Deadline: July 9, 2026
Applications are open for the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy Position. In recognition of the role young people play in shaping Africa’s development and building on AU’s longstanding commitment to placing young people at the center of the continent’s development agenda, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) seeks to appoint the 3rd African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy (AUCYE) for the period of a two year term with the possibility of renewing for another term.
In close collaboration with WGYD, the Youth Envoy will serve as a dedicated advocate for the interests, aspirations and concerns of Africa’s youth, facilitating dialogue between young people and AU leadership, promoting the implementation of continental youth commitments, and ensuring that youth perspectives inform policies and programmes.
In the discharge of his/her duties, the Youth Envoy will:
- Champion AU Youth Policies and Priorities;
- Amplify Youth Voices and Participation;
- Mobilize Partnerships and Advocacy for youth development and empowerment; and
- Serve as a Strategic Liaison between Youth and the AU, including representing African youth voices in AU policy processes.
Responsibilities
The AUC Chairperson’s Youth Envoy will be responsible for the following functions, among others:
- Champion AU Youth Policies and Priorities by promoting the implementation of the African Youth Charter, the AU 1 Million Next Level Initiative (1mNL) Initiative, and other relevant AU frameworks and initiatives, while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance youth development and empowerment.
- Promote Youth Engagement and Representation by facilitating the meaningful participation of young people, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, in AU policy dialogues, decision-making processes, and continental development initiatives.
- Strengthen Partnerships and Youth Networks at national, regional, continental, and global levels to amplify youth voices, enhance collaboration, and support the implementation of AU youth commitments.
- Lead Advocacy and Awareness Efforts to elevate youth issues, promote youth leadership and inclusion, mobilize political commitment, and advocate for increased investment in youth development and youth-centered policies.
- Support Strategic Youth Platforms and Events by advancing youth participation in key AU-led engagements, including youth dialogues, commemorative events and intergenerational platforms.
- Advance Youth Inclusion within the AU by advocating for greater youth representation and participation across AU institutions and processes, including initiatives that promote youth leadership and diversity.
- Coordinate Closely with WGYD to ensure alignment with AU priorities, strengthen institutional collaboration and support the effective delivery of youth development and engagement programmes.
Benefits
- The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 96,921.34 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.
Eligibility
- Candidates must have a Masters Degree OR a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Information Technology or a related field with at least seven (7) OR ten (10) years of relevant work experience respectively and three (3) years at expert and/or senior level.
- Demonstrable understanding of youth empowerment frameworks and initiatives.
- Proven advocacy and influencing experience, including ability to identify key youth priorities and lead initiatives that drive meaningful social, institutional and policy change.
- A strong track record in youth mobilization and empowerment, demonstrating the ability to organize, inspire and support young people in advancing transformative change at community, national, regional or international levels.
- Proven leadership and management capabilities, including the ability to coordinate initiatives, build partnerships, and deliver results in complex and multi-actor environments.
Required Skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Sound planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
- Established leadership experience in multi-stakeholder engagement, working effectively with youth networks, governments, private sector actors, media, civil society organizations and development partners.
- Proven capacity to generate innovative ideas and translate them into practical improvements and results.
- Diplomatic negotiation skills and ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment and adapt to changing circumstances.
- Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development.
- Demonstrable pan-African youth leadership skills through engagement with AU, UN agencies, and global development platforms.
- Strong ability to mobilize and coordinate youth networks across Africa for advocacy and development initiatives, including digital advocacy and campaign leadership.
- Skilled in strategic influence and storytelling, shaping narratives that drive policy attention and action.
- Ability to connect day-to-day actions with long-term goals, ensuring short-term decisions align with and contribute to broader strategic objectives.
- Ability to drive innovation by adopting new approaches, taking calculated risks and creating an environment where others feel safe to share ideas and contribute to change.
- Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.
Application
Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor’s degrees (Bac+3), Master’s degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
For more information, visit African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy.
