The Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) Africa 2026 is inviting young Africans to apply for delegate participation in the upcoming regional youth climate conference, taking place in Accra, Ghana, from 18–21 October 2026.
RCOY Africa brings together young climate leaders, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, civil society representatives, Indigenous Peoples, and development partners to strengthen youth participation in Africa’s climate agenda.
The 2026 conference will provide a platform for young people across Africa to exchange ideas, develop regional solutions, strengthen their technical knowledge, and contribute to youth priorities ahead of COP31.
About RCOY Africa 2026
The Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) is the regional edition of the Conference of Youth (COY), held ahead of the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties.
RCOY Africa serves as a major platform for African youth engagement in the global climate process.
The conference builds on the outcomes and recommendations generated through Local Conferences of Youth (LCOYs) organised across African countries. These national youth perspectives are brought together at the regional level to help develop a unified African youth position.
The outcomes of RCOY Africa 2026 are intended to contribute to the global youth agenda and inform youth engagement at COP31.
RCOY Africa 2026 Theme
The theme of the 2026 conference is:
“Driving Integrated Solutions Across Africa’s Climate Agenda for Impact, Resilience and Justice.”
The theme reflects the need for coordinated and inclusive approaches to addressing Africa’s climate challenges while promoting resilience, justice, and meaningful impact.
Who Should Apply?
The RCOY Africa 2026 delegate application is open to young people who meet the basic eligibility requirements and can demonstrate meaningful engagement with climate-related issues.
Applicants must:
- Be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of the conference.
- Be a citizen or resident of an African country.
- Demonstrate an interest or engagement in climate-related issues.
- Be able to contribute meaningfully to conference discussions and activities.
The selection process is competitive because the number of fully and partially funded places is limited.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on several factors, including:
Motivation
Applicants should demonstrate a clear motivation for participating in RCOY Africa 2026 and explain why the conference is relevant to their work, interests, experience, or aspirations.
Leadership
Demonstrated leadership experience will be considered as part of the selection process.
This may include leadership in climate initiatives, youth organisations, community projects, research, advocacy, entrepreneurship, or other relevant activities.
Climate Engagement
Applicants should demonstrate meaningful involvement or interest in climate action and related areas.
This could include work or engagement in areas such as climate policy, climate justice, environmental sustainability, adaptation, mitigation, renewable energy, biodiversity, youth advocacy, or community resilience.
Diversity and Inclusion
The selection process will also consider diversity and inclusion to ensure broad representation among participating delegates.
Regional Representation
Applicants from different African countries and regions will be considered to support broad regional representation at the conference.
Potential Contribution
Applicants will also be assessed based on their potential to contribute meaningfully to discussions, activities, knowledge exchange, and the wider objectives of RCOY Africa 2026.
Funding and Participation
Participation is competitive, and fully and partially funded delegate opportunities are limited.
The information provided for the call does not specify that every selected participant will receive full funding. Applicants should therefore carefully review the application information and any communication from the organisers regarding the specific funding arrangement attached to their selection.
Conference Location and Dates
Event: Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) Africa 2026
Location: Accra, Ghana
Dates: 18–21 October 2026
Age Range: 18–35 years
Eligible Region: African countries
Important Application Requirement
Applicants are specifically required to complete the application in their own words.
The organisers state that the use of generative AI to write application responses is not permitted.
Applicants should therefore ensure that all personal statements, motivation responses, and other written answers submitted through the application form accurately reflect their own experiences, perspectives, and ideas.
Using AI-generated responses could conflict with the organisers’ application requirements.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the RCOY Africa 2026 Delegates Call is:
Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should complete the official online application form and provide the information requested by the organisers.
Application Form: Apply for RCOY Africa 2026
Applicants should carefully read each question and provide accurate information based on their own experiences.
For questions or enquiries about the application, applicants can contact:
Email: rcoyafrica2026@gmail.com
Why RCOY Africa 2026 Matters
RCOY Africa provides an important platform for young Africans to participate in conversations surrounding the continent’s climate future.
Africa faces significant climate-related challenges, including vulnerability to extreme weather events, food and water insecurity, climate-induced displacement, ecosystem degradation, and challenges associated with sustainable development.
Young people have an important role to play in developing and advocating for solutions to these challenges.
Through RCOY Africa, participants can engage with other young leaders and stakeholders, exchange knowledge, strengthen regional collaboration, and contribute African youth perspectives to the broader international climate process.
Connection to COP31
One of the important functions of RCOY Africa is to help consolidate youth perspectives ahead of the annual UN climate negotiations.
The 2026 regional conference will build on recommendations from Local Conferences of Youth across Africa and help bring together national perspectives into a broader African youth position.
This provides participants with an opportunity to contribute to discussions that can inform youth engagement in the international climate process leading towards COP31.
What Kind of Applicants Should Consider Applying?
The call may be particularly relevant to young Africans involved in or interested in:
- Climate change
- Climate policy
- Climate justice
- Environmental sustainability
- Renewable energy
- Climate adaptation
- Climate mitigation
- Sustainable development
- Environmental advocacy
- Youth leadership
- Research and innovation
- Green entrepreneurship
- Community development
- Resilience building
- International climate negotiations
Applicants do not necessarily need to come from one specific academic discipline. What is particularly important is their demonstrated interest, engagement, leadership, motivation, and potential contribution to the conference.
Application Tips
Before submitting your application, consider the following:
- Check your eligibility: Confirm that you are 18–35 years old and a citizen or resident of an African country.
- Use your own words: The organisers explicitly prohibit the use of generative AI to write application responses.
- Be authentic: Your responses should accurately describe your experiences, climate engagement, leadership journey, and motivation.
- Demonstrate impact: Where appropriate, explain what you have done rather than simply stating that you are interested in climate action.
- Explain your motivation: Clearly communicate why participating in RCOY Africa 2026 matters to you.
- Submit early: Do not wait until the final hours before the deadline to complete the application.
- Review before submitting: Check that all required sections have been completed and that your information is accurate.
Conclusion
The RCOY Africa 2026 Delegates Call for Applications offers young Africans an opportunity to participate in a major regional youth climate platform in Accra, Ghana, from 18–21 October 2026.
With a focus on impact, resilience, justice, regional collaboration, and integrated climate solutions, the conference will bring together young people and other stakeholders working to advance Africa’s climate priorities.
Eligible young Africans between 18 and 35 years old who are citizens or residents of African countries are encouraged to consider applying. Because funded spaces are limited and the selection process is competitive, applicants should prepare their applications carefully and submit them before the 9 September 2026 deadline.
Most importantly, applicants should remember that the organisers require application responses to be written in the applicant’s own words and do not permit generative AI to write those responses.
Discover more opportunities on the OFY Webpage.
