The United Nations Institute for
Training and Research (UNITAR) has opened applications for its fully
funded 2026–2027 Africa–Japan capacity development programme,
offering young professionals and women from 11 Sub-Saharan African
countries an opportunity to strengthen their leadership,
entrepreneurship, and innovation skills.
The seven-month blended programme,
titled “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,” is
supported by the Government of Japan and will run from 17
August 2026 to 28 February 2027.
Applications close on 31 July 2026.
Programme Aims to Strengthen
Africa–Japan Partnerships
The initiative is designed to equip young
entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, and professionals with the knowledge
and practical skills needed to develop scalable business and development
projects while strengthening collaboration between African and Japanese
innovation ecosystems.
According to UNITAR, the programme focuses
on empowering participants to transform innovative ideas into investment-ready
and partnership-driven initiatives that address Africa’s pressing economic and
development challenges.
Participants will receive practical
training, mentorship, project development support, and networking opportunities
with public institutions, investors, development partners, and private-sector
stakeholders.
What Participants Will Learn
Throughout the programme, participants will
gain skills in:
- Entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation.
- Leadership and systems thinking.
- Sustainable development and SDG integration.
- Business model development and financial planning.
- Investment readiness and partnership development.
- Project implementation and impact measurement.
- Public-private collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
- Communication and pitching to investors and development
partners.
The programme also aims to strengthen
participants’ ability to design sustainable solutions that address challenges
related to climate change, food security, healthcare, employment, digital
transformation, industrialisation, and inclusive economic growth.
Four-Phase Learning Programme
The programme will be delivered through
four progressive phases combining online learning, mentorship, project
development, and international engagement.
The phases include:
- Phase I (August – October 2026): Foundations
in entrepreneurship, innovation, AI, leadership, market analysis, and
sustainable development.
- Phase II (November – December 2026): Applied innovation, project development, financial
planning, monitoring and evaluation, partnership mapping, and Training of
Trainers (ToT).
- Phase III (January – February 2027): Selected high-performing participants will join an
advanced hybrid programme, including a short immersion visit to Hiroshima,
Japan, featuring mentorship, networking, ecosystem visits, and project
refinement.
- Phase IV (February 2027): Africa–Japan
Innovation and Partnership Round Table, where selected participants will
present their projects and connect with investors, development partners,
and industry leaders.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are open to youth and
women aged 18 to 35 from the following Anglophone Sub-Saharan African
countries:
- Botswana
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Eligible applicants include:
- Aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Early-stage business founders.
- Small and medium enterprise (SME) owners.
- Researchers and innovators.
- Social entrepreneurs.
- Professionals developing scalable business or development
solutions.
UNITAR encourages applications from
individuals working in sectors such as agriculture, artificial intelligence,
fintech, climate action, clean technologies, healthcare, manufacturing, blue
economy, creative industries, sustainable cities, and skills development.
Fully Funded Opportunity
Participation in the programme is free
of charge, with all training costs funded by the Government and
People of Japan.
Participants who successfully complete each
phase will receive a certificate of completion. Those selected for the Japan
immersion programme may be responsible for limited personal expenses, while
selection for the international component will be based on merit, project
quality, leadership, and implementation potential.
Application Deadline
Interested candidates must submit their
applications before the 31 July 2026 deadline.
With its combination of leadership
development, mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and international
collaboration, the UNITAR Africa–Japan programme offers a valuable opportunity
for Africa’s emerging innovators and changemakers to strengthen their skills,
expand their professional networks, and develop impactful solutions that
contribute to sustainable development across the continent.
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