders capable of shaping Africa’s green and sustainable future. AYC-NREG 2026 seeks to directly address these gaps by providing a structured platform for young Africans to develop, pilot, and scale their solutions.

The African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance will bring together African youth-led startups, innovators, technical experts, investors, policymakers, and development partners in a collaborative environment that promotes knowledge exchange, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

African Youth Conference 2026 Details

Theme: Scaling Youth-led Innovative Solutions for Africa’s Green Economy

Date: 22nd – 23rd October, 2026

Venue: Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana

Expected Outcomes

Youth-led solutions identified and supported through pitching and seed funding with a structured mentorship & incubation pipeline connecting innovators with experts.
Improved visibility of African green enterprises, resulting in potential partnerships and market linkages.
Strengthened policy advocacy, driven by youth voices shaping natural resource governance and climate transition strategies.
Enhanced capitalization of youth-led innovations, with the production of a publication titled “African Youth and Green Solutions: Innovate, Transform, Impact”, extending the conference’s impact and promoting visibility, advocacy, and replication of African youth solutions.
Enhanced regional networking, with expanded participation across Africa, beginning with the West African sub-region.

Who Can Apply?

Youth aged 18–35 from Africa
Actively working in environment, energy, climate action, green finance, agribusiness, or related sectors
Willing to self-fund or partially fund their attendance.

Funding Options: Please, note that AYC has limited funding available to support participants. However, applicants who are able to mobilize funding from their institutions, partners, or sponsors are highly encouraged to apply. Upon request, the AYC Secretariat can provide support letters or recommendation letters to assist applicants in their fundraising and sponsorship efforts.

Please, also note that arrangements for cross-country bus transportation will be only made for participants traveling from Togo and Benin.