Locations
African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Programme
What does it mean to be a young, African, woman leader?
- She proudly represents her community, her country and her continent.
- She has resilience, grit and tenacity.
- She is driven by confidence, competence, passion and purpose.
- She is committed to change, even when this means enduring great challenges.
- She is the future!
About the AfYWL Fellowship Programme
Established in 2019, the African Young Women Leaders (AfYWL) Fellowship Programme seeks to cultivate a new generation of young African women leaders to serve Africa and the world through the design and implementation of development programmes in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The Fellowship Programme, a joint initiative between the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to advance gender equality by investing in global women leadership.
“The AfYWL Fellows will become voices for Africa’s youth, with one mission: to enhance their know-how over the next 12 months, enjoy the experience, while creating the new ideas that will transform Africa across the public and private sectors. These young women are shaping the futures of their communities and countries.”- Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa.
Three pillars
Equipping outstanding young African women leaders with the leadership skills and experience required to advance the SDGs and contribute effectively to decision making in public, private and multilateral institutions at home and abroad.
Creating a diverse pool of talent to enhance UNDP’s organizational efficiency and contribute to more responsive and effective policies and programmes.
Developing a network of African young women professionals that engages in promoting innovative, sustainable and inclusive development through South-South development exchange.
Videos
Explore video highlights, interviews and leadership insights from the fellows:
The journey
The AfYWL Fellowship Programme deploys fellows to UNDP country, regional, and headquarters offices to undertake one-year assignments, providing hands-on experience across diverse development contexts.
The first cohort (2019–2021) consisted of 21 fellows selected from 20 African countries and deployed to 20 UNDP offices globally. Read their stories.
The second cohort (2022–2023) brought together 38 fellows from 22 African countries, deployed across 26 UNDP offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Their journeys are documented in the storybook ‘Ubuntu: Through the Eyes of African Young Women Leaders’.
The third cohort (2024–2025) included 36 fellows representing 24 African countries, deployed to 25 UNDP country, regional, and global offices. Their experiences are captured in the storybook ‘Amani: Through the Eyes of African Young Women Leaders.’
The Programme is currently in its fourth phase (2025–2026). The 45 fellows selected for this cohort represent 31 African countries and are deployed across 24 UNDP country, regional, and global offices, continuing to expand the programme’s reach and impact across the continent and beyond.
“This fellowship is about nurturing young African women to lead—and not just to lead, but to lead as women: with integrity, compassion, and heart. For too long, women have been the missing link in the way our world is led. Every woman who has the opportunity to step into leadership must help grow that possibility for others, ensuring that more women can take their place in shaping how we govern our societies. When women lead, they are not only thinking about winning; they are thinking about people—about communities, about the future, and about building a more humane and compassionate world.”H.E. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson, AUC
Milestones
