Across Africa, conversations about girls’ rights, equality and opportunity continue to shape programmes and initiatives designed to improve girls’ lives. But one question is increasingly important: how often are girls themselves given the opportunity to help shape those conversations?
The African Girls’ Assembly is responding to that gap with the launch of its 2026 Girl Leaders programme, an initiative designed to place girls at the centre of conversations and programming that affect their lives and futures.
The programme is inviting girls aged 14 to 19 from across Africa to become Girl Leaders and gain practical experience in leadership, advocacy, collaboration and programme development while contributing their ideas and perspectives to the African Girls’ Assembly.
Rather than positioning girls solely as beneficiaries of programmes created for them, the initiative creates an opportunity for them to participate as contributors — bringing their experiences, questions and ideas into spaces where conversations about girls’ rights and equality are taking place.
Selected Girl Leaders will have opportunities to contribute to conversations and programming, gain hands-on experience in conference planning and delivery, connect with other girls and young leaders across Africa, and access mentorship, learning and opportunities for personal growth.
The initiative is particularly seeking girls who are passionate about girls’ rights and equality, curious and open-minded, confident in sharing their ideas and perspectives, and ready to collaborate, contribute and take initiative.
The need for meaningful youth participation is particularly important when programmes are designed to address issues affecting young people. Girls experience these issues firsthand, yet opportunities for them to participate in shaping responses can be limited.
The Girl Leaders programme seeks to change that dynamic by creating a platform where girls can develop the confidence and skills to speak, contribute and participate meaningfully in conversations that concern them.
“Girls should not only be spoken about; they should have opportunities to speak, contribute and help shape the conversations that affect their lives.”
Through the programme, the African Girls’ Assembly aims to build a community of young African women who can learn from one another, develop their leadership capacities and contribute to a broader movement for girls’ rights and equality across the continent.
Applications are open to girls aged 14–19. Selected applicants will receive further information about the Girl Leaders opportunity and the next steps.
The application deadline is September 4, 2026.
The African Girls’ Assembly is calling on eligible girls across Africa to step forward, share their voices and take their place in a platform designed to help them learn, lead and contribute to conversations shaping the future of girls across the continent.
