A growing community of African young women leaders connected by purpose, powered by sisterhood, and committed to transforming our continent.
The African Young Women Leaders (AfYWL) Fellowship Programme was born from a shared commitment by the African Union Commission (AUC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to invest in the leadership potential of young African women through lived, practical experience.
The Fellowship brings talented young women from across the continent into professional deployments within UNDP offices in Africa and other locations. Fellows contribute directly to programmes, policies and initiatives that advance sustainable and inclusive development, while building professional confidence, leadership capability and a strong sense of purpose.
Since its inception, AfYWL has grown steadily and intentionally.
AfYWL is anchored in three mutually reinforcing pillars: practical professional experience, leadership development, and community and sisterhood. Together, these pillars recognize that leadership is built through responsibility and reflection, skill and values, individual growth and collective strength.
Alongside hands-on work, Fellows are supported through structured leadership training, mentorship and peer learning. The programme creates space for Fellows to develop their voice, exercise agency and lead with integrity — while remaining grounded in service, collaboration and the values that represent their communities, countries and continent.
With three cohorts having graduated and a fourth recently onboarded, the Fellowship has become a living, expanding network of young women leaders. With each cohort, something powerful happens: the collective force of leadership swells, the bonds of sisterhood deepen and the Fellows’ shared impact gains momentum.
Together, they form a growing force multiplier — strengthening institutions, uplifting communities and contributing to the continent’s long-term, inclusive development.
At its heart, the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Programme is an investment in a generation of women who lead with clarity, courage and commitment — strengthened by one another, grounded in shared values and ready to shape Africa’s future from within.
