Applications are ongoing for the second cohort of the Youth Advisory Board under the SHE SOARS initiative, a remote opportunity designed for passionate young changemakers in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. This is a unique platform for youth leaders who have previously participated in the SHE SOARS project to contribute to improving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), while also advocating for greater economic empowerment for out-of-school adolescent girls in their communities.

Restless Development, a global youth-led development agency, is one of the key implementing partners of SHE SOARS. Operating independently across nine countries—including Uganda, Zambia, and Kenya—it supports the influence of young people in driving social change. The organization also leads the Youth Collective, a vast network of youth civil society organizations in more than 180 countries. At its core, Restless Development champions the redistribution of power to young people and has embedded power-shifting principles within its operations. Its safeguarding principles are central, ensuring all programmes prioritize the protection and well-being of young people and vulnerable groups above all else.

SHE SOARS, which stands for Sexual and Reproductive Health & Economic Empowerment Supporting Out-of-school Adolescent Girls’ Rights and Skills, is a multi-year initiative backed by Global Affairs Canada. It brings together a range of partners—including CARE Canada and the Center for Reproductive Rights—to strengthen access to SRHR services and create economic opportunities for adolescent girls outside the formal education system in the three target countries.

The Youth Advisory Board plays a crucial role in this effort. It functions as a youth-led governance structure that ensures the perspectives of young people directly affected by the project inform its design, execution, assessment, and advocacy strategies. As the second cohort is being formed, the aim is to build upon the foundations laid by the initial board members and deepen youth participation at all levels.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 22 at the time of submission and must have been actively involved with the SHE SOARS project for at least one year. They should be available to dedicate approximately 20 hours each month over the course of the three-year term, beginning in September 2025 through August 2028. Ideal candidates will bring experience in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, youth advocacy, or grassroots community mobilization. They should also be aligned with feminist and anti-oppressive principles, capable of engaging in shared leadership, and comfortable participating in online discussions conducted in English. The call is open to one young leader from each country—Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia—preferably those affiliated with or emerging from youth-led groups within the SHE SOARS network.

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