Call for Application: West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute (COI) 2026

The West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute (COI) is a training and capacity development program hosted by Yiaga Africa with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The program was formerly known as the Youth Organizing School. The program brings together a group of approximately 30-35 mid-career practitioners from West Africa countries who are working to advance democratic practices and economic and legal reform in contexts where freedom, human development, and good governance are fragile or at risk. This Community organizing Institute is a direct response to increasing demand to support new civic activists and deepen bounds of solidarity between community organizers in Francophone West Africa. While forging a stronger bond between Anglophone and Francophone West Africa.

From Ivory Coast to Cameroon, our program participants are selected from among hundreds of applicants every year for the significant contributions they have already made to their societies and their potential to make an even greater impact with some help from the Training received.

• Table of Content
• About Yiaga Africa
• West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute
• Aim and Benefits of West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute
• Requirements for West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Yiaga Africa

Yiaga Africa was launched as a student organization in 2007 at the University of Jos, Nigeria and has since established itself as a leading civil society organization in Africa. Since its inception, it has carved a niche for itself as one of Africa’s frontline non-profit organizations promoting participatory democracy, human rights and civic participation. With its operational base in Abuja, Nigeria, Yiaga Africa focuses on in-depth research, providing critical analysis on key democratic and governance issues, crafting practical solutions, training and empowering citizens to lead chan... continue reading

West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute

Aim and Benefits of West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute

Yiaga Africa will cover the costs of participation associated with attending the Institute.

Requirements for West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute Qualification

Please review the criteria below very carefully before submitting your application. If you do not meet these criteria your application will not be reviewed.

1. This is not an academic fellowship but is meant for practitioners only. We value practical experience over academic credentials, and we admit participants from civil society, political society, community and student leaders especially applicants who hold leadership roles in their respective sector to qualify for the Institute
2. Applicants must be from and currently reside in one of the West African countries - these include Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
3. Applicants must not be more than 30 years of age at the start of the Training in August 2026. 
4. Applicants must be actively working in the field of democracy and development. 
5. Applicants must have a solid command of written and spoken English or French. All program materials and sessions are in English and French. 
6. Female applicants and persons living with disabilities are STRONGLY encouraged to apply.

Interview date, Process and Venue for West Africa Regional Community Organizing Institute

Applicants will be informed of their selection for the program by July 2026. Please do not email us concerning your application status before that time, as the program team will be very busy processing and reviewing applications.

Documents Required for Application

All application materials must be submitted in English or French. 

The application contains the following sections:

1. Applicant Information
2. Essay Questions
3. English Language Proficiency
4. Video Submission
5. Letters of Recommendation
6. Personal Certification

Check also:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship to Study in UK 2027/2028
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Africans 2027 (Fully Funded to USA)

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more Information, visit Yiaga Africa webpage