Youth Civic Change Fellowship 2025

Are you a young changemaker passionate about civic engagement and community transformation? Do you want to strengthen your leadership skills, drive impactful initiatives, and protect civic space in your community?

The Open Knowledge Development Initiative (OKDI) is thrilled to launch the Youth Civic Change Fellowship 2025 — a dynamic and transformative program designed to equip emerging civic leaders from rural and youth-led organizations in Africa with the tools, skills, and networks they need to create lasting change.

Successful and certified fellows join the organization's Youth Civic Change Alliance (YCCA).

The fellowship is open to young civic changemakers and activists from across Africa. The program is implemented in cohorts, with the first cohort targeting youth changemakers in Northeastern Nigeria.

Who can apply?

We're looking for passionate youth who:

• Are between 15–35 years old.
• Are actively involved in a youth-led or community-based organization or network.
• Have a proven track record of civic engagement, advocacy, or community action.
• Are based in or working within Northeastern Nigeria.
• Can train and cascade knowledge to their teams or communities.

What you'll gain

Fellows will receive practical training and opportunities to strengthen their civic leadership and community engagement skills.

Training and development

• Civic engagement and participatory governance.
• Policy advocacy.
• Fundraising and resource mobilization.
• Organizational strengthening and governance.
• Mentorship from seasoned civic leaders.
• Opportunity to design and implement your own civic project.

Certification and networking

• Certificate of completion.
• Access to the Youth Civic Change Alliance (YCCA), a regional network of changemakers.

Fellowship details

Cohort 1 target region: Northeastern Nigeria.
Application deadline (Cohort 1): April 20, 2025.

For inquiries, partnerships, or more information about future cohorts, contact us .