UNITAR Programme 2026: Empowering Youth and Women amid Economic Instability (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the UNITAR Programme: Empowering Youth and Women amid Economic Instability – Enhancing Public-Private Partnership between Japan and Africa for Sub-Saharan African Countries, Addressing Urgent Challenges, and Promoting TICAD9. Organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) with the support of the Government of Japan, this fully funded seven-month capacity development programme is designed to strengthen leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation among young people and women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Programme Overview

• Organizer: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
• Partner: Government of Japan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Programme Type: Capacity Development & Leadership Programme
• Location: Hybrid (Online + Hiroshima)
• Duration: 7 Months
• Programme Dates: 17 August 2026 – 28 February 2027
• Funding: Fully Funded
• Application Deadline: 31 July 2026

Financial Benefits

Selected participants will receive:

• Full participation free of charge
• Online training by international experts
• Mentorship and coaching
• Project development support
• Networking opportunities with Japanese and African stakeholders
• Participation in international dialogue and engagement activities
• Opportunity to present projects to investors, development partners, and public and private sector representatives (for selected participants).

Programme Structure

The programme consists of four progressive phases that combine learning with practical project development:

• Foundations in entrepreneurship and innovation
• Leadership and stakeholder engagement
• Public-private partnership development
• Investment readiness and project refinement
• Mentorship and coaching
• Final dialogue and partnership platform with experts, investors, and policymakers

Learning Topics

Participants will explore:

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Leadership and Negotiation
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
• Digital Transformation
• Sustainable Industrialization
• Agribusiness Development
• Climate-Smart Innovation
• Financial Literacy
• Investment Readiness
• Project Design and Scaling
• Gender Equality
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be 18–35 years old.
• Be citizens of one of the eligible English-speaking Sub-Saharan African countries:
  • Botswana
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
• Demonstrate an interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, or sustainable development.
• Be committed to developing practical solutions for economic and social challenges in their communities.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to help participants:

• Strengthen leadership and collaboration skills.
• Build partnership-ready and investment-ready projects.
• Develop sustainable business and innovation models.
• Integrate gender equality and social impact into entrepreneurial initiatives.
• Connect with African and Japanese innovation ecosystems.
• Promote practical collaboration under the framework of TICAD9 (Tokyo International Conference on African Development).

Why Apply?

This UNITAR programme offers a unique opportunity for young entrepreneurs, innovators, and women leaders to gain world-class training, receive mentorship from international experts, and build long-term partnerships with stakeholders from Africa and Japan. Participants will develop practical, scalable projects while expanding their professional networks and contributing to sustainable economic development across the region.