We are inviting young leaders across the region to apply to join the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) for a new initiative supporting youth-led and women-led MSMEs to participate more effectively in cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

This project is held in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and regional partners and aims to expand dignified and fulfilling economic opportunities for young people, particularly young women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized youth living and working in border communities. 

The Youth Advisory Group will play a central role in guiding the project’s design, implementation, and impact, bringing together eight dynamic young leaders (18–35) from across 6 countries to provide strategic insights, advise on priorities, and ensure that youth voices shape every stage of the project.

Members will represent diverse backgrounds across enterprise development, cross-border trade, innovation, advocacy, digital inclusion, agribusiness, creative industries, and other AfCFTA-related sectors. YAG members will:

Strategic Input & Advisory

• Provide guidance on project strategies, activities, and expected outcomes.
• Highlight barriers and opportunities faced by youth-owned MSMEs in cross-border trade.
• Advise on policies and regulatory issues that affect young entrepreneurs and women traders.

Co-Creation & Implementation

• Co-design youth-focused tools, interventions, and awareness campaigns.
• Support mobilization of youth and women entrepreneurs in border regions.
• Contribute to piloting and scaling innovative business models and financing solutions.

Representation & Advocacy

• Champion youth-inclusive approaches at national, regional, and continental levels.
• Represent youth perspectives in project governance structures.
• Amplify youth voices in AfCFTA-related dialogues, forums, and policy conversations.

Knowledge Sharing & Accountability

• Document success stories and share lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes.
• Help ensure the project remains accountable to its youth inclusion commitments.

Eligibility Requirements

We welcome expressions of interest from young people who:

• Are aged 18–35.
• Are actively involved in enterprise, innovation, policy, advocacy, or community development.
• Have knowledge or experience related to AfCFTA, cross-border trade, MSME development, digital or financial inclusion, or women’s economic empowerment.
• Are based in or have strong experience working with border communities.
• Represent diverse and marginalized groups, including young women, youth with disabilities, refugees, and displaced youth.

We strongly encourage applications from existing youth-led business associations, networks, and sectoral groups.

Eligible candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) outlining their background, experience, and motivation for joining the Youth Advisory Group.

Application deadline: date

Submit your Expressions of Interest to registry.zm@undp.org

This initiative is delivered in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and regional partners including UNDP, ITC, COMFWB, and TBF.

DOWNLOAD THE TERMS OF REFERENCE BELOW.