Apply Now: Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme

Deadline: 31-May-2026

The Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme (CLYLP) 2026 is a leadership and development learning programme for emerging civil society leaders from Cambodia and Laos. It is managed by UnionAID with Khmer Farmer Products (KFP), the Participatory Development Knowledge Agency (PAKA), and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The programme combines online learning and in-person engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand to strengthen leadership, research, and community action skills for sustainable development.

Key facts

• Programme name: Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme (CLYLP) 2026.

• Organiser: UnionAID.

• Partners: KFP, PAKA, and AUT.

• Funding source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

• Application dates: 15 April to 31 May 2026.

• Format: About 150 hours of blended learning.

• Location: Online plus in-person learning in New Zealand.

• Participant countries: Cambodia and Laos.

• Age range: 20 to 34 years at the time of application.

• Language requirement: Intermediate English.

• Target group: Young people engaged in community-based organisations, NGOs, labour unions, women’s organisations, or social enterprises.

What the programme is for

CLYLP is designed to help young civil society leaders build the knowledge and confidence to address local development challenges. It focuses on practical community action, participatory learning, and cross-cultural collaboration.

The programme helps participants turn a real community issue into a research question and then into a participatory action project. This makes it both a leadership programme and a project-development programme.

Core learning areas

The programme focuses on:

• Sustainable Development.

• English for Development.

• Community Leadership.

• Participatory Action Projects.

• Research and Innovation.

• Community Development.

• Cross-cultural Collaboration.

• Inclusive Leadership.

These areas are intended to strengthen both personal leadership and community-level problem solving.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be aged 20 to 34 at the time of application.

• Live and work in Cambodia or Laos.

• Be involved with a community-based organisation, NGO, labour union, women’s organisation, or social enterprise.

• Show commitment to community development.

• Have intermediate English proficiency.

The programme is aimed at emerging leaders, so applicants should show clear potential to contribute to social change and local development.

What participants will do

Participants will:

• Complete around 150 hours of learning.

• Study sustainable development and English for development.

• Engage in applied and participatory learning.

• Take part in an in-person learning experience in New Zealand.

• Identify a local development challenge.

• Refine a research question.

• Design a participatory action project.

This structure helps participants connect theory to real community work.

Why it matters

The programme matters because it invests in the next generation of civil society leaders in Cambodia and Laos. It supports people who are already working on community issues and gives them new tools to design practical solutions.

It also builds international understanding between Southeast Asia and New Zealand. That cross-cultural exposure can strengthen networks, improve local leadership, and support long-term development collaboration.

How the programme works

1. Apply during the open window.

   • Applications are open from 15 April to 31 May 2026.

2. Meet eligibility criteria.

   • Check age, location, organisational involvement, and English level.

3. Join blended learning.

   • Complete online courses and group learning activities.

4. Participate in in-person learning in New Zealand.

   • Gain international exposure and engage with peers and partners.

5. Develop a participatory action project.

   • Identify a community problem and build a practical proposal.

6. Complete the programme.

   • Use the learning to strengthen local leadership and community impact.

Application tips

• Choose a real development issue you already understand well.

• Show how your work benefits a community, not just your own career.

• Describe your current role clearly and explain your organisational connection.

• Demonstrate that you can communicate in English at an intermediate level.

• Make your proposed issue specific and practical rather than broad or abstract.

Common mistakes

• Applying outside the age range.

• Not being based in Cambodia or Laos.

• Failing to show community-based organisational involvement.

• Describing a vague problem instead of a concrete development challenge.

• Underestimating the English requirement.

FAQ

1. Who can apply?

   • Young civil society leaders aged 20 to 34 who live and work in Cambodia or Laos and are involved in community-focused organisations.

2. Is the programme fully funded?

   • Yes. It is fully funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for selected participants.

3. What is the application period for 2026?

   • Applications are open from 15 April to 31 May 2026.

4. How long is the programme?

   • It includes approximately 150 hours of blended learning.

5. What kind of organisations are eligible?

   • Community-based organisations, NGOs, labour unions, women’s organisations, and social enterprises.

6. Is English required?

   • Yes. Applicants should have intermediate English proficiency.

7. What do participants develop during the programme?

   • A research question and a participatory action project addressing a development issue in their community.

Conclusion

The Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme 2026 is a strong opportunity for emerging leaders who want to combine leadership learning, cross-cultural exposure, and practical community action. The programme is best suited to applicants with a clear commitment to sustainable development and a real issue they want to solve in their community.

For more information, visit UnionAID.