AUDA-NEPAD “Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa” (COYWA) 2025
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
If you are a young African or a woman eager to elevate your socio-economic prospects, the applications are now open for the Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) programme—an ambitious training and empowerment initiative by AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with AECID. Designed to foster economic inclusion and leadership skills, COYWA offers certified training, support for grassroots initiatives, and business incubation—all aimed at unlocking opportunities and transforming lives across Africa. Read on for details.
🎓 COYWA Programme Summary
Location: Africa (across AU member states)
Offered by: African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)
Program Type: Training and empowerment programme for youth and women
Target Group: Young people and women across Africa, especially those in grassroots associations, youth- and women-led businesses, and cooperatives
Fields of Focus: Digital literacy, financial literacy, e-commerce, soft skills, cross-border trade, climate finance, entrepreneurship, socio-economic inclusion
Award / Coverage: Certified training, grants for socio-economic inclusion, incubation support with access to business services and financial instruments
Application Deadline: August 26, 2025
Programme dates: 8 – 14 September 2025
Eligible To: Youth (as defined by AU – often 15–35 years) and women across AU member states, with a focus on inclusivity and grassroots-level participation
🔍 Programme Overview
COYWA revolves around three core components:
Training / Skills Development
Offers certified programmes in key areas including digital literacy, financial literacy, e-commerce, soft skills, cross-border trade, and climate finance. Delivered through blended approaches: e-learning, workshops, and face-to-face training.
Support for Socio-economic Inclusion
Provides grants to public institutions, civil society organizations, and grassroots initiatives that foster employment, leadership, and prevent gender-based violence, with a focus on youth and women-led enterprises.
Business Incubators for African Youth and Women Entrepreneurs (BIAYWE)
Builds upon previous incubator efforts to offer organizational support, marketing services, and access to financial instruments—helping youth and women entrepreneurs gain market access and sustainability.
🎁 Benefits of the COYWA Programme
Comprehensive Skill Building: Certificate-backed training across market-relevant domains like digital and financial literacy, e-commerce, and climate finance.
Financial & Institutional Support: Grants that strengthen organizational capacity among youth- and women-led groups and promote socio-economic inclusion.
Business Incubation: Access to tailored incubation services—organizational support, marketing, finance—to scale viable enterprises.
Inclusive & Pan-African Reach: Spanning multiple AU member states, COYWA aligns with AU Agenda 2063, advancing human rights, equality, and inclusive growth.
Phase 1 Training Details
Dates: 8 – 14 September 2025
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Format: Combination of participatory workshops, group projects, role-plays, simulations, and case studies
Modules Covered:
Financial Literacy: Budgeting, saving, income management, banking & mobile money, avoiding scams
Digital Literacy: Digital devices, online communication, productivity tools, mobile money, online safety, and user experience design
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Young people aged 18 – 34 years from African Union Member States
Commitment to leveraging training or grant support toward sustainable growth and inclusion.
Interest in entrepreneurship, digital innovation, financial inclusion, or community development
Ability to participate fully in the training program in English (2025 pilot year)
📝 Application Procedure
Interested applicants should submit:
A completed application form
A short motivation statement (max 300 words) outlining interest in the program and how skills gained will be applied in their community or business
A CV/Resume (maximum 2 pages)
Email the application materials to: eac@eachq.org, (cc to: domukhulu@eachq.org, mtayebwa@eachq.org)
