Deadline: August 3, 2026.

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), jointly supported by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), today opened applications for the 8th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR 8), a flagship gathering that brings together generations of African women leaders to build skills, forge networks, and drive collective action for the continent’s transformation.

40 young women leaders will be selected for a fully sponsored retreat in Libreville, Gabon this December, bringing together emerging and established leaders from across the continent and the Diaspora.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

AWLN is calling for applications from young African women leaders, from the continent or the Diaspora, who have demonstrated impact in their communities.

Eligible applicants are:

• Aged 18 to 45 years
• Able to show measurable or recognized impact within their community
• Innovators or active contributors within one of AWLN’s six pillars:
  • Peace and Security
  • Governance and Political Participation (GPP)
  • Financial Inclusion, Economic Development, Natural Resources and Mining
  • Agriculture, Rural Economy and Land
  • Social Mobilisation
  • Youth and Emerging Leaders

BENEFITS

Selected candidates will be fully sponsored, with registration, travel, and accommodation covered. Beyond logistics, the Retreat offers:

• Mentorship from high-level women leaders, including Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, and CEOs
• Access to a network of highly accomplished women leaders across Africa and the Diaspora
• Strengthened leadership skills and personal development
• The AWLN Leadership Award
• Strategic support from AWLN’s wide network of partners

EXPECTATIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS

The AWLN Intergenerational Retreat is more than an event, it is a platform for leadership, collaboration, and collective action. Participants are expected to actively contribute to the success and long-term impact of the Retreat by:

• Actively engaging in all sessions, discussions, and collaborative activities
• Sharing their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to enrich intergenerational dialogue
• Building meaningful connections and fostering collaboration across countries, sectors, and generations
• Acting as ambassadors of AWLN by promoting its values, mission, and initiatives within their communities and professional networks
• Translating learning into action by implementing or strengthening initiatives that advance women’s leadership and gender equality after the Retreat
• Contributing to the AWLN network beyond the event through continued engagement, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and collaboration

Find more information on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE