African Union Youth Envoy Youth Silencing the Gun Award 2020 for young peacebuilders in Africa ( up to $5,000 grant)

Application Deadline: 20 October 2020

Recognizing that over 70% of the African population is below the age of 35, the AUC prioritizes mainstreaming of youth in all thematic areas of Agenda 2063 through their participation and creating opportunities for their development. Key decisions on Youth, Peace and Security are derived from Article 17 of the Africa Youth Charter, adopted by the Assembly in 2006; the dedication of the AU 2017 theme of the year as “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth”; the Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security, adopted by the AU-PSC at its 933rd Meeting held on June 23, 2020, as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) with focus on five pillars of participation, prevention, protection, partnership, disengagement and reintegration and resolution 2419 (2018). These normative frameworks acknowledge the important roles of youth and call for their meaningful participation in all spectrums of peace and security.

The Youth Silencing the Guns Award was created by the AU Office of the Youth Envoy to celebrate, recognise and support young Africans behind impactful peacebuilding initiatives that are building a culture of peace. A total of Six Awards will be issued six categories  

The award seeks to:

• Identify six young peacebuilders at the forefront of impactful Silencing the Guns initiatives.
• Raise awareness of and celebrate their initiatives
• Directly support their initiatives with grants of $2000 up to $5,000

 Award Winners will receive: 

• Recognition for their work 
• $2000 up to $5,000 grant funding to support their existing peacebuilding projects
• Featured at the African Union and partners platforms

CATEGORIES 

• Building Conflict- Free Africa

The award will go to any young man or woman who has contributed immensely to conflict prevention or resolution in their community/ country/ continent through mediation, negotiation, peacebuilding efforts, education and promoting peace, reconciliation and unity amongst others

• Silencing Poverty & Hunger

The award will go to any young man or woman who has contributed immensely to reducing poverty and hunger within their community/ country/ continent

• Silencing Gender-Based Violence

The award will go to any young man or woman whose work helps to reduce the incidence of Gender-Based Violence in their community/ country/ continent, or who work to support victims of GBV

• Silencing Youth Unemployment

The award will go to any young man or woman, leading advocacy around unemployment in their community/ country/ continent; or contributing to solving the unemployment challenges in their country and creating jobs

• Silencing Corruption

The award will go to any young man or woman who has campaigned to end corruption in their community/ country/ continent

• Silencing Climate Crisis

The award will go to any young man or woman who has done tremendous work in calling attention to the climate crisis in their country/continent or doing extensive work to mitigate the impact of climate change in their community/ country/ continent

Eligibility Criteria 

• Nominee must be aged 15 – 35 by 30th November 2020 (as per African Youth Charter definition of youth)
• Nominee must be national and living in one of the African Union member states   
• Nominee must fit in one of the 6 award categories and directly address one of the thematic areas 
• Nominee’s project must have demonstrated impact in peacebuilding and directly impact to at least 300 people
• Nominee’s complete contact information provided 
• Nominee must be committed to report on Monitoring and Evaluation of how the grant/Award supported the work of their projects
• Nominee’s project must beapolitical in nature and must not be operated for profit

General Requirements

Nominees must have an existing initiative/project. Impact must be demonstrated with quantitative and qualitative forms. 

The project must be able to receive grant funds if Awarded. The projects led by the Nominee must not necessarily be registered as a nonprofit, NGO, or charity organization. Non registered projects will be considered for in kind support.

The Nominee must be the founder, co-founder, or visionary leader responsible for the project success and growth. Volunteers and paid staff who have not played a role in the project founding or vision are not qualified for an Award.

The Nominee’s project team must be youth-led and focused on peacebuilding. Projects led by a substantial number of adults above 35, while wonderful in their own right, do not align with this mission and may be disqualified.

Individuals nominated must have been doing this work with their organization for a minimum of 6 months (at least since the outbreak of the pandemic). Nominees with over six months of work showing innovation adopted to COVID-19 outbreak will be qualified. 

The Nominee must have full knowledge that they are being nominated. We strongly recommend that the person you are nominating and the related project assist you in completing the nomination form.

The Nominee must be available to participate in the Virtual Youth STG Awards Ceremony, if he or she is selected as an Honoree.  

Only one individual from a project can be nominated. If multiple individuals are nominated from the same project, we retain the right to select which Nomination Form/application to review, solely at the Selection Committee discretion.

If the Nominee is selected as a finalist, they must be willing to submit to a full investigation. The Selection Committee will screen and vet all finalists and their projects in a formal review process which substantiates their work. 

Projects will be funded directly through partners in the form of either direct grant distribution or in the form of in kind support with the same value of the grant.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Union Youth Envoy Youth Silencing the Gun Award 2020