The UNDP African Academy for Women in Political Leadership 2026 for emerging women political leaders (Fully Funded to Kigali, Rwanda) – Opportunities For Africans

The UNDP African Academy for Women in Political Leadership 2026 for emerging women political leaders (Fully Funded to Kigali, Rwanda)

The UNDP African Academy for Women in Political Leadership 2026 for emerging women political leaders (Fully Funded to Kigali, Rwanda)

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Application Deadline: 15 May 2026

Applications are now open for the **2026 African Academy for Women in Political Leadership.**The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the African School of Governance (ASG), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), today opened applications for the inaugural cohort of the African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, a continental programme designed to build the next generation of women who govern Africa.

Healthcare ventures strengthening Africa’s health systems across any healthcare subsectors increasing resilience including:

1. Diagnostics & Medical Devices
2. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Products
3. Digital Health & Health Technology
4. Maternal, Newborn & Child Health
5. Disease Prevention & Management
6. Health Workforce & Training
7. Health Supply Chain & Logistics

Eligibility Criteria

Healthcare venture eligibility criteria:

You can be described as a Home Grown Solution, meaning you must …

• Operate mainly or solely in Africa (preference for companies operating across countries)
• Employ mostly local staff in the markets in which you are active
• Have strong African representation in your leadership

You are a growth or mature stage venture, meaning you must …

• Be registered as a for-profit entity
• Express ambition and potential to scale beyond your current size
• Demonstrate clear market traction and sizable customer base
• Growth stage: You have identified a strong product-market fit in your core offering / have proven the core concept of your venture, and are in the process of scaling and growing your venture
• Mature stage: You have successfully proven that your core offering is viable at scale, ideally across multiple markets

Thirty women will be selected for a fully funded, four-week blended programme combining virtual learning with a residential convening in Kigali. Nominations are now open to government institutions, political parties, AU member state bodies, and civil society organisations across all five African regions.

The Academy is anchored in African leadership and ownership, and is positioned as a continental public good. It builds on the curriculum framework developed and validated through an inclusive co-design process held in Kigali in October 2025.

The four-week blended programme combines high-impact virtual learning, an immersive residential convening, mentorship from senior African leaders, and applied leadership practice. The curriculum covers:

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• Political leadership and governance
• Strategic communications
• Coalition-building and legislative processes
• Campaign and political financing
• Ethical leadership and inclusive governance

Benefits

• All programme costs, including tuition, travel, and accommodation for the residential convening, are fully covered for selected participants.

Applications are open to women who are currently holding, or credibly pursuing, elected or appointed political office anywhere in Africa. Eligible profiles include:

• **Electoral Cycle Leaders:**Women from countries scheduled for presidential or parliamentary elections within the next 12–36 months, including declared candidates, parliamentary candidates, senior campaign strategists, and MPs seeking re-election or higher office.
• **Sitting Political Leaders:**Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament or Senate, Speakers and Deputy Speakers, Mayors and Governors, and senior political party leaders such as Secretaries General and Women’s League Leaders.
• **Young Women Leaders:**Women aged 21–35 with strong political leadership potential, including aspiring candidates at the local and national level and emerging leaders within political parties or public institutions.

The Academy strongly encourages nominations of women with disabilities and women from fragile or transitional political contexts.

Baseline Eligibility

• Female citizen of an African Union Member State
• Aged 21 or older at the time of nomination
• Demonstrated active engagement in political leadership or political ambition
• Formal endorsement from a government institution, recognised political party, or relevant political authority

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• Commitment to full participation in the programme and to post-Academy alumni engagement and peer mentoring

Selection: Merit-Based and Continentally Balanced

The 30 participants will be selected through a competitive, merit-based review by a joint panel comprising UNDP, the AUC, AWLN, and ASG. Selection is designed to ensure fairness, regional balance, political inclusivity, and strategic impact across the continent.

The inaugural cohort will reflect:

• Representation from all five African regions, with a maximum of two participants per country
• At least 60% of participants from countries facing elections within 12–36 months
• At least 40% young women leaders aged 21–35
• Linguistic diversity across Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone, and Arabophone Africa
• Balance between executive, legislative, and party leadership roles, and between ruling and opposition parties

How to Apply

Government ministries, political parties, AU member state institutions, and civil society organisations are invited to submit nominations. Self-nominations supported by an institutional endorsement are also welcome.

Each nomination package must include:

• An official nomination or endorsement letter, signed by an authorised senior official, political party leader, or recognised stakeholder
• The nominee’s curriculum vitae (maximum two pages)
• A personal statement from the nominee (maximum 1,000 words)

For More Information:

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