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Competition · Fully funded

Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2026/2027 (Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa)

Ashoka and Andrew Carnegie Foundation (Changemakers)

A youth civic leadership challenge for young people aged 5 to 20 in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, offering seed grants, finalist awards and a possible in-person convening in Kenya.

Award
Civic Seed Grant $50 (25 per country early applicants); Civic Promise Award $250 (30 winners); Civic Impact Award $1,000 (30 finalists); Civic Leadership Award $5,000 (6 grand prize winners); in-person convening travel covered
Who can apply
Africa
Where
Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa
Deadline
29 Jan

About the programme

Open to young people in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa leading or proposing youth-led projects that address a community or school challenge. Early applicants with NEW IDEAS may receive a Civic Seed Grant, and finalists and grand prize winners receive funding. Top winners may be invited to an in-person convening in Kenya in July 2027 with travel covered by Ashoka. Applications are in English.

Duration: Entry period through January 31, 2027; convening week of July 26, 2027

Eligibility

  • Aged between 5 and 20 by the end of the entry period (January 31, 2027)
  • Located in Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa
  • Project must be youth-led
  • Application submitted in English
  • Applicants aged 18 or younger must have an adult support with completing the application
  • Employees of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation or Ashoka, and their children and grandchildren, are not eligible
  • Sign in to check these against your background.

What you receive

  • Civic Seed Grant of $50 for early eligible applicants in each country
  • Civic Promise Award of $250 for 30 winners
  • Civic Impact Award of $1,000 for 30 finalists
  • Civic Leadership Award of $5,000 for 6 grand prize winners
  • Possible invitation to in-person convening in Kenya with airfare, hotel, ground transport and meals covered
  • Peer feedback, online trainings and possible Ashoka Youth Venturer certification

What you will need

  • Challenge application (project or idea submission)

How to apply

  1. Early NEW IDEAS application by October 10, 2026 at 11:59 CAT for one of 25 $50 Civic Seed Grants per country
  2. Reviewers to the Rescue session on October 9, 2026 for early entry help
  3. Final deadline January 29, 2027 at the Reviewers to the Rescue session; entry period closes January 31, 2027
  4. Finalists and winners selected after review; winners with grants of $250 or more considered for in-person convening

Applications are submitted on Ashoka and Andrew Carnegie Foundation (Changemakers)’s own site. Open Doors helps you prepare; it is not the official application portal.

From people who applied

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Source and verification

Last checked
10 Nov 2026, read automatically from the official page
Recently changed
Deadline moved from 31 Jan 2027 to 29 Jan 2027. Funding updated. Eligibility updated

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