Amani Pamoja 2026 Fully Funded Peace Advocacy Training in Barcelona, Spain: Call for Young Peacebuilders from Africa and Europe

Applications are now open for the Amani Pamoja (Peace Together) Training Course on Advocacy and Dialogue Skills for Peace 2026, an international capacity-building programme that will bring together young peacebuilders from East Africa and Europe in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain.

The programme is designed for young people involved in youth-led and youth-focused organisations working on peace, peacebuilding, youth participation, advocacy, dialogue, and related initiatives. Through training, peer learning, international exchange and partnership building, participants will strengthen their ability to advocate for peace and influence social and political processes in their communities and countries.

The in-person component will take place from November 27 to December 3, 2026, including travel days. The programme will bring together young peacebuilders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Importantly, selected participants will have major participation expenses covered through an Erasmus+ grant, including eligible travel, accommodation and subsistence costs during the mobility. However, applicants should carefully review the funding conditions because certain minor expenses, including visa fees or specific insurance coverage, may not be fully covered.

About the Amani Pamoja Peace Together Project

Amani Pamoja, meaning “Peace Together,” is an international initiative developed through collaboration between organisations in Africa and Europe.

The organisations involved include the Agency for Peace in Italy, Centre for Youth Dialogue in Tanzania, Fundació Catalunya Voluntaria in Spain, Lamu Youth Alliance in Kenya, Peace Up!/Youth Peace Ambassadors Network in Germany, and the participating organisation from Uganda.

These organisations are working together under the Amani Pamoja framework to give young people involved in peacebuilding an opportunity to develop the capacities required to achieve meaningful social and political impact, both within their respective countries and internationally.

At its core, the initiative seeks to create a transnational and intercontinental learning alliance connecting young people across six participating countries. The project focuses on strengthening young people’s competencies for meaningful participation in decision-making spaces concerning peace and security.

Particular attention is also given to strengthening political influence and participation among young people who face barriers to accessing decision-making processes, including those affected by violence and discrimination.

What Is the Amani Pamoja 2026 Training Course?

The Amani Pamoja Training Course on Advocacy and Dialogue Skills for Peace is an international learning programme focused on developing the knowledge, attitudes and practical competencies young peacebuilders need to engage successfully in social and political advocacy on peace-related issues.

The programme goes beyond classroom-style learning. It has been structured to facilitate:

• International exchange between young peacebuilders;
• Peer-to-peer learning;
• Collaboration between participants from different countries;
• Sharing experiences and approaches to peacebuilding;
• Learning about organisations, networks and initiatives addressing peace issues;
• Developing advocacy and policy dialogue capabilities;
• Building international partnerships and alliances; and
• Strengthening youth participation in peace and security decision-making.

Participants will exchange knowledge and experiences about how peace initiatives can generate wider social impact, how more young people and organisations can be mobilised to participate in peacebuilding, and how young leaders can establish productive dialogue with political representatives.

Where and When Will the Amani Pamoja Training Take Place?

The physical training programme will be held in:

Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

The in-person mobility will run from:

November 27 to December 3, 2026

These dates include the programme’s travel days.

However, successful applicants should understand that participation is not limited to the physical programme in Spain.

The complete activity consists of four components:

1. Three preparatory online meetings; and
2. One five-day in-person training course in Spain, plus two travel days.

The three preparatory meetings will be conducted online during October and November 2026, with each meeting lasting a maximum of two hours.

Applicants selected for the programme must commit themselves to participating in all four activities, rather than only attending the physical training in Barcelona.

How Many Participants Will Be Selected?

The training is expected to involve 24 young peacebuilders drawn from the six participating countries:

East Africa

• Uganda
• Kenya
• Tanzania

Europe

• Germany
• Spain
• Italy

The wider activity will bring together 30 people in total, including six members of the international steering committee who will participate as trainers, reporters and facilitators representing the six partner organisations.

This international composition is an important part of the programme because Amani Pamoja is intended to build connections and learning opportunities across both the African and European contexts.

Main Objectives of the Amani Pamoja Training Course

The programme has three overarching objectives.

1. Raise Awareness About Youth-Led Peacebuilding

Amani Pamoja seeks to increase awareness of the important work already being undertaken by young people and youth-led organisations in peacebuilding.

2. Increase Youth Participation in Peace and Security

The programme seeks to encourage and strengthen young people’s participation in peace and security initiatives.

3. Empower Young People to Influence Policy

Participants will be empowered to contribute to and influence policies associated with implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

In addition to these broader goals, the training has three specific objectives:

• Strengthening the advocacy and policy dialogue capacities of young leaders and their organisations;
• Creating opportunities for dialogue between youth leaders and policymakers at local and national levels while supporting young people’s involvement in existing dialogue spaces; and
• Increasing participants’ knowledge of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda and other relevant policies and mechanisms, including the EU Youth Strategy.

What Will Participants Learn?

One of the major strengths of the Amani Pamoja programme is its emphasis on practical advocacy capabilities.

Throughout the programme, participants will develop skills, attitudes and knowledge intended to help them succeed in social and political advocacy.

The programme will explore important questions facing young peacebuilders, including how peace initiatives can create wider societal impact, how organisations can mobilise larger numbers of young people to become involved in peacebuilding, and how youth representatives can develop productive dialogue with political representatives.

Participants will also explore several important areas connected with peace and security, including:

• Participation;
• Prevention;
• Reintegration;
• Protection;
• Partnership building;
• Alliance building;
• Advocacy;
• Policy dialogue;
• Youth mobilisation;
• Social and political influence; and
• Addressing critical social needs affecting vulnerable people and communities.

The call specifically identifies youth, women, refugees and minorities among groups whose critical social needs may be addressed through stronger alliances and peacebuilding efforts.

International Networking and Partnership Opportunities

The Amani Pamoja programme is also designed as an international networking and partnership-building opportunity.

Participants will represent youth-led non-profit and non-governmental organisations, providing opportunities for connections to develop between organisations and young leaders operating in different national and regional contexts.

Successful participants will become part of a structured intercontinental learning alliance alongside other European and African youth.

This means the benefits of participation potentially extend beyond the training sessions themselves. Participants will have opportunities to exchange experiences, ideas and knowledge while developing relationships with other young peacebuilders who may be confronting similar challenges in very different political and social environments.

Amani Pamoja 2026 Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Applicants must satisfy the selection requirements established by the organisers.

Age Requirements

Age eligibility differs between European and East African applicants:

• Applicants from participating European countries must be between 18 and 29 years old.
• Applicants from participating East African countries must be between 18 and 35 years old.

Organisational Involvement

Applicants must be part of a youth-led and youth-focused group or organisation.

This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to young adults already participating in organised youth or peacebuilding activities rather than people with no connection to youth-focused initiatives.

Motivation

Applicants should demonstrate an interest in and motivation to apply what they learn through the course.

English Language Requirement

Applicants need the ability to communicate in English at B2 level.

Because participants will be working with peers and facilitators from six different countries, the English-language requirement is an important practical condition for effective participation.

Residency Requirement

Applicants must be legal residents of one of the participating countries.

These countries are:

• Uganda
• Kenya
• Tanzania
• Germany
• Spain
• Italy

The programme is therefore not presented as an open worldwide call. Applicants need to meet the residency requirement for one of the six participating countries.

The complete selection requirements stated in the call are an eligible age, motivation to apply the learning from the course, membership in a youth-led and youth-focused group or organisation, B2-level English communication ability, and legal residency in a participating country.

Priority Applicants

Meeting the basic eligibility criteria does not necessarily mean that every applicant will receive equal priority during selection.

The organisers specifically state that priority will be given to people who:

• Have not previously participated in international exchange programmes; and/or
• Face barriers to participating in opportunities of this nature.

This priority is consistent with the wider Amani Pamoja objective of strengthening participation among young people who may face barriers to decision-making and international learning opportunities.

Is the Amani Pamoja Training Fully Funded?

The programme provides substantial financial support through an Erasmus+ grant.

For selected participants, the grant covers:

• Travel costs to and from the venue;
• Accommodation;
• Food;
• Transport during the mobility; and
• Materials required during the programme.

These costs are covered for selected participants for the duration of the mobility.

Applicants should nevertheless pay close attention to an important qualification in the official call.

The organisers explain that some minor expenses, including visa fees or specific insurance coverage, may not be fully covered by the European Union grant.

During the selection phase, the applicant’s sending organisation will provide detailed information explaining the applicable cost-coverage conditions.

For that reason, prospective applicants should not assume that absolutely every personal expense associated with participation will automatically be reimbursed.

Visa Requirements and Support for Selected Participants

Participants who require a visa to enter Spain will remain responsible for completing the necessary visa procedures themselves.

However, they will not be expected to navigate the process entirely without organisational support.

The coordinating and host organisations will assist by providing:

• An invitation letter; and
• Hotel confirmation.

These documents may support participants in completing the relevant visa procedures for entry into Spain.

Applicants who require a Spanish visa should therefore take the visa process into consideration when preparing for possible participation.

Amani Pamoja 2026 Application Deadlines

There are two separate application deadlines, depending on whether an applicant is resident in Africa or Europe.

Deadline for African Residents: August 16, 2026

Applicants resident in the participating African countries must complete the application form by:

August 16, 2026

Deadline for European Residents: September 16, 2026

Applicants resident in the participating European countries must complete the application form by:

September 16, 2026

The official call explicitly establishes these two separate deadlines.

Applicants should therefore follow the deadline corresponding to their region and should avoid waiting until the final day to prepare and submit their application.

How to Apply for the Amani Pamoja Peace Advocacy Training 2026

Applications must be completed through the programme’s online application form for participants.

Applicants should ensure that they:

1. Confirm that they satisfy the applicable age requirement.
2. Confirm that they are legally resident in one of the six participating countries.
3. Ensure that they are part of a youth-led and youth-focused group or organisation.
4. Consider how they will demonstrate their interest and motivation to apply the programme’s learning.
5. Ensure they can communicate effectively in English at approximately B2 level.
6. Be prepared to participate in all three preparatory online meetings.
7. Be available for the complete in-person programme and travel period from November 27 to December 3, 2026.
8. Submit the online application before the deadline applicable to their region.

Following the selection process, all applicants will be informed of the results by email.

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Important Commitment Before Applying

Prospective applicants should pay particular attention to the participation commitment.

The programme is not simply a five-day event that successful candidates can attend independently of the preparatory activities.

Selected applicants must participate in three preparatory online meetings during October and November 2026, followed by the in-person programme in Spain. Each preparatory online meeting will have a maximum duration of two hours.

Applicants should therefore confirm their availability for the complete programme before submitting an application.

Country Partner Organisations and Contact Information

Applicants seeking further information are encouraged to contact the relevant partner organisation in their country of residence.

Germany

Organisation: Peace Up!/Youth Peace Ambassadors Network
Email: peaceuptrainings@gmail.com

Italy

Organisation: Agency for Peacebuilding
Emails: m.giaccai@peaceagency.org and info@peaceagency.org

Kenya

Organisation: Lamu Youth Alliance
Email: amuyouthalliance@gmail.com

Spain

Organisation: Fundació Catalunya Voluntària
Email: projectes@catalunyavoluntaria.cat

Tanzania

Organisation: Center for Youth Dialogue
Email: info@cyd.tz

Uganda

Organisation: Prospect Initiative
Email: prospectinitiativeapplications@gmail.com

These country-specific organisations and contact details are provided on the final page of the official call.

Why Young Peacebuilders Should Consider the Amani Pamoja Programme

For eligible young people already engaged with youth-focused organisations, Amani Pamoja offers an opportunity to combine practical learning with international collaboration.

Rather than focusing solely on theoretical discussions about peace, the training aims to strengthen participants’ ability to translate peacebuilding knowledge into advocacy, dialogue, mobilisation, partnerships and participation in decision-making processes.

The programme is especially relevant for young people seeking to improve their ability to:

• Advocate effectively on peace and security issues;
• Engage policymakers and political representatives;
• Mobilise other young people around peacebuilding initiatives;
• Understand the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda;
• Participate more effectively in decision-making spaces;
• Build partnerships across organisations and countries;
• Learn from peacebuilding experiences in African and European contexts; and
• Strengthen the impact of their youth-led organisations.

The international character of the programme also gives participants an opportunity to compare challenges, strategies and experiences across six countries rather than examining peacebuilding from a single national perspective.

Conclusion

The Amani Pamoja (Peace Together) Training Course on Advocacy and Dialogue Skills for Peace 2026 represents a significant international learning and networking opportunity for eligible young peacebuilders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Taking place in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain, from November 27 to December 3, 2026, the programme will combine advocacy training, policy dialogue, peer learning, international exchange and partnership building. Participants will also complete three preparatory online meetings in October and November before travelling to Spain.

Through Erasmus+ funding, selected participants will receive coverage for travel, accommodation and subsistence during the mobility, although some smaller expenses such as visa fees or specific insurance may not be completely covered.

Most importantly, applicants should remember that the deadline differs by region: August 16, 2026 for residents of Africa and September 16, 2026 for residents of Europe.

Young people who meet the eligibility requirements, are actively involved in youth-led or youth-focused organisations, and want to strengthen their capacity to advocate for peace should consider submitting an application before the relevant deadline.

Visit this OFY website for more Training Opportunities.