Applications Open for the Youth Challenge Fund (4th Edition)

Application Deadline: September 8, 2025

The Youth Challenge Fund (4th Edition) is officially open for applications, creating an opportunity for young feminist and girl-led groups across West and Central Africa to turn their ideas into powerful projects that drive change.

Organized by Plan International, this initiative provides both financial support and organizational capacity building to young activists working to advance gender equality, education, health, civic participation, and community development. With funding opportunities ranging from €5,000 to €7,000, the program is designed to empower grassroots groups to design, lead, and implement initiatives that reflect the realities of their communities.

Why the Youth Challenge Fund Matters

The Youth Challenge Fund is not just about grants—it is about building sustainable movements led by young people. By placing resources directly in the hands of girl-led and youth-led organizations, the fund promotes ownership, creativity, and accountability. It is intentionally flexible, giving young leaders the space to innovate while staying grounded in the priorities of their peers.

Through this initiative, young activists are encouraged to develop projects in areas such as:

• Education and addressing barriers that keep girls out of school
• Health and wellbeing, including sexual and reproductive health rights
• Civic participation and youth engagement in decision-making
• Environmental action and climate resilience
• Community empowerment and gender justice

This approach ensures that youth voices remain at the center of transformative change in the region.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility is open to youth-led groups between the ages of 15 and 30, with a strong focus on young feminists aged 15 to 24. Groups must also meet the following requirements:

• Led primarily by girls, young women, trans, non-binary, intersex, or gender non-conforming youth.
• Operate with an annual budget under €50,000.
• Be independent from government, political, religious, or corporate bodies.
• Focus on at least one of the fund’s priority thematic areas.

Applicants will need to undergo a simple verification process, including references, group registration (if available), and identity confirmation from at least two representatives.

Grant Allocation Across Countries

Funding is available across several countries in West and Central Africa, with specific allocations for each country:

• Nigeria: 8 grants available
• Ghana and Cameroon: 5 grants each
• Liberia: 4 grants available
• Togo, Niger, Sierra Leone, and others: smaller allocations
• Chad and Senegal: only education-focused projects are eligible

This distribution ensures that a wide range of countries benefit from youth-led and girl-led activism.

Dedicated Support for Education Projects

Youth Challenge Fund Round 4 also provides special funding for education-focused projects. These grants support initiatives tackling critical issues such as:

• School-related gender-based violence
• Low representation of girls in STEM
• Gender stereotypes in education
• Barriers faced by young mothers and married girls
• Limited leadership opportunities for girls in schools

Successful education projects can receive up to €5,000 for new initiatives or €7,000 for re-grants. One education-focused grant will be available per country office. Projects funded in this stream are expected to demonstrate a gender-transformative approach and provide additional reporting on youth-led and digital innovation.

Application Process

Applications are open to groups across the eligible countries and can be submitted in English or French through the Equality Accelerator platform. Each group must include at least three members, whether operating as a collective, network, or registered organization.

This process emphasizes inclusivity—what matters most is that the group is youth-led, feminist-driven, and committed to advancing equality.

By applying to the Youth Challenge Fund, organizations not only gain access to crucial financial support but also become part of a wider regional movement working toward gender justice and youth empowerment.

Important Dates

• Application Open Date: August 29, 2025
• Deadline: September 8, 2025

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Applicants are encouraged to prepare early to ensure their proposals reflect the unique needs and solutions of their communities.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE