Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship for African Youth Leaders 2026: The Z Zurich Foundation has started a life-changing scholarship program for young African leaders who are working to find answers at the local level that will help vulnerable youth make the transition from school to work. Twenty-five scholars will be able to go to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, this November for free. They will also be able to use an organized leadership program before and after the event.
This prize isn’t just any kind of leadership award. This 2026 scholarship is based on the Foundation’s four pillars: climate adaptation, mental health, social equity, and crisis response. The 2026 scholarship focuses on social equity by supporting early-stage, non-profit programs that help young people in low-income and underserved African communities bridge the gap between education and employment.
Why This Scholarship Matters
With over 60% of its people under 25, Africa has the youngest population in the world. Millions of young people don’t have access to finance or technology, school systems that aren’t unified, and job markets that aren’t big enough. Problems like climate change and war also make it hard for young people to find work. The Z Zurich Foundation thinks that these problems can best be solved by young leaders who are already active in their communities.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship is fully funded. Scholars are not expected to pay any participation costs. The package includes:
- Round-trip travel to Cape Town, South Africa for the One Young World Summit (3–6 November 2026)
- Accommodation and meals during the Summit
- Summit registration and access to plenary sessions, networking events, and workshops
- Participation in a Pre-Summit Engagement Program (September–October)
- Post-Summit debrief session with guided reflection activities
- Integration into a peer network of ZZF scholars and the wider One Young World community
Number of scholarships: 25 awards for 2026
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Benefits of Zurich Foundation Scholarship:
- Fully Funded Participation: Scholars’ travel, lodging, meals, and summit registration are all paid for by the program. This makes sure that lack of money doesn’t stop them from taking advantage of world-class leadership chances.
- Access to the One Young World Summit: At the global One Young World Summit, participants meet foreign thought leaders and other young thinkers through plenary sessions, workshops, and networking events.
- Structured Programs Before and After the Summit: Before and after the summit, scholars participate in a leadership development program that includes guided reflections, skill-building sessions, and events where they work together with other scholars.
- Joining a Global Network: The scholarship links young African leaders to a lively group of Z Zurich Foundation scholars and to the One Young World network as a whole. This helps them find mentors, work together, and form long-term relationships.
- Recognition as a Social Equity Leader: When scholars work on projects that close the gaps in education and jobs, they become more credible and well-known as leaders of change making a real difference in African communities that need it the most.
- Chance to Change Policy and Practice: Participants can show off their projects on a global stage, share the best ways to do things with their peers, and learn how to make their programs bigger, which will have a direct effect on strategies for empowering young people across Africa.
Who Qualifies?
The scholarship targets founders and lead decision-makers of community-focused, early-stage initiatives aligned with social equity. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Between the ages of 18 and 35 by November 2026
- Have African citizenship and live in Africa
- Lead a project that focuses on improving access to schooling, job opportunities for youth, youth business, or digital inclusion.
- Run a non-profit organization in its early stages without big corporate or institutional support
- Play a key role in leading the effort.
- Promise to attend the Pre-Summit, the Summit (Nov. 3–6), and the Post-Summit discussion in full.
- Actively work together and help each other learn throughout the school.
Apply now: Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026
Important Deadline:
The application window opened on 16 March 2026, and the final deadline is 4 May 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. If your work focuses on education, employment, and equity for African youth, this scholarship is built for you.
What does the scholarship cover for participants attending?
The scholarship covers all travel, accommodation, meals, summit registration, access to workshops, networking events, and participation in pre- and post-summit leadership programs without any cost to the scholar.
How many scholarships are awarded in 2026 by ZZF?
A total of 25 scholarships are granted for the 2026 class, targeting young African leaders driving grassroots impact and social equity initiatives bridging education and employment gaps.
Do applicants need prior funding or corporate support?
No. The scholarship specifically targets early-stage initiatives not backed by major corporate or institutional funders, emphasizing community-level impact and founders who lead socially equitable programs directly benefiting youth.
