Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” in West Africa

The Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” in West Africa supports youth-led and youth-focused organisations that create safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for young people aged 18–30 years. The programme provides EUR 10,000 grants in Round 1, followed by EUR 40,000 scale-up grants for selected organisations in Round 2, along with capacity building, technical assistance, coaching, and regional networking opportunities.

The initiative aims to strengthen youth leadership, civic engagement, organisational development, and social inclusion while supporting innovative projects across Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo.

Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” in West Africa Overview

The Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” in West Africa is designed to help youth organisations establish and strengthen safe, inclusive, and youth-led spaces where young people can build leadership skills, access support services, collaborate on community initiatives, and participate in civic life.

Beyond financial support, the programme combines capacity building, technical coaching, organisational strengthening, peer learning, and regional networking to help youth organisations become more sustainable and increase their long-term impact.

Purpose of the Programme

The programme aims to strengthen youth organisations by supporting projects that empower young people and improve organisational capacity.

Its objectives include:

Creating safe and inclusive Spaces for Youth
Supporting youth leadership
Encouraging civic participation
Strengthening youth-led organisations
Building institutional capacity
Improving governance and financial management
Supporting innovation
Strengthening organisational sustainability
Expanding regional collaboration across West Africa
Promoting inclusion of women and vulnerable youth

Why This Grant Matters

Young people play a critical role in shaping their communities, yet many youth organisations face challenges related to funding, organisational capacity, and long-term sustainability.

This programme addresses those challenges by providing:

Financial grants
Professional coaching
Technical assistance
Capacity-building programmes
Organisational diagnostics
Regional networking opportunities
Connections with European innovation ecosystems

The initiative enables organisations to expand their impact while creating safe environments where young people can develop skills, build confidence, and contribute to community development.

Programme Focus Areas

The programme supports projects across several priority areas.

Youth Leadership Development

Projects should help young people:

Build leadership skills
Participate in decision-making
Develop confidence
Lead community initiatives

Safe and Inclusive Spaces

Supported projects should create environments that are:

Safe
Inclusive
Accessible
Youth-friendly
Free from discrimination

These spaces should encourage participation and collaboration among young people.

Innovation and Civic Engagement

Projects may include activities related to:

Social innovation
Community participation
Civic engagement
Youth volunteering
Local development initiatives

Organisational Capacity Building

The programme strengthens organisations through:

Governance improvements
Financial management
Compliance systems
Organisational development
Monitoring and evaluation
Institutional strengthening

Regional Collaboration

Applicants are encouraged to participate in:

Peer learning
Regional networking
Cross-country collaboration
Knowledge sharing
Partnerships with European institutions

Who Benefits from the Programme?

The programme primarily supports young people aged 18 to 30 years.

Projects should ensure:

At least 50% women participants
At least 25% vulnerable young people

This emphasis promotes gender equality and social inclusion across all supported projects.

Who Are Considered Vulnerable Youth?

The programme defines vulnerable young people as those experiencing challenges such as:

Disabilities
Family-related difficulties
Poverty
Unemployment
Limited access to education or essential services
Living in remote communities
Conflict-affected areas
Displacement
Insecure environments

Applications supporting young women, feminist organisations, and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged.

Eligible Countries

Projects must be implemented in one of the following countries:

Benin
Côte d’Ivoire
Guinea
Ghana
Mauritania
Senegal
Togo

Approximately two to three organisations per country are expected to receive Round 1 funding, depending on the quality of applications.

Funding Available

A total programme budget of EUR 360,000 has been allocated.

Funding is provided in two competitive rounds.

Round 1 Funding

Twenty selected organisations will each receive:

EUR 10,000 grant
Project duration of 6–12 months
Individual coaching from Ghiyada Africa
Capacity-building programme delivered by Campus AFD

Funding supports organisations that are establishing, strengthening, or activating a Space for Youth project.

Round 2 Funding

Following completion of Round 1, the four highest-performing organisations will receive:

Additional EUR 40,000 grant
Organisational diagnostics
Tailored technical assistance
Scaling support
Continued mentoring
Regional networking opportunities
European peer-learning opportunities

Round 2 is designed to help successful projects expand their impact and sustainability.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

In addition to grant funding, selected organisations receive extensive institutional support.

This includes:

Capacity-building training by Campus AFD
Tailored coaching from Ghiyada Africa
Monitoring and evaluation support
Organisational diagnostics
Governance improvement
Financial management guidance
Technical mentoring
Regional networking opportunities

These activities strengthen both projects and the organisations implementing them.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Civil society organisations
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Associations
Cooperatives
Youth collectives
Community networks
Eligible MSMEs
Social start-ups serving a public-interest purpose

Grant-funded activities must operate on a non-profit basis, even where applicants have other income-generating activities.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be legally registered
Be established in one of the seven eligible countries
Have existed legally for at least one year before the application deadline
Operate in a non-partisan manner
Operate without discrimination
Demonstrate basic financial accountability systems
Be capable of managing grant funds responsibly

Applicants must submit all required supporting documentation.

Project Eligibility Requirements

The proposed Space for Youth must:

Be youth-led
Operate for public benefit
Be non-profit
Be apolitical
Be non-partisan
Be non-discriminatory

In addition:

At least 75% of governance body members must be aged 18–30
At least 75% of project beneficiaries must also be aged 18–30

These requirements ensure that young people remain at the centre of programme leadership and implementation.

How to Apply for the Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth”

Interested organisations should prepare a complete application demonstrating both organisational capacity and project impact.

### Step 1: Verify Organisational Eligibility

Before applying, confirm that your organisation:

Is legally registered
Meets the one-year registration requirement
Operates in an eligible country
Maintains basic financial management systems

### Step 2: Design a Youth-Led Project

Develop a Space for Youth that:

Supports young people aged 18–30
Promotes leadership
Encourages inclusion
Benefits vulnerable youth
Creates a safe environment

Ensure the project aligns with programme priorities.

### Step 3: Prepare Supporting Documents

Applicants should gather:

Legal registration documents
Governance information
Financial accountability documentation
Project proposal
Supporting eligibility documents

Review all requirements before submission.

### Step 4: Submit the Application

Complete the application according to the official programme guidelines and submit all required documents before the deadline.

Common Application Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting incomplete documentation
Failing to meet youth governance requirements
Weak financial accountability systems
Projects lacking inclusion strategies
Unclear project objectives
Missing eligibility criteria

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

Clearly explain community needs
Demonstrate meaningful youth leadership
Show measurable project outcomes
Highlight organisational capacity
Include strategies for sustainability
Explain how vulnerable youth will be engaged
Present a realistic implementation plan

Why This Programme Matters

The Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” strengthens youth organisations by combining financial support with long-term institutional development.

The programme contributes to:

Youth empowerment
Leadership development
Gender equality
Community participation
Organisational sustainability
Regional cooperation
Social inclusion
Stronger civil society across West Africa

Its two-stage funding model enables promising organisations to test innovative ideas before scaling successful initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” programme?

It is a funding programme that supports youth-led organisations in creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can develop leadership skills, participate in community initiatives, and strengthen their organisations.

Which countries are eligible?

The programme supports organisations established in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo.

How much funding is available?

Twenty organisations will receive EUR 10,000 in Round 1, while four outstanding organisations will receive an additional EUR 40,000 in Round 2.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include civil society organisations, NGOs, associations, cooperatives, youth collectives, community networks, and eligible MSMEs or start-ups operating on a non-profit basis for grant-funded activities.

Who are the target beneficiaries?

Projects should primarily benefit young people aged 18–30 years, ensuring that at least 50% of participants are women and at least 25% are vulnerable youth.

What additional support is provided besides funding?

Selected organisations receive coaching from Ghiyada Africa, institutional capacity building from Campus AFD, organisational diagnostics, technical assistance, peer learning, and regional networking opportunities.

What are the youth leadership requirements?

At least 75% of the organisation’s governance body and 75% of project beneficiaries must be young people aged 18–30 years.

Conclusion

The Grant Awards to “Spaces for Youth” in West Africa provides an important opportunity for youth-led organisations to strengthen their impact through funding, technical support, organisational development, and regional collaboration.

By investing in safe, inclusive, and youth-driven spaces, the programme helps young leaders build stronger organisations, expand innovative community initiatives, and create lasting social change across Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo.