About this opportunity
The Girl Up Project Awards are designed so that young leaders choose the issue, design the project and set the budget. Girl Up describes the awards as trust-based grants to power youth's social impact ideas and advance their leadership skills, technical expertise and political influence in their communities and beyond.
The page prints the amounts plainly: up to US$500 for Leader of Self, up to US$1,000 for Leader of Peers. The Leader of Self tier speaks to individual activists and new clubs, while the Leader of Peers tier supports existing Girl Up Clubs+ with the larger amount.
Funds are sent by international transfer in US dollars from December, an Innovation Lab onboarding runs on November 28, 2026, project work happens between January and April 2027 and a final report is due by April 30, 2027.
Eligibility
is refreshingly simple, the page prints that youth leaders aged 13 to 25 with an idea to advance gender justice in their community can apply, and that if your group is based somewhere not mentioned in the restrictions you're welcome to apply. Girl Up lists that due to international funding compliance requirements it cannot send Project Awards funds to groups based in Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, the Russian Federation, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or occupied parts of Ukraine, with a further set of countries possibly requiring an additional screening process.
Nigeria is not restricted, so Nigerian youth groups fall inside the open route. Applications open on October 15 and close on October 31.
What you receive
- Trust-based grant of up to US$500 on the Leader of Self tier for individual activists and new clubs
- Trust-based grant of up to US$1,000 on the Leader of Peers tier for existing Girl Up Clubs+
- Innovation Lab onboarding on 28 November 2026
- Funds sent by international transfer in US dollars from December
Who can apply
- Youth leaders aged 13 to 25 with an idea to advance gender justice in their community
- Groups based anywhere outside the listed funding restrictions are welcome to apply, and Nigeria is not restricted
Who should not apply
- Groups based in Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, the Russian Federation, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or occupied parts of Ukraine cannot receive Project Awards funds
- Groups in China, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Palestine, Venezuela and Yemen may require an additional screening process
How to apply
- Apply during the open window from 15 to 31 October 2026 through the Girl Up Project Awards page on the Leaders of Today platform
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- CoalitionWILD EXCELerator Program 2027
A free, six month virtual programme that helps young conservation leaders in Nigeria and across Africa build, launch or scale an environmental project while growing their leadership skills.
- African Climate Alliance 2027 Ambassador Programme
A nine month hybrid ambassadorship that trains young African climate justice activists through four learning schools, peer mentorship and a localised project to lead, closing with certification.
Questions applicants ask
How much can a group ask for?
Up to US$500 on the Leader of Self tier and up to US$1,000 on the Leader of Peers tier.
When does the project work happen?
Projects run between January and April 2027 with a final report due by April 30, 2027, after an Innovation Lab onboarding on 28 November 2026.
Important disclaimer
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