Quick Overview
Ghiyada Africa, which is based in Togo, is teaming up with SESG Future Ready Hub in Ghana to launch a new project call under the Africa-Europe Youth Academy, a program funded by the European Union and run by Expertise France and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The call is all about creating "Spaces for Youth" - these are physical or hybrid places where young people can go to develop their leadership skills, get support, and start their own projects.
With a total budget of €360,000, split into two rounds of funding, this is a really big opportunity for youth organizations in West Africa. It's a chance for them to get the resources they need to make a real difference. The "Spaces for Youth" idea is all about giving young people a place to call their own, where they can build their skills, get help when they need it, and turn their ideas into reality. This is exactly what many young people in West Africa are looking for - a chance to take control of their own lives and create positive change in their communities.
This call is worth paying close attention to for more than just the money. It's a real chance for growth. Organizations that do well in the first round might get picked for a second round with four times the funding and more technical help. So, it's not just a one-time grant, it's the start of a longer partnership with big European development players. This means it could lead to more opportunities and support down the line, making it a pretty exciting prospect.
Key Details
If you're interested in applying, make sure to get your application in by August 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM GMT - that's the deadline. To help you understand the program better, there's an information session on July 25, 2026, which is definitely worth checking out, especially since the eligibility and documentation requirements are quite detailed. The countries that are eligible for this program are Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo.
You can submit your application in either English or French, which gives you some flexibility. Just remember, everything needs to be done through the official online platform, which is inscaeya.ghiyadaafrica.org. Don't even think about sending your application by email or fax, because it will just get rejected.
What Is a "Space for Youth"?
A Space for Youth is a special kind of project that puts young people first. To be considered one of these projects, at least 75% of the people who benefit from it must be between 18 and 30 years old.
Also, at least 75% of the people in charge of making decisions for the project must be in the same age range. It's even better if the project is owned by young people too. These spaces are like hubs where young people can come together, learn how to be leaders, get help when they need it, and work on things that are really important to them. They can be connected to a physical place like a coffee shop, library, or community center.
The best part is that there's no one specific theme that these spaces have to follow. They can focus on helping young people start their own businesses, get guidance from mentors, access technology, or get involved in their communities. What's most important is that these spaces are created by and for young people, and that they remain neutral and welcoming to everyone, no matter what their background or beliefs are.
The goal is to create a place where young people feel supported and empowered to make a difference in their own lives and in the world around them. By being apolitical, non-partisan, and non-discriminatory, these spaces can bring people together and help them build a brighter future. Whether it's through entrepreneurship, technology, or community engagement, A Space for Youth is all about giving young people the tools and resources they need to succeed and make their mark on the world.
Funding Mechanism: Two Rounds
The first round of selection will choose twenty projects that support youth, with each eligible country getting around two to three projects. Each of these projects will get a grant of €10,000 to help them run for six to twelve months. But that's not all - the selected projects will also get coaching to help them organize better, courtesy of Ghiyada Africa. On top of that, they'll have access to a special training program run by Campus AFD, which is designed to help them build their capacity. This training is a must-attend, and taking part in it will directly affect whether or not they can move on to the next round.
Only four organizations that did well in the first round will be chosen to move on. They will get an extra 40,000 euros, plus some special help to figure out how to improve their organization and make their plans work better.
They will also keep getting to meet and work with important people and groups from Europe and other regions. But, just because you did well in the first round, doesn't mean you automatically get to move on to the second round. You have to show that you're really making progress, have a good plan for how to grow and expand, and have actually built a real connection with at least one important group in Europe that can help you achieve your goals.
Eligibility Requirements
Groups that can apply for this include non-profit organizations, charities, and community groups. These can also be cooperatives, youth groups, and networks of people working together. Even small and medium-sized businesses can apply, but only if they are working for the good of the community, not to make a profit from the funding, and are not part of a bigger company.
To be considered, your organization has to fulfill certain requirements, regardless of its type.
First, you need to be officially registered, and this registration should have been done at least a year before the deadline for submitting your application. In some cases, if you can show that you applied for registration a year before, that might be accepted, but this is decided on a case-by-case basis. Your organization also has to be located in one of the seven countries that are eligible for this. Additionally, it's crucial that your organization stays neutral and doesn't discriminate against anyone.
You also need to show that you have a basic system in place for handling finances, so you can manage any grant you might receive responsibly. This is important because the grant is meant to support your work, and you need to be able to use it effectively.
The Space for Youth project has some specific rules: most of the people in charge and most of the people it helps must be between 18 and 30 years old, and it can't be done to make a profit. The people behind this project, AEYA, also want to make sure that at least half of the people it directly helps are young women, and that at least a quarter of them are going through tough times - this includes young people with disabilities, those having a hard time at home, struggling with money or not having access to the internet, and those affected by war, conflict, or living in remote areas.
Required Documents
- The application package includes several components, most of which will be filled out directly within the online system rather than prepared from scratch:
- We've finished filling out the proposal form, budget template, and logical framework - all of which were provided as standard templates in the online system.
- Proof of legal registration or incorporation
- A copy of the organization's rules or main document that guides how it is run, if one exists.
- You need to show that your organization has a working bank account in its name.
- A list of governing body members, disaggregated by age and sex, to demonstrate compliance with the youth-led criterion
- Latest financial statement, or management accounts and bank statements for smaller organisations
- Safeguarding and protection policies, or a declaration of commitment to adopt them
- A VAT non-recovery declaration
- A signed Declaration of Honour is required to confirm that you meet all the eligibility requirements.
Application Process
If you're interested in learning more, you can attend an information session on July 25, 2026. Alternatively, you can also get in touch with them directly by sending an email to contact@ghiyadaafrica.org for more details.
Review the full call for projects document and gather the required supporting documents
To apply, please use the official website at inscaeya.ghiyadaafrica.org, it's the only place where you can submit your application.
You need to get your application in by August 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM GMT. If you send it by email or fax, or if it's late, it will be rejected right away.
The administrative and eligibility checks will take place from August 6 to August 18. After that, the technical evaluation will start and will go on until the end of August. For the applicants who make it to the shortlist, there will be a due diligence process that will run into mid-September. Finally, the 20 winners are expected to be announced in late September 2026, and their projects will begin around October.
Major Considerations
Here's the rewritten text in a style similar to the human samples: When it comes to safeguarding and inclusion, we don't just view them as something that's nice to have - they're absolutely essential. In fact, they're a requirement right from the start, at the application stage. To even be considered, applicants need to provide detailed documentation of their safeguarding policies, codes of conduct, and procedures for reporting any concerns that may arise. And let's be clear: if these elements aren't adequately addressed, the application will be disqualified before it's even evaluated on its own merits.
So, if your organization hasn't already developed formal safeguarding policies, it's a good idea to start working on that well in advance of submitting your application. This is not something that can be left until the last minute - it's a critical part of the process, and it's essential to get it right. By prioritizing safeguarding and inclusion, we can help ensure that everyone involved is protected and supported, and that's something that's vital to the success of any project.
So, it's pretty important to know what this funding call is not going to cover. For starters, if your project is just about attending workshops or conferences, you're out of luck. They're also not going to give money to individual scholarships or anything that's trying to make a profit. And if you're already getting funding from someone else for the same thing, don't bother applying here. Basically, if your idea is just a bunch of one-time events without any real substance or ongoing services, this isn't the right funding call for you. They're looking for something more meaningful and sustainable.
When applying for something as competitive as this, where only a few spots are available per country, it's really important to make sure your proposal, budget, and logical framework all work together seamlessly. Think of them as different parts of the same story, rather than separate forms to fill out. The evaluation grid is quite detailed, with 100 points to consider, and it looks at everything from how well you can lead and work with young people, to how sustainable your ideas are. So, it's crucial that your application tells a clear and consistent story across all these different areas. This will show that you've thought everything through carefully and that your ideas are well-planned and connected.
Should You Apply?
This opportunity is perfect for organizations in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, or Togo that are truly led by young people and have a physical or community space where they can come together. These organizations should also have a good track record of keeping their members safe, being inclusive of vulnerable youth, and managing their finances well.
On the other hand, this opportunity might not be the best fit for brand new groups or those that are very informal and don't have at least a year of experience. It's also not ideal for people who just want to organize a single event or training series, because the goal is to support ongoing spaces where young people can gather and grow. If you're part of an organization that has a strong foundation and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for young people, this could be a great chance to take your work to the next level. But if you're just starting out or don't have a clear plan for how you'll use the space, it might be better to wait until you have a bit more experience under your belt.
: Call for Projects – Spaces for Youth in West Africa 2026: Full Guide, Eligibility & How to Apply){kind=link}
0 Comments