Apply now: AU-EU Cooperation Grants for Youth-Led Projects
We’re excited to announce the launch of the Call for Proposals of the AU-EU Youth Action Lab! If you’re part of a youth-led organisation in the European Union (EU) or one of the 12 African Union (AU) countries listed below, this is your chance to secure funding for innovative projects tackling global challenges.
Applications are now closed!
A second round is coming in about a year. We’ll share the exact dates later, so keep an eye on our website for the latest updates!
What is the Youth Action Lab?
The Youth Action Lab programme offers four distinct types of grants for AU-based organisations: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Representation and Cooperation. These grants aim to support youth-led organisations for a period of 12 or 18 months, depending on the grant type. The Cooperation grants are open for EU-based organisations too!
Interested in the Cooperation Grants? Keep on reading! Curious about the other grants? Explore them on the Youth Action Lab webpage.
What are Cooperation Grants?
The Cooperation Grants financially support youth organisations to engage in policy-making and cross-continental collaboration between Africa and Europe. Grants of 50.000 EURO are available for consortiums of youth-led organisations. Each consortium should be made up of at least one African organisation and one European organisation. If your project is approved, the grant period will last from May 2025 to April 2026.
The Cooperation Grants aim to:
Enable young people, particularly marginalised youth, to become effective advocates for their rights and their priorities, by giving them the financial resources required to dedicate efforts to policy-work on local, national and international stages.
Provide training and resources to help youth understand how to engage with government institutions and influence policy as active citizens.
Facilitate connections between youth organisations across Africa and Europe to promote intercultural dialogue and collaborative initiatives.
Youth-led organisations from the AU and EU must apply together, with at least two organisations as part of the consortium. Applications must be submitted jointly; independent submissions from a single organisation will not be accepted.
Am I eligible?
To apply for a Cooperation Grant, your organisation must meet the following requirements:
Be a formal youth-led organisation: legally registered, with a bank account and governance structure, young people (aged 18-35) are the decision makers;
Be located in one of the European Union member states or be located in one of the following 12 African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (Somaliland region), Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
At least one of the cooperating organisations must have prior experience working on a project with at least one other partner.
How can I apply?
Read the funding manual carefully;
Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria;
Prepare your project with at least one partner organisation from the other continent;
Submit your joint application on the Youth Action Lab webpage.
Need help finding a partner organisation?
You’re interested in applying for the Cooperation Grants but you don’t know any organisations on the other continent? No worries! Fill in this form and you’ll see a confirmation message with a link and access to a database of potential partner organisations interested in this programme.
Need help with your application? Join our webinars!
We’re hosting a series of webinars in January and February to guide you through the application process and help you build your proposal.
1. AU-EU Youth Action Lab: what are Cooperation Grants? (past activity)
Access the presentation and all answers to the questions asked during then webinars below.
2. AU-EU Youth Action Lab: Tips & next steps to apply for a Cooperation Grant. (past activity)
Get guidance on how to write a project proposal and learn the next steps before submitting your application by checking out the presentation below:
Any questions?
Visit the Cooperation Grants webpage for more information!
Related articles & publications
Applications for the European Youth Capital 2029 are now open
Does your city have what it takes to become the next European Youth Capital? Each year, a European city is given the opportunity to showcase innovative ideas and projects done by, and for young people, improving youth participation across the continent. Apply now to become the next European Youth Capital.
COP30 Recap: youth perspective on progress and failures
We left COP30 disappointed after insufficient action on fossil fuels and sidelining of Indigenous voices. We found glimmers of hope we must build on, but that light at the end of the tunnel is very, very far away...
European Youth Capital 2028: We have a winner!
It’s one of Europe’s youngest capitals - only gaining capital status in 2006. It’s in a country negotiating EU accession, a Western Balkan frontrunner, and a city recognised by a strikingly modern Millennium Bridge. Montenegro’s vibrant capital Podgorica has officially been awarded the title of European Youth Capital 2028.