About the scholarship
The Z Zurich Foundation creates brighter futures for vulnerable people. Prevention is at the forefront of our work. Our four pillars - adapting to climate change, improving mental well-being, enabling social equity, and responding to crises - are increasingly urgent, complex issues that have far-reaching impacts on individuals, communities and society as a whole.
We believe that the key to creating a better future is connection - fostering relationships between those in the know and those most in need, advocating for change and tackling society’s challenges from the ground up. This is why we are committed to supporting impactful leaders to participate in the annual One Young World Summit, the world’s most international community of young leaders.
Unlocking Africa's Youth Potential
Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with more than 60% of its population under the age of 25 and youth expected to represent one-fifth of the world’s young people by 2030. Yet across the continent, structural barriers continue to limit opportunity: labor markets struggle to absorb new entrants, education and skills systems remain fragmented, and access to finance and technology is uneven. Climate impacts, conflict, and economic instability further weaken already fragile ecosystems and deepen inequalities affecting young people.
Against this backdrop, supporting youth-led, grassroots solutions is essential. We believe meaningful change starts by young leaders who understand their communities, drive innovation, and influence the systems around them. This is why we are dedicated to supporting emerging African young changemakers to participate in the One Young World Summit, amplifying their work, strengthening their leadership pathways, and empowering them as catalysts to shape more inclusive futures across Africa.
The Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 will support 25 young African leaders working on enabling social equity through education, employability or entrepreneurship solutions, to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 - 6 November.
In addition, ZZF scholars will take part in a curated pre- and post-Summit program designed to support leadership growth, build peer networks, and amplify their impact.
Candidates must:
- Be aged 18 – 35 by the date of the One Young World Summit 2026 in November.
- Demonstrate impact aligned with the Enabling Social Equity pillar of the Z Zurich Foundation.
- Be leading an early-stage initiative that is not supported by major corporate or institutional funders.
- Be leading a formally registered entity with a clear not-for-profit mission and a bank account registered in the organisation’s name.
- Be serving in a primary leadership role within the initiative.
- Be committed to actively engage in and allocate time for the Pre‑Summit Engagement & Preparation Program (September-October) and the Post-Summit Debrief Session (late November), including reflection and inner development activities.
- Be willing to actively engage, collaborate, and contribute to peer learning before, during, and after the Summit.
ZZF Scholars will receive:
- Full participation in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town (3-6 November 2026)
- Hotel accommodation in Cape Town between 1 - 6 November (inclusive)
- Return air travel to and from Cape Town
- Catering which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Ground transportation between Summit venues in Cape Town.
In addition to the above, the scholarship includes the following curated engagements:
- ZZF Pre‑Summit Engagement & Preparation Program (September-October 2026): a virtual program combining personal leadership development with practical preparation for impactful Summit participation, featuring selected expert contributions.
- ZZF Pre-Summit Connection Day (2 November 2026): a full-day, in-person gathering in Cape Town prior to the Summit to foster peer connection, alignment, and engagement with the Z Zurich Foundation.
- Post-Summit Debrief Session (online session in late November 2026).
- The opportunity to apply for a one-year Post-Summit Fellowship offering holistic capacity-building support as part of the Z Zurich Foundation’s Global Changemakers Program (a limited number of places will be awarded through a competitive selection process).
Focus areas
We seek young leaders in Africa who are advancing solutions that support youth facing the greatest barriers to move from learning to earning, particularly in low-income, fragile, or underserved contexts. We welcome initiatives that address barriers to education, employment, and entrepreneurship, equipping young people with the resources, skills, and opportunities they need to realize their full potential. Learn more about our work: Social equity | Z Zurich Foundation.
We are especially interested in solutions that strengthen critical transition points from learning to earning for youth in vulnerable circumstances in one or more of the following areas:
Initiatives that improve young people’s transitions into decent work by aligning education and vocational training with local labor-market demand, ensuring that skills translate into viable income pathways. This includes addressing barriers to education completion and transition.
Initiatives that enable young people to create sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship by strengthening financial literacy, improving access to finance, providing business development support, and/or creating pathways to revenue generation.
Initiatives that bridge the digital divide by expanding access to technology, building digital and future-ready skills, and connecting young people to emerging forms of work, ensuring they can fully participate in Africa’s evolving digital and economic landscape.
Across all focus areas, we are particularly interested in initiatives that:
- Improve pathways to decent, safe, and productive work in vulnerable employment contexts.
- Promote the economic inclusion of displaced, refugee, and marginalized youth.
- Support youth mental wellbeing by building emotional resilience, expanding access to psychosocial support, and creating supportive environments for learning and work.
- Strengthen climate‑resilient and green livelihoods, particularly in rural and agricultural contexts.