Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027: WAGGGS Leadership and Advocacy Programme for Young Women
Applications are now open for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 programme, a global leadership and advocacy opportunity designed to equip young Girl Guides and Girl Scouts with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to influence change.
The programme provides young women with an opportunity to strengthen their advocacy capabilities, promote gender equality and represent the voices of girls and young women at local, national and international levels.
Selected participants will become part of a global network of young women working to influence change. Through the programme, Champions will have opportunities to participate in advocacy activities, support their WAGGGS Member Organisations, develop and lead projects in their communities, and engage in international spaces.
The 2026–2027 cohort will also include young women participating in the Girl-led Action on Climate Change programme, creating an additional connection between youth leadership, advocacy and climate action.
Application deadline: 30 September 2026.
About the Global Advocacy Champions Programme
The Global Advocacy Champions programme is an initiative of WAGGGS that was launched in 2018.
The programme is designed around the idea that young women and girls should have meaningful opportunities to participate in conversations and decisions affecting their lives and communities.
Rather than focusing only on learning advocacy concepts in a classroom environment, the Global Advocacy Champions programme combines skills development, practical advocacy, networking and opportunities to engage in international spaces.
According to WAGGGS, the programme enables participants to:
- Strengthen their advocacy skills.
- Champion gender equality.
- Represent the voices of girls and young women.
- Participate in advocacy at local, national and international levels.
- Engage in global advocacy opportunities.
- Support their WAGGGS Member Organisations.
- Lead projects in their communities.
- Build relationships with other young women working for change.
- Develop communication and public-speaking capabilities.
- Engage with WAGGGS priority issues.
This combination of leadership development and practical advocacy makes the programme particularly relevant to young women who want to move beyond simply participating in youth initiatives and develop the capacity to influence policies, institutions and communities.
What Is WAGGGS?
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is a global organisation representing Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.
Its work focuses on supporting girls and young women to develop the skills, confidence and opportunities necessary to become active citizens and leaders.
The Global Advocacy Champions programme forms part of this wider approach by creating opportunities for young women within the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement to develop advocacy skills and engage with issues that affect girls, young women and their communities.
For applicants, this means the Global Advocacy Champions programme is not simply a general youth leadership programme. It is connected specifically to the international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement and provides participants with opportunities to contribute to advocacy through that network.
What Is the Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 Programme?
The Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 network brings together young women who are interested in advocacy, leadership and gender equality.
Selected Champions will form part of a global network and will be expected to use the knowledge, skills and opportunities gained through the programme to contribute to advocacy in their own contexts.
The programme is designed to create a link between three levels of engagement:
- Community-level action
- National-level advocacy
- International advocacy
This structure gives participants opportunities to connect their experiences in their communities with wider conversations taking place nationally and internationally.
Who Are Global Advocacy Champions?
Global Advocacy Champions are young Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who are selected to participate in WAGGGS’ global advocacy network.
They are expected to contribute to advocacy efforts while also developing their own leadership and communication skills.
The programme is intended for young women who want to:
- Speak up on issues affecting girls and young women.
- Promote gender equality.
- Develop stronger advocacy strategies.
- Communicate effectively with different audiences.
- Participate in policy and international discussions.
- Support advocacy work within their Member Organisations.
- Develop initiatives within their communities.
- Connect with other young women around the world.
The programme therefore places participants in both a learning and action-oriented environment.
Main Focus of the Global Advocacy Champions Programme
Advocacy Skills
A central purpose of the programme is to strengthen participants’ ability to advocate effectively.
Advocacy involves more than raising awareness. It can include communicating evidence, engaging decision-makers, building public support, developing messages, forming partnerships and encouraging changes in policies or practices.
Through the Global Advocacy Champions programme, participants will receive opportunities to develop their understanding and practical ability in advocacy.
Gender Equality
Gender equality is another major focus.
Participants will be equipped to champion issues affecting girls and young women and to contribute to efforts aimed at creating more equitable opportunities and outcomes.
This can involve representing girls’ voices, engaging communities, supporting campaigns and participating in discussions around policies and programmes affecting young women.
Communication
Effective advocacy depends heavily on communication.
The programme includes development opportunities in communications, helping participants improve their ability to communicate ideas, advocacy messages and priorities to different audiences.
This can be particularly useful for young women who are involved in campaigns, youth organisations, community initiatives or public-facing leadership roles.
Public Speaking
Public speaking is specifically identified by WAGGGS as one of the areas covered through training and development opportunities.
Participants may therefore have opportunities to strengthen their confidence and effectiveness when speaking before groups, organisations, policymakers and other stakeholders.
WAGGGS Priority Issues
The Global Advocacy Champions will also receive development opportunities related to WAGGGS’ priority issues.
This allows participants to connect their advocacy work with broader areas of concern within the global Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement.
Benefits of Becoming a Global Advocacy Champion
The programme offers several forms of professional, leadership and advocacy development.
1. Advocacy Training
Selected Champions will receive training designed to strengthen their advocacy knowledge and skills.
This can help participants better understand how to identify issues, develop advocacy objectives, communicate effectively and engage relevant stakeholders.
2. Communications Development
Participants will have opportunities to improve their communication abilities.
Effective communication is essential for advocacy because Champions may need to communicate with communities, organisations, decision-makers, media audiences and international stakeholders.
3. Public Speaking Development
The programme includes public-speaking development.
This can help participants become more confident when presenting ideas, representing organisations and speaking about issues affecting girls and young women.
4. International Advocacy Opportunities
One of the notable features of the programme is the opportunity to engage in international advocacy spaces.
WAGGGS specifically highlights opportunities for Champions to engage in global spaces such as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
This can provide exposure to international discussions surrounding gender equality and related issues.
5. Global Networking
Selected Champions will join a global network of young women working to influence change.
Being part of such a network can allow participants to:
- Exchange experiences.
- Learn from advocates in different countries.
- Build professional and advocacy relationships.
- Identify opportunities for collaboration.
- Share approaches to addressing common challenges.
- Develop international solidarity around issues affecting girls and young women.
6. Supporting Member Organisations
Champions will have opportunities to support their WAGGGS Member Organisations.
This creates a connection between individual leadership development and the wider work of the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement.
Participants can potentially apply their advocacy knowledge within their national or local organisational contexts.
7. Leading Community Projects
The programme also provides opportunities for Champions to lead projects in their own communities.
This is an important practical element because it allows participants to translate learning and advocacy skills into action.
Community projects can provide opportunities to identify local challenges, engage stakeholders and develop responses based on the needs of girls and young women.
8. Leadership Development
Through training, networking, advocacy and practical project work, participants can strengthen their leadership capabilities.
The programme is particularly relevant to young women interested in developing themselves as advocates and community leaders.
Participation in the UN Commission on the Status of Women
WAGGGS specifically identifies the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) as an example of a global space where Champions may have opportunities to engage.
The Commission on the Status of Women is an important international forum focused on gender equality and the advancement of women and girls.
For a young advocate, exposure to such a space can provide insight into how international policy discussions take place and how civil society and youth voices can contribute to those conversations.
Participation in an international advocacy space can also help Champions understand how local concerns can be connected to national and global policy discussions.
Applicants should, however, distinguish between an opportunity to engage in such spaces and a guarantee of attendance at every international event. The WAGGGS announcement describes these as opportunities available to Champions rather than guaranteeing participation for every individual.
Global Advocacy Champions and Climate Action
The 2026–2027 cohort will also include young women participating in the Girl-led Action on Climate Change programme.
This creates an additional dimension to the cohort by connecting youth-led climate action with the wider Global Advocacy Champions network.
Climate change increasingly affects communities, livelihoods, education, health and the wellbeing of children and young people.
Including young women involved in girl-led climate action can therefore help strengthen connections between advocacy, gender equality and environmental issues.
For applicants interested in climate advocacy, this aspect of the 2026–2027 cohort may provide an opportunity to connect their interests with wider youth leadership and advocacy work.
Who Can Apply for the Global Advocacy Champions Programme?
The WAGGGS announcement states that the programme is for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts aged 18–30.
The opportunity is therefore targeted at young women within the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement who are interested in developing their advocacy and leadership abilities.
The key eligibility information explicitly provided in the announcement is:
- You must be a Girl Guide or Girl Scout.
- You must be between 18 and 30 years old.
- You should be interested in advocacy and influencing change.
- You should be willing to represent the voices of girls and young women.
- You should be interested in gender equality and relevant WAGGGS priority issues.
- You should be prepared to engage in a global network of young women.
- You should be willing to support advocacy work and potentially lead projects in your community.
The full Terms of Reference should be reviewed for additional eligibility requirements, responsibilities, time commitments and the Member Organisation endorsement process.
Geographic Eligibility
The programme is presented by WAGGGS as a global network.
The announcement does not identify a specific continent or list of countries from which applicants can apply. Instead, it refers broadly to Girl Guides and Girl Scouts participating in the WAGGGS movement.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that the programme is restricted to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Pacific or another particular region based solely on the announcement.
The precise country and organisational eligibility requirements should be confirmed through the Official Terms of Reference and the relevant WAGGGS Member Organisation endorsement process.
Member Organisation Endorsement
An important element of the application process is the Member Organisation endorsement process.
WAGGGS specifically directs applicants to read the Terms of Reference for information about this process.
This is important because applicants should not treat the programme as a completely independent individual application where organisational endorsement is irrelevant.
Prospective applicants should therefore review the requirements early and determine:
- Whether they are connected to an eligible WAGGGS Member Organisation.
- What endorsement is required.
- Who within their organisation is authorised to provide or confirm the endorsement.
- Whether there are internal deadlines before the global application deadline.
- What supporting information their Member Organisation may require.
Starting this process early can help applicants avoid delays close to the application deadline.
What Kind of Candidate Is This Programme Looking For?
Although the announcement does not provide a detailed candidate profile beyond the stated eligibility, the programme’s structure provides a clear indication of the type of interests that are relevant.
Applicants may find the programme particularly relevant if they have experience or interests in areas such as:
- Youth advocacy
- Gender equality
- Girl-led initiatives
- Community development
- Human rights
- Public speaking
- Communications
- Campaigning
- Policy engagement
- Climate action
- Youth participation
- Leadership development
- Community projects
- International advocacy
Applicants should focus on demonstrating authentic engagement rather than simply listing advocacy-related terms.
For example, an applicant involved in a community project can explain the issue addressed, the role they played, the people involved and what they learned.
Similarly, someone involved in a gender-equality campaign can explain their advocacy activities and how they contributed to raising awareness, engaging stakeholders or supporting change.
What Will Global Advocacy Champions Do?
Selected Champions will have a range of opportunities and responsibilities associated with advocacy and leadership.
These include:
Representing Girls and Young Women
Champions will contribute to representing the perspectives and voices of girls and young women at different levels.
This requires participants to listen to the concerns of their communities and communicate those concerns effectively in wider advocacy spaces.
Engaging in Advocacy
Champions will participate in advocacy opportunities and use their developing skills to influence discussions around relevant issues.
Supporting Member Organisations
Champions will have opportunities to contribute to the advocacy work of their WAGGGS Member Organisations.
Leading Community Projects
Champions will be able to lead projects within their communities, providing an opportunity to turn learning into practical action.
Participating in a Global Network
Champions will join other young women working to influence change around the world.
The network element is important because advocacy often becomes more effective when individuals and organisations are able to share knowledge, coordinate activities and learn from different contexts.
Application Deadline
Applications for the Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 programme close on 30 September 2026.
Applicants should therefore begin the application and Member Organisation endorsement process as early as possible.
The WAGGGS announcement specifically directs applicants to the full Terms of Reference for information on eligibility, responsibilities, time commitment and the application and Member Organisation endorsement process.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should first read the official Terms of Reference carefully.
The English Terms of Reference is available here:
Read the English Terms of Reference
WAGGGS also provides the Terms of Reference in:
Applicants can then access the official application form:
Download the Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 Application Form
The application should be prepared according to the requirements in the Terms of Reference and any relevant instructions from the applicant’s WAGGGS Member Organisation.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
1. Understand the Programme Before Applying
Read the Terms of Reference carefully before completing the application.
Pay particular attention to:
- Eligibility
- Responsibilities
- Time commitment
- Selection requirements
- Member Organisation endorsement
- Application instructions
Understanding these requirements can help ensure that the application addresses the actual purpose of the programme.
2. Demonstrate Your Advocacy Experience
Applicants should provide specific examples of advocacy-related activities where possible.
This could include:
- Campaigns
- Community projects
- Awareness activities
- Youth-led initiatives
- Gender-equality work
- Climate advocacy
- Public speaking
- Policy engagement
- Community mobilisation
The important point is to explain the applicant’s actual role and contribution.
3. Explain Why You Want to Become a Champion
A strong application should clearly communicate the applicant’s motivation.
Instead of simply saying that the programme would be a “great opportunity,” applicants can explain:
- What advocacy issue matters to them.
- Why it matters to their community.
- What they have already done.
- What they hope to accomplish.
- How the Global Advocacy Champions network could help them develop further.
4. Demonstrate Community Engagement
Because Champions will have opportunities to lead projects in their communities, applicants should highlight relevant community involvement.
This could include Girl Guiding or Girl Scouting activities, volunteering, youth initiatives, campaigns or other community-based work.
5. Think Globally and Locally
The programme connects local, national and international advocacy.
Applicants should therefore demonstrate that they can understand community-level issues while also recognising how those issues connect to broader conversations around gender equality, youth participation and global development.
6. Start the Endorsement Process Early
Because the programme includes a Member Organisation endorsement process, applicants should not leave this step until the final days before the deadline.
Contacting the relevant organisation early gives enough time to clarify requirements and resolve any administrative questions.
Languages and Application Materials
WAGGGS has made the Terms of Reference available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
Applicants should use the version appropriate to their circumstances and carefully follow the application instructions provided by WAGGGS.
The announcement specifically identifies the official application form and directs candidates to the Terms of Reference for complete information about the application process.
Key Dates and Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 |
| Organisation | World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) |
| Launched | 2018 |
| Target participants | Girl Guides and Girl Scouts |
| Age | 18–30 |
| Main focus | Advocacy, gender equality and youth leadership |
| Network | Global |
| Development areas | Advocacy, communications, public speaking and WAGGGS priority issues |
| International opportunities | Includes opportunities to engage in spaces such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women |
| Community engagement | Champions can lead projects in their communities |
| 2026–2027 cohort | Includes young women participating in Girl-led Action on Climate Change |
| Application deadline | 30 September 2026 |
| Application | Official WAGGGS application form |
| Endorsement | Member Organisation endorsement process applies; consult the Terms of Reference |
Why Young Women Interested in Advocacy Should Consider Applying
The Global Advocacy Champions programme brings together several elements of youth leadership development.
Participants can strengthen practical advocacy skills while simultaneously gaining opportunities to communicate their ideas, participate in international spaces and connect with other young women around the world.
The programme also creates a pathway between community-level action and international advocacy.
A young woman may begin with an issue affecting girls in her local community, develop an advocacy initiative, connect with her Member Organisation and then use the Global Advocacy Champions network to learn from other advocates working on similar issues in different countries.
This can create opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration while strengthening the ability of young women to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their communities.
Important Things Applicants Should Remember
Before applying, prospective candidates should keep the following points in mind:
- Check the age requirement: The announcement states that applicants should be aged 18–30.
- Confirm Girl Guide or Girl Scout affiliation: The programme is specifically designed for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
- Read the Terms of Reference: Additional eligibility and participation requirements are contained there.
- Check the endorsement process: Member Organisation endorsement is an important part of the application process.
- Prepare examples of advocacy: Concrete experiences can help demonstrate your interest and engagement.
- Consider the time commitment: Applicants should make sure they can meet the programme’s expected commitments.
- Apply before 30 September 2026: Do not rely on the final hours of the deadline.
- Use the official application form: WAGGGS provides a specific application document for the 2026–2027 cohort.
Click HERE to learn more about the Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027.
Conclusion
The WAGGGS Global Advocacy Champions 2026–2027 programme is an international leadership and advocacy development opportunity for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts aged 18–30 who want to strengthen their ability to advocate for change and represent the voices of girls and young women.
Since its launch in 2018, the programme has provided a platform for young women to develop advocacy skills, engage in international opportunities, support WAGGGS Member Organisations and lead initiatives in their communities.
For the 2026–2027 cohort, selected Champions will receive development opportunities covering advocacy, communications, public speaking and WAGGGS priority issues. They will also become part of a global network of young women working to influence change. WAGGGS highlights potential engagement in international spaces such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women, while the new cohort will also include young women involved in the Girl-led Action on Climate Change programme.
The opportunity is particularly relevant for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who are already interested in youth leadership, gender equality, community development, advocacy, communications, climate action and representing the perspectives of girls and young women.
The application deadline is 30 September 2026.
Prospective applicants should read the full Terms of Reference carefully, confirm their eligibility, understand the Member Organisation endorsement process and prepare their application well before the deadline.
Official WAGGGS Global Advocacy Champions Announcement
Discover more global Fellowship, Women and Leadership Development opportunities on OFY.
Share this:
Discover more from Opportunities for Youth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
