The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has opened applications for its fully funded programme, “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.” Running from 17 August 2026 to 28 February 2027, the seven-month blended learning programme is designed to strengthen the leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation capacities of young people and women across Sub-Saharan Africa. Supported by the Government and People of Japan, the initiative seeks to foster stronger Africa–Japan partnerships while equipping participants to develop scalable, investment-ready solutions that address pressing social and economic challenges. Participation is completely free, with no tuition fees. Building Africa–Japan Innovation Partnerships Africa is experiencing rapid demographic growth, expanding digital transformation, climate-related pressures, evolving trade opportunities, and increasing demand for sustainable employment. Young innovators and women entrepreneurs are responding with creative solutions, yet many struggle to access funding, strategic partnerships, and international markets. UNITAR’s new programme aims to bridge these gaps by preparing participants to transform promising ideas into viable businesses and development initiatives capable of attracting public and private investment. The programme also supports the objectives of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) by strengthening collaboration between African and Japanese innovation ecosystems. Participants will receive mentorship, technical training, and networking opportunities that promote sustainable industrialisation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, technology transfer, and inclusive economic growth. Programme Objectives By the end of the programme, participants will be able to: Design innovative and sustainable business or development solutions. Apply artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to solve real-world challenges. Develop financially viable and implementation-ready projects. Strengthen leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills. Integrate sustainability, gender equality, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their initiatives. Prepare investment-ready proposals for governments, investors, and development partners. Build lasting professional networks across Africa and Japan. Four-Phase Learning Journey The programme combines virtual learning, project development, mentorship, and international engagement through four progressive phases. Phase I: Foundations and Opportunity Development (August – October 2026) Participants will receive training in: Entrepreneurship and innovation Artificial intelligence and digital transformation Leadership and systems thinking Sustainable development Market analysis Business ecosystems Investment readiness Public-private partnerships The goal is to help participants identify practical opportunities and develop solution-oriented concepts with strong growth potential. Phase II: Applied Innovation and Project Development (November – December 2026) Selected participants will refine their ideas through practical training in: Business model development Financial planning Project implementation Monitoring and evaluation Impact measurement Pitch preparation Partnership development Training of Trainers (ToT) By the end of this phase, participants will have developed credible, scalable, and financially sustainable project proposals. Phase III: Leadership and International Engagement (January – February 2027) A limited number of top-performing participants will advance to an advanced hybrid phase that includes a short immersion programme in Japan. Activities may include: Expert mentorship Visits to innovation ecosystems Institutional learning exchanges Networking with Japanese organisations Project refinement Partnership discussions Selection for this phase will be competitive and based on participant performance throughout the programme. Phase IV: Africa–Japan Innovation and Partnership Round Table (February 2027) The programme concludes with a high-level engagement platform bringing together: Participants Investors Development partners Government representatives Industry leaders Innovation ecosystem stakeholders Selected participants will present their projects, explore funding opportunities, and establish long-term partnerships for scaling their initiatives. Who Can Apply? Applications are open to young people and women aged 18–35 from the following English-speaking Sub-Saharan African countries: Botswana Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Rwanda South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Eligible applicants include: Early-stage entrepreneurs SME founders Researchers Technology innovators Professionals Social entrepreneurs Ecosystem builders Individuals developing scalable business or social impact solutions Priority Sectors UNITAR encourages applications from innovators working in sectors including: Agri-food innovation Artificial Intelligence and robotics Fintech Climate technologies Clean energy Healthcare and MedTech Blue economy Sustainable cities Creative industries Manufacturing Skills development Social innovation Selection Criteria Applicants will be assessed based on: Innovation and creativity Leadership potential Problem-solving ability Community impact Scalability of proposed projects Commitment to collaboration Readiness for mentorship Long-term sustainability of their ideas Advancement through each programme phase will depend on participant engagement, project quality, and demonstrated leadership throughout the course. Programme Benefits Successful participants will receive: Fully funded participation High-quality training from UNITAR experts Personalised mentorship International networking opportunities Project development support Exposure to Africa–Japan innovation ecosystems Certificates of completion for each programme phase Potential participation in the Japan immersion programme for top-performing participants While participation is fully funded, those selected for the Japan immersion component may be responsible for limited personal expenses. Application Deadline Applications for the UNITAR programme close on 31 July 2026. Young innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and professionals from eligible African countries who are developing solutions for sustainable development are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.