Overview
The Africa-Europe Youth Academy (AEYA) is a flagship initiative that empowers young people to become leaders and agents of change. It focuses on equipping them with the skills, opportunities, and networks needed to shape their future and strengthen ties between Africa and Europe.
This Academy is part of a larger European Union programme that channels €50 million in financial support towards formal and informal learning opportunities and exchanges for young people wishing to develop their leadership skills and create networks of change agents in Africa. The programme is structured around two components:
- A ‘Youth Mobility’ component, implemented through Erasmus+ Youth actions recently opened up to sub-Saharan Africa (€35 million);
- An ‘Academy’ component, run according to the Team Europe approach (France, Italy), which provides overall coordination and the youth leadership programme (€15 million).
The initiative is one of the flagships of the Youth Action Plan (YAP) in European Union external action and part of the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package under the Youth Mobility for Africa Flagship. It was officially launched at the Global Gateway High-Level Education Event in March 2024 under the mandate of Jutta Urpilainen, and later in Dakar on Tuesday 30 September 2025.
Key information
- Location: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia.
- Duration: February 2025 – January 2029
- Theme: Youth, Human development, Peace and governance
- Total budget:
- EU contribution: € 15 million
- Implementing partners: Expertise France (lead) and Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS)
Approach and objectives
With 70% of the Sub-Saharan population under 30, Africa is home to the world’s fastest-growing youth demographic. By 2050, this population is expected to double, and by 2100, half of the world’s youth will be African.
Despite this potential, young people face high unemployment, economic insecurity, limited access to healthcare and education, and underrepresentation in decision-making. Many are turning to civil society to demand better governance, economic opportunities, and political inclusion.
The AEYA responds by:
- Expanding access to safe, inclusive spaces where youth can express leadership potential.
- Supporting young leaders to drive positive change in their communities and empower peers.
- Promoting inclusive youth leadership at local, national, and international levels.
Actions
The project is structured around three work packages:
1. UNLOCK: Unlocking the potential of youth
This package supports ‘Spaces for Youth’ created by and for young people across the continent with grants, training and capacity-building.
2. AMPLIFY: Developing young people’s potential
This package creates the ‘New Leaders Lab’, a local training programme implemented by civil society organisations and universities.
3. CONNECT: Integrated activities
This package develops online training and mentoring programmes for young people, including alumni of European Union–funded projects, and organises youth-led events at the local level.
