Young Africans have been invited to apply for the 2026 edition of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps, a fully funded continental initiative designed to empower emerging professionals through service and leadership.
The programme, established by the African Union in 2010, recruits, trains and deploys young professionals from its 55 member states for a 12-month volunteer assignment across the continent.
Programme Overview
The AU-YVC aims to promote volunteerism and position young people as key drivers of Africa’s development agenda, in line with Agenda 2063. Participants are deployed to different countries where they contribute to policy implementation, development programmes and institutional capacity building.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Be citizens of an African Union member state, either residing on the continent or in the diaspora
Be aged between 18 and 35 years
Possess at least a post-secondary qualification (TVET, Bachelor’s degree or higher)
Be available to commit to 12 months of volunteer service in 2026/2027
Be willing to live and work in another African country
Be proficient in at least one AU official language, including English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish or Kiswahili
Have a minimum of one year’s volunteering experience and one year of professional work experience
Application Process
Interested candidates are required to apply through the AU careers portal by creating an account and submitting the following documents:
Updated CV (maximum three pages)
Passport or national ID
Highest academic qualification
Letter of recommendation (not older than two years)
Cover letter addressing motivation, suitability and skills
Benefits
Successful applicants will receive full support from the African Union Commission, including:
Pre-deployment training
Return flight to the country of assignment
Monthly stipend
Health insurance
AU service passport
End-of-service allowance
Access to mentorship and continental networking opportunities
Deadline
Applications must be submitted on or before April 10, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EAT). Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
The AU-YVC programme offers a unique platform for young Africans to gain international experience, contribute to development initiatives and build leadership capacity across the continent.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.