The Africa Youth Negotiators Fellowship (AYNF) is now accepting applications for its fourth cohort. This flagship initiative is a leading pan-African capacity-building program designed to empower young climate leaders with the technical knowledge, negotiation expertise, and strategic confidence to participate meaningfully in global climate governance, especially within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) system.
AYNF is a transformative leadership fellowship that has grown into a vital platform for cultivating a new generation of African youth climate negotiators who are actively shaping policy at national, regional, and global levels. The program is spearheaded by the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ghana, UNICEF Ghana, and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN).
Fellowship Structure
The fourth cohort of AYNF will be delivered over four weeks in two comprehensive phases:
Phase 1 – Station 1 (One-Week Training):
A one-week intensive residential training in Ghana for selected fellows, with a virtual option available for remote participants. The training will cover core modules including climate diplomacy, negotiation frameworks, the UNFCCC system, and regional climate policy dynamics.
Phase 2 – Station 2 (Three-Week Virtual Track):
A three-week virtual working group track focused on mentorship, policy simulations, and collaborative assignments. Fellows will engage in activities aligned with African priorities in the lead-up to COP30 in Brazil.
This fellowship addresses the critical need to amplify African youth voices in climate decision-making processes by enhancing their technical knowledge, policy fluency, and leadership capacity in multilateral settings.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
-
Be a citizen of an African country
-
Aged between 15 and 35 years
-
Demonstrate a strong passion for climate justice and diplomacy
-
Have experience or interest in national or international climate policy
-
Be able to commit fully to both phases of the fellowship
-
Proficiency in English (the language of instruction)
Application Deadline
Deadline to apply: July 28, 2025, at 11:59 P.M. GMT
Please note that the fellowship will be conducted in English, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Contact Information
For questions or further information, contact:
Email: maryanne@greenafricayouth.org
Phone: +233 50 724 9060
This is a unique opportunity for African youth passionate about climate leadership to gain hands-on experience and contribute meaningfully to the continent’s climate diplomacy efforts on the global stage.
