UNITAR Youth and Women Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa 2026 (Funded)

The UNITAR Youth and Women Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa 2026 is a funded blended capacity development programme for youth and women professionals aged 18–35 from selected Anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries. The programme focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, public-private partnership, project development, investment readiness, and Africa–Japan collaboration.

Quick Overview

Programme: Empowering Youth and Women amid Economic Instability
Opportunity Type: Course / Capacity Development Programme
Host Organization: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
Location: Hiroshima, Japan
Programme Format: Blended
Duration: 7 months
Programme Dates: 17 Aug 2026 – 28 Feb 2027
Deadline: 31 Jul 2026
Funding: Participation is funded by the Government and the People of Japan
Eligibility: Youth and women professionals aged 18–35 from selected Anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries

About the UNITAR Youth and Women Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa

The programme is launched by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research under the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development 9. It is implemented with the support of the Government and People of Japan.

The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of African youth and women to transform innovative ideas into scalable, partnership-ready, and investment-oriented initiatives. It focuses on practical project development, mentorship, applied learning, ecosystem exposure, and international engagement opportunities.

The initiative also supports public-private partnership between Japan and Africa in areas such as innovation, technology, sustainable industrialization, agribusiness, digital transformation, clean technologies, manufacturing, and human-centred economic development.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the programme, participants are expected to strengthen practical skills connected to innovation, leadership, sustainability, and partnership development.

The official learning objectives include the ability to:

• Design innovative, inclusive, and sustainable business or development solutions.
• Apply digital technologies, AI, and emerging innovation tools to address urgent challenges.
• Develop feasible project concepts with clear implementation pathways.
• Strengthen leadership, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration skills.
• Integrate sustainability, gender equality, social impact, and SDG considerations.
• Formulate partnership-ready and investment-oriented proposals.
• Communicate project value propositions to investors, partners, institutions, and stakeholders.
• Build long-term professional networks across African and international innovation ecosystems.

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Benefits and Financial Coverage

Participation in the programme is funded by the Government and the People of Japan.

Confirmed support includes:

✓ No participation fee
✓ Funded participation
✓ Virtual learning and applied project development
✓ Structured mentorship and expert guidance
✓ International engagement opportunities for selected participants
✓ Certificates of completion for participants who complete each phase

Selected participants for the Japan immersion phase may be responsible for limited personal expenses.

Programme Structure

The programme is structured through four progressive phases. These phases combine virtual learning, applied project development, mentorship, and international engagement opportunities.

Phase I: Foundations and Opportunity Development

This phase runs from August to October 2026.

Participants receive foundational training in:

• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• AI and digital transformation
• Leadership and systems thinking
• Sustainable development and SDG integration
• Market analysis and customer discovery
• Business ecosystems and value chains
• Partnerships, investment readiness, and collaborative engagement

The focus is on helping participants identify real-world opportunities and build solution-oriented concepts with practical relevance.

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Phase II: Applied Innovation and Project Development

This phase runs from November to December 2026.

Selected participants deepen practical application skills through:

• Business model refinement
• Financial and operational planning
• Project structuring and implementation design
• Monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement
• Pitch preparation and communication
• Partnership mapping and stakeholder engagement
• Training-of-Trainers components

The focus is on developing scalable, credible, and financially viable initiatives.

Phase III: Leadership and International Engagement

This phase runs from January to February 2027.

A limited number of high-performing participants will join an advanced hybrid engagement phase. This includes a short immersion programme in Japan.

Activities may include:

• Mentorship sessions with industry and ecosystem experts
• Exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems
• Learning visits and institutional dialogue
• Networking and strategic engagement opportunities
• Project refinement and partnership discussions

Participation in the Japan immersion component is competitive. Not all programme participants will be selected for the in-person component.

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Phase IV: Africa–Japan Innovation and Partnership Round Table

The programme concludes with the Africa–Japan Innovation and Partnership Round Table in February 2027.

This phase brings together participants, ecosystem actors, development partners, mentors, investors, and representatives from the public and private sectors.

Selected participants will showcase initiatives, exchange lessons learned, and explore collaboration pathways for implementation and scaling.

Methodology

The programme uses UNITAR’s adult learning and instructional design methodologies.

The methodology combines:

• Competency-based and results-oriented learning
• Project-based and experiential methods
• Practical application and real-world problem solving
• Peer learning and collaborative engagement
• Mentorship and expert guidance
• Continuous feedback and evidence-based evaluation
• Ecosystem exposure and partnership facilitation

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is open to youth and women professionals aged 18–35 from selected Anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries.

Eligible countries listed on the official page are:

• Botswana
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zambia
• 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

Encouraged Sectors

Participants working in, or aspiring to contribute to, selected sectors are encouraged to apply.

The listed sectors include:

• 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

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Selection Criteria

The programme seeks motivated applicants 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 later phases is competitive. It is based on performance, engagement, leadership, and the quality and feasibility of the proposed project or initiative.

Additional Programme Details

The programme language is English. The delivery mode is primarily virtual, with a limited in-person component for selected participants during Phase III.

Certificates of completion will be awarded to participants who complete each phase. The official page also states that all selection decisions made by UNITAR and its partners are final.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the programme is 31 Jul 2026.

The programme dates are listed as 17 Aug 2026 – 28 Feb 2027.

Official Link

Submit your application through the official application link below.

Apply for Empowering Youth and Women amid Economic Instability