About the Prize
Launched by the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF) and the Democracy and Culture Foundation in 2023, the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize is awarded annually to a young leader aged 18 to 30 and presented at the Athens Democracy Forum. The award recognises exceptional leadership shown by young activists in defending and promoting democracy, and aims to inspire more young people to commit to the advancement of democracy.
Throughout his mandate as Secretary-General of the United Nations and later at the head of KAF, Kofi Annan worked to promote democracy, which he called “a catalyst for better governance, greater security, and human development.” He was also a great believer in youth leadership and inclusion, and he strived to facilitate the participation of young people in local, national and international decision-making forums.
Democracy, however, is in retreat in many parts of the world, with catastrophic consequences, including the toppling of democratically elected governments, the rise of populist and authoritarian leaders on all continents, and outbreaks of conflict and war. Considering the deteriorating state of democracy globally, the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize seeks to identify and commend inspiring young people who have shown exceptional commitment to protecting and advancing democracy in their countries.
The winner will receive 10,000 USD and one-year’s mentorship with a recognised democracy expert. The winner will also have the opportunity to speak at the forthcoming Athens Democracy Forum, where they will be presented with their award.
In addition, the winner and nine finalists will receive a scholarship to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026, Cape Town, South Africa, which takes place from 3 - 6 November.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Prize, highlighting actions taken by young leaders to:
- foster genuine participation in decision-making;
- promote peaceful dialogue on divisive political issues;
- advance intergenerational exchange on matters related to democracy;
- give a real voice to people and communities who have traditionally been excluded from decision-making;
- contribute to or advocate for the organisation of free and fair elections and their acceptance;
- protect freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and freedom of expression;
- garner support for the independence of democratic institutions;
- or fight for reform in both the public and private sectors to ensure that democracy adapts, develops and survives as the pre-eminent method of government.
To be eligible for this prize, you must:
- Be aged between 18 - 30 at the time of the application.
- Have demonstrated capacity for leadership.
- Be willing and able to participate in public activities in the context of the Athens Democracy Forum and One Young World Summit 2026.
- Submit a short video outlining your work defending democracy, and why you have chosen to engage in it.
- Submit your application in English.
Submit a letter of support written and signed by an organisation recognised in the field of protecting and advancing democracy*. The individual writing your letter of support should be someone who knows you and is familiar with your work. The individual must not be a family member, personal friend, an employee or co-founder of your organisation (if you are also a co-founder). In their letter of support, the individual must:
- State their full name, organisation and title.
- Explain how they know you and for how long they have known you.
- Explain their understanding of your role.
- Explain why they believe your work helps protect and advance democracy.
- Write the letter in English.
* You must have explicit consent from the individual supporting your application to share their personal details with One Young World. The name and organisation of the individual supporting your application may be shared with relevant third-parties involved in the selection process. You must obtain consent to share these details for this purpose.
An independent judging panel reviews a shortlist of applications and selects the award recipient. The judging panel will consider the following when deciding the winner:
Impact: The applicant's actions had a demonstrated outcome, for instance, a change in policy in a given country, the rate of participation in elections, the number of people reached through a specific campaign, the number of users of a specific application, the number of students gaining a wider understanding of the importance of the democratic process, the number of community associations engaged in an educational campaign etc.
Innovation: The innovative character of these actions.
Sustainability: Whether the applicant has advanced the cause of democracy and human rights for a sustained period of one-year minimum, and whether these actions are sustainable over time and replicable in other contexts;
Values: The values displayed by the applicant through their actions.
Benefit: The added value the Award could bring to the applicant in terms of international notoriety and support.
Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner will receive:
- 10,000 USD and one-year's mentorship with a recognised democracy expert.
- A place to attend the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece from 29 September - 2 October 2026, including travel and accommodation.
- An invitation to co-curate a session on youth and democracy at the following year's forum.
Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner and nine finalists will receive:
- A fully-funded place to attend the One Young World Summit Cape Town, South Africa from 3 - 6 November 2026.
- Travel to and from Cape Town (flights in economy).
- Hotel accommodation in Cape Town in a private room between 2 - 7 November 2026.
- Lifelong membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community, a global network with 20,000+ members in 190+ countries.
- Opportunity to present their work at international fora and conferences.
- Opportunity to connect with the past winners of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize.
- Opportunities to engage in additional One Young World-led events and programming, including additional mentorship opportunities.