Written by Applications are now open for the 2026 Youth Leadership Development Fund (YLDF) under the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF). The fund invites proposals from young changemakers, youth-led organisations, and civic innovation hubs with bold ideas aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s youth ecosystem and advancing good governance, inclusion, and democratic participation.
The NYFF is implemented by LEAP Africa and funded by MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Luminate. The initiative supports youth leadership through inclusive funding, capacity strengthening, and policy engagement designed to deepen democratic values and civic participation across Nigeria.
Thematic Areas
Applicants may submit proposals under one or more of the following focus areas.
Policy and advocacy initiatives that strengthen youth engagement in public policy processes, including Open Government Partnership activities and youth policy implementation, are eligible. Projects promoting electoral engagement and democratic participation, such as voter education, electoral reforms, and accountability initiatives, are encouraged.
The fund also supports work in accountability and transparency, including budget tracking, public service delivery monitoring, and local governance reforms. Social inclusion initiatives focused on gender equality, disability inclusion, and support for marginalised groups are welcome. In addition, proposals promoting national cohesion, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and civic-security trust are eligible.
Across all categories, there is a cross-cutting priority on innovation, technology, media, and creative expression as tools for civic engagement and youth mobilization.
Grant Categories
- Small Grants of $1,000 are available for individuals and young advocates. Development Grants of $10,000 are targeted at youth-led and community-based organisations.
- Catalyst Grants of up to $50,000 are designed for civic and innovation hubs serving as regional anchors within the youth ecosystem.
Eligibility Criteria
- Individuals must be young changemakers aged 18 to 35 with a demonstrated track record in youth development or civic engagement work.
- Organizations must be registered, youth-led, and youth-focused entities whose work aligns with the fund’s thematic priorities.
- Applicants should demonstrate clear impact potential, strong leadership capacity, and alignment with democratic values and inclusive governance principles.
Application Process
Interested and qualified applicants are required to complete a short pre-application stage before submitting a full proposal using the provided template.
Application Deadline: 31 March 2026.
For more information and to apply, visit:
[https://nigeriayouthfund.org/grants/]