African Union Youth Silencing the Guns Awards 2020 for Young African Leaders

African Union Office of the Youth Envoy to Award young peacebuilders behind innovative and impactful Silencing the Guns initiatives

Application Deadline: 20th October 2020

About the Award: As part of Youth Silencing the Guns Campaign “ Advancing Youth Roles and Capacities to Silence the Guns” launched by the African Union (AU) on 24th July 2020, the Office of the Youth Envoy (OYE) in collaboration with partners will provide grants to youth projects through Youth STG Awards to celebrate, elevate and recognise youth impact in the communities with concrete support to grassroots efforts, as well as amplify young peacebuilders initiatives and stories through wide platforms.

Due to the challenges with COVID-19 outbreak, instead of the Youth Silencing the Guns Campaign initially planned continental tour to member states on the ground, the OYE is convening Regional Intergenerational Dialogues. The outcomes of OYE engagements will feed into the youth declaration and AU Youth Envoy briefings to the both AU Peace and security Council and UN Security Council.

The Youth Silencing the Guns Award was created by the AU Office of the Youth Envoy to celebrate, recognise and support young Africans behind impactful peacebuilding initiatives that are building a culture of peace. A total of Six Awards will be issued six categories  

The award seeks to:

• Identify six young peacebuilders at the forefront of impactful Silencing the Guns initiatives.
• Raise awareness of and celebrate their initiatives
• Directly support their initiatives with grants of $2000 up to $5,000

Categories:

• Building Conflict- Free Africa

The award will go to any young man or woman who has contributed immensely to conflict prevention or resolution in their community/ country/ continent through mediation, negotiation, peacebuilding efforts, education and promoting peace, reconciliation and unity amongst others

• Silencing Poverty & Hunger

The award will go to any young man or woman who has contributed immensely to reducing poverty and hunger within their community/ country/ continent

• Silencing Gender-Based Violence

The award will go to any young man or woman whose work helps to reduce the incidence of Gender-Based Violence in their community/ country/ continent, or who work to support victims of GBV

• Silencing Youth Unemployment

The award will go to any young man or woman, leading advocacy around unemployment in their community/ country/ continent; or contributing to solving the unemployment challenges in their country and creating jobs

• Silencing Corruption

The award will go to any young man or woman who has campaigned to end corruption in their community/ country/ continent

• Silencing Climate Crisis

The award will go to any young man or woman who has done tremendous work in calling attention to the climate crisis in their country/continent or doing extensive work to mitigate the impact of climate change in their community/ country/ continent

Type: Award

Eligibility:

• Nominee must be aged 15 – 35 by 30th November 2020 (as per African Youth Charter definition of youth)
• Nominee must be national and living in one of the African Union member states   
• Nominee must fit in one of the 6 award categories and directly address one of the thematic areas 
• Nominee’s project must have demonstrated impact in peacebuilding and directly impact to at least 300 people
• Nominee’s complete contact information provided 
• Nominee must be committed to report on Monitoring and Evaluation of how the grant/Award supported the work of their projects
• Nominee’s project must beapolitical in nature and must not be operated for profit

Eligible Countries: African countries

Number of Awards: 6

Value of Award: Award Winners will receive: 

• Recognition for their work 
• $2000 up to $5,000 grant funding to support their existing peacebuilding projects
• Featured at the African Union and partners platforms

How to Apply: Apply here

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details