Fully sponsored retreat in Libreville, Gabon for African women leaders: Apply now for the 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR8)
Closing Date: 3 August 2026
Fully sponsored retreat in Libreville, Gabon for African women leaders: Apply now for the 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR8)
Are you a young African woman leader driving change in your community or sector? Join the AWLN 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR8) in Libreville, Gabon, this December for knowledge sharing, peer learning, and meaningful connections with inspiring women leaders from across Africa and the Diaspora.
The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) is inviting for applications from young African women leaders for the 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR 2026), to be held in Gabon in December 2026
Call For Applications
The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), jointly supported by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), opened applications for the 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR 8), a flagship gathering that brings together generations of African women leaders to build skills, forge networks, and drive collective action for the continent’s transformation.
40 young women leaders will be selected for a fully sponsored retreat in Libreville, Gabon this December, bringing together emerging and established leaders from across the continent and the Diaspora.
Why the Retreat
The Intergenerational Retreat is AWLN’s signature platform for connecting young women leaders with the seasoned voices shaping Africa’s future. It exists to strengthen women’s leadership in transforming the continent, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
More than a convening, IGR is designed as a launchpad: a space where mentorship, dialogue, and cross-generational exchange translate into real leadership capacity and lasting networks across countries, sectors, and generations.
Who Should Apply
AWLN is calling for applications from young African women leaders, from the continent or the Diaspora, who have demonstrated impact in their communities.
Eligible applicants are:
- Aged 18 to 45 years
- Able to show measurable or recognized impact within their community
- Innovators or active contributors within one of AWLN’s six pillars:
- Peace and Security
- Governance and Political Participation (GPP)
- Financial Inclusion, Economic Development, Natural Resources and Mining
- Agriculture, Rural Economy and Land
- Social Mobilisation
- Youth and Emerging Leaders
What Participants Will Gain
Selected candidates will be fully sponsored, with registration, travel, and accommodation covered. Beyond logistics, the Retreat offers:
- Mentorship from high-level women leaders, including Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, and CEOs
- Access to a network of highly accomplished women leaders across Africa and the Diaspora
- Strengthened leadership skills and personal development
- The AWLN Leadership Award
- Strategic support from AWLN’s wide network of partners
What AWLN Expects from Participants
The AWLN Intergenerational Retreat is more than an event, it is a platform for leadership, collaboration, and collective action. Participants are expected to actively contribute to the success and long-term impact of the Retreat by:
- Actively engaging in all sessions, discussions, and collaborative activities
- Sharing their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to enrich intergenerational dialogue
- Building meaningful connections and fostering collaboration across countries, sectors, and generations
- Acting as ambassadors of AWLN by promoting its values, mission, and initiatives within their communities and professional networks
- Translating learning into action by implementing or strengthening initiatives that advance women’s leadership and gender equality after the Retreat
- Contributing to the AWLN network beyond the event through continued engagement, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and collaboration
Participants are selected not only for what they have achieved, but also for their willingness to contribute, inspire others, and strengthen the collective impact of the African Women Leaders Network even after the Retreat
How to Apply
Submit your application online via the online application form. Applications must be submitted by the deadline; only complete applications will be reviewed.
For any questions, inquiries, or additional information, please contact the AWLN Secretariat at [email protected].
Click Here To Apply
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