Deadline: February 12, 2026
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab Cooperation Grants 2026 are a major funding opportunity designed to support youth-led organisations from Africa and the European Union to collaborate on cross-continental advocacy and policy engagement projects.
These grants aim to strengthen AU-EU youth cooperation, amplify youth voices in decision-making spaces, and support young people to influence policies that affect their communities at local, national, and international levels.
The AU-EU Youth Action Lab Cooperation Grants 2026 prioritise partnerships that promote meaningful collaboration, shared learning, and long-term advocacy impact across both continents.
Overview of the Cooperation Grants
The Cooperation Grants form part of the AU-EU Youth Action Lab, a programme that invests in youth-driven advocacy initiatives addressing shared challenges between Africa and Europe.
Funded projects are expected to:
- Promote intercultural dialogue
- Strengthen youth participation in policy processes
- Build advocacy capacity among youth-led organisations
- Foster sustainable cross-regional partnerships
The programme does not prescribe a rigid project model. Instead, it encourages flexible, context-responsive approaches to advocacy that demonstrate clear impact and relevance.
Funding Details
- Grant amount: €50,000 per consortium
- Project duration: Approximately 12 months
- Application deadline: 12 February 2026 at 13:00 CET
- Funding model: One grant awarded per eligible consortium
Applicants are strongly advised to submit their application well before the deadline, as late submissions will not be considered.
Who Can Apply
Eligible Organisations
To be eligible for the Cooperation Grants, organisations must:
- Be youth-led, non-profit entities (such as NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, trusts, or associations)
- Have a clear social or advocacy mission
- Be legally registered in an eligible African country or an EU Member State
Consortium Requirement
Applications must be submitted by a consortium of 2–4 organisations. Single organisations are not eligible to apply on their own.
Each consortium must include:
- At least one organisation based in an eligible African country, and
- At least one organisation based in a European Union Member State
Youth-Led Criteria
- Young people aged 18–35 must hold decision-making and governance roles within the organisations
- The project team implementing the grant must be predominantly youth
Experience Requirement
The lead (coordinating) organisation should demonstrate prior experience in collaborative or partnership-based work, particularly in advocacy or policy-related initiatives.
Eligible Countries
African Countries (Indicative List)
Eligible African countries include, but are not limited to:
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia / Somaliland
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
European Union
All EU Member States are eligible for participation as European partners within the consortium.
What Type of Projects Can Be Funded
The Cooperation Grants specifically support advocacy-focused initiatives. Projects must demonstrate how planned activities will contribute to influencing policy, strengthening youth voices, or shaping decision-making processes across Africa and Europe.
Supported activities may include:
- Joint research and evidence-building to inform policy discussions
- Youth-led campaigns and advocacy initiatives
- Structured dialogues between young people and policymakers
- Advocacy training, workshops, and capacity-building sessions
- Development of policy briefs, position papers, and advocacy tools
- Participation in national, regional, or international policy forums
In addition to funding, the programme also provides training and resources to strengthen advocacy skills and organisational capacity.
Application Support and Preparation
Applicants are encouraged to:
- Carefully review the programme funding manual and guidelines
- Develop a clear project rationale, advocacy objectives, and implementation plan
- Prepare a realistic and compliant budget
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities within the consortium
A partner-finding mechanism is available to support organisations seeking suitable African or EU partners.
Key Dates to Remember
- Application deadline: 12 February 2026
- Submission cut-off time: 13:00 CET
- Project duration: 12 months from grant start
Contact Us for Proposal Support
Need help with your application?
Contact us for proposal drafting, refining, and review to strengthen your project concept, consortium structure, advocacy strategy, and overall competitiveness before submission.
