Applications are open for the Pan African Youth Forum (PAYF) 2026 Call for Session Proposals, inviting young people, organisations and partners to submit ideas for interactive, inclusive and solutions-oriented sessions that will contribute to the Forum’s programme and outcomes.

The Pan African Youth Forum 2026 will take place from 16–20 November 2026 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The continental gathering will bring together young Africans, African Union organs, Member States, Regional Economic Communities, civil society organisations, private-sector actors and development partners to reflect on progress in youth development and discuss priorities for the future.

The 2026 edition will commemorate 20 years of the African Youth Charter (AYC@20) under the theme “Reflecting, Reimagining, and Repositioning the African Youth Charter.”

About the Pan African Youth Forum

PAYF 2026 will provide a platform for young people and key stakeholders to exchange experiences, build partnerships and contribute to conversations shaping Africa’s youth development agenda.

The Forum will create space to reflect on achievements under the African Youth Charter, identify remaining challenges and explore ways of strengthening youth participation and leadership across the continent.

Discussions and contributions from the Forum are expected to support important continental outcomes, including a Common African Position on the Future of African Youth Development and a roadmap for strengthening the implementation and relevance of the African Youth Charter.

Call for Session Proposals

The Call for Session Proposals is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to contribute directly to the PAYF 2026 agenda.

Proposed sessions are expected to be:

• Interactive and engaging
• Inclusive of diverse youth voices and perspectives
• Solutions-oriented and focused on practical outcomes
• Relevant to the future of youth development in Africa
• Designed to encourage meaningful dialogue, collaboration and action

Young people, organisations and partners with relevant ideas, experiences or solutions are encouraged to consider submitting a session proposal.

Sessions can provide opportunities to share innovative approaches, highlight youth-led solutions, examine challenges affecting young people and generate recommendations that can contribute to the Forum’s wider outcomes.

Who Can Submit a Proposal?

The call is open to young people, organisations and partners interested in contributing to the Pan African Youth Forum 2026 programme.

Those submitting proposals should ensure that they have the relevant information for all proposed contributors before completing the submission.

This includes the:

• Full names of panelists, speakers and moderators
• Titles or designations
• Email addresses
• Relevant professional affiliations and biographies

Why Participate?

Being selected to contribute a session will provide an opportunity to bring a youth-focused issue, solution or perspective into a major continental conversation on the future of African youth development.

Selected contributors will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to the PAYF 2026 programme
• Share ideas and practical solutions with a continental audience
• Connect with young people and youth organisations from across Africa
• Engage with African Union institutions and other stakeholders
• Build partnerships around youth-led initiatives and priorities
• Contribute to discussions surrounding the future of the African Youth Charter
• Support the development of recommendations and outcomes from the Forum

Forum Theme

The 2026 Forum will focus on:

“Reflecting, Reimagining, and Repositioning the African Youth Charter.”

The theme provides an opportunity to assess the progress made since the adoption of the African Youth Charter, amplify the voices of young Africans and explore how the Charter can remain relevant to the changing realities and aspirations of Africa’s youth.

Important Submission Information

Before submitting a proposal, applicants are encouraged to review the Concept Note, Draft Agenda and Draft Issues Paper provided by the organisers for additional guidance on the Forum and its priorities.

It is also important to obtain the consent of all proposed speakers before submitting their personal information through the proposal form.

The African Union Commission, through the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, will use information submitted through the call to review, evaluate and administer session proposals. If a proposal is selected, information such as speaker names, affiliations, biographies and session descriptions may be included in official Forum materials and communications.

Event Details

Event: Pan African Youth Forum 2026
Theme: Reflecting, Reimagining, and Repositioning the African Youth Charter
Date: 16–20 November 2026
Venue: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Focus: African Youth Charter @20 and the future of youth development in Africa

The Call for Session Proposals offers young Africans and their organisations an opportunity to move beyond participation and contribute directly to the conversations, ideas and solutions that will shape the Pan African Youth Forum 2026.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 4th October 2026.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached to apply for this opportunity.