KOICA Youth Leaders Program for West Africans 2026-2027

The KOICA Youth Leaders Program (2026-2027) is a comprehensive multi-stage capacity-building program designed for promising young professionals, officials, and startup leaders across West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal). The program aims to nurture leadership, innovation, and digital transformation capabilities to solve regional socio-economic challenges.

Objectives
1) Online Training: Common Course for Public & Private Sectors
- Strengthening young leader’s capacities in leadership, governance, digital skills, and AI utilization, while building a foundation for AI and ICT entrepreneurship.
2) Local Training for Public Sector
- Strengthening capacities in public governance, policy development, civic tech, and Ai-driven digital transformation (DX/AX).
3) Local Training for Private Sector
- Strengthening startup project capabilities through customer development(CJM), MVP design, no-code AI, and Python practice.
4) Invitational Training for Outstanding Public & Private Sector Trainees ONLY
- Strengthening practical implementation capacities through learning from Korea’s public and private sector experiences in ICT utilization, digital transformation, and workflow automation systems.

Training Institute: Institute for Global Social Responsibility(IGSR), Hallym University

• Table of Content
• About Korean Government
• Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans
• Aim and Benefits of Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans
• Requirements for Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Korean Government

Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans

Aim and Benefits of Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans

Accommodations:
1) Online Training: Hybrid online-offline learning format utilizing Hallym University LMS ‘SMART LEAD’ Combination of real-time lectures and uploaded courses materials with unlimited repeat access.
2) Local Training for Public Sector & Private Sector: GIMPA in Ghana; Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration including Residence/Hostel/Guest Rooms)
3) Invitational Training for Outstanding Public & Private Sector Trainees: ` University in Chuncheon, Republicof Korea

Requirements for Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans Qualification

• Youth aged 19-34
• Applicants working in the public sector, private sector, or academia
• Applicants with an interested in leadership and digital innovation
• Applicants with English communication skills
• Applicants available to participate local training in Ghana
• Applicants eligible for Ghana and Republic of Korea Visa issuance

Priority Consideration

• Associate degree or higher, or at least 2 years of relevant work experience
• Applicants with an interest in leadership and digital innovation
• Female applicants and applicants from rural areas are encouraged to apply
• (Public Sector) Policy planning practitioners
• (Private Sector) Early-stage startup founders or developers focused on solving and issues

Preferred

• Applicants with experience working in the Ai or ICT sectors
• Applicants with a strong willingness to participate in team projects
• Applicants with experience in public policy or entrepreneurship
• Applicants committed to sharing knowledge with colleagues after returning to their home country

 Language: English proficiency without the need for interpretation or translation.
French language materials for key courses and French subtitles for online training sessions will be provided for participants from Francophone countries.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Koica Youth Leaders Program for West Africans

Duration
1. Online Training: July 20th-July 31st 2026
Common Course for Public and Private Sectors
2. Local Training for Public Sector (Ghana): August 2nd-August 15th 2026
3. Local Training for Private Sector (Ghana): August 16th-August 29th 2026
4. Invitational Training (Rep. of Korea): 14 days during June 2027
Exclusive to Outstanding Public & Private Sector Trainees

Documents Required for Application

Common Application Documents Required
1. KOICA Application Form: Filled and submitted in PDF format with the applicant's
handwritten/digital signature.
2. A Letter of Recommendation: Signed PDF from a government body, workplace, school, NGO,
or professional community leader.
3. A Copy of Passport: Scanned valid passport page in PDF format.
*Note: Final successful applicants are required to submit a health examination certificate issued in 2026 within three(3) days of the announcement of the final results.

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

Application Process 

For KOICA Documents:
• Application Submission and Initial Screening by the regional KOICA Office
• Shortlisted candidates(twice the final number) recommended to the University
a. KOICA application form must be submitted to the official email account of the regional KOICA office
b. Application for KOICA YLP(2026-2027) must be clearly stated in the email subject line.
c. Application form must be submitted in PDF format with the applicant’s signature.
d. A letter of recommendation must be submitted in PDF format with the recommender’s signature.
e. A copy of passport must be submitted in PDF format

- For University Documents: Official email. [email protected]
• Second-round Document Review and Final Selection
• Email support and response for curriculum and program related inquiries
• Immigration and departure support for final selected participants
a. The applicant selection timeline and final announcement of successful candidates will be notified individually via
email
b. Applicant strongly advised to regularly check their email after submitting the application.
c. Final selected participants must submit a medical check-up certificate issued in 2026 via email (submission
deadline to be announced later)

Required documents to be Submitted to the regional KOICA office
1. KOICA Ghana Office: Google Form for Public Sector / Google Form for Private Sector
2. KOICA Cameroon Office: [email protected]
3. KOICA Côte d’Ivoire Office: [email protected]
4. KOICA Nigeria Office: [email protected]
5. KOICA Senegal Office: [email protected]

1) KOICA Application Form
2) A Letter of Recommendation (or a referral) from the government / workplace / school / public organization /
NGO / Professional organization, community leader of the applicant.
3) A copy of Passport (please check the expiration date)
4) Agreement on Provision of Personal Information to a Third Party.

For more Information, visit KOICA Youth Leaders Program webpage