Youth Leaders (YoLe) Fellowship Programme

Shaping today’s champions, developing tomorrow’s leaders! Do you have the drive to lead change?  Would you like to build leadership competencies to do so? Do you want to lead change in the areas of Innovation, sustainable development, human rights, peace, social entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and agribusiness in Ghana?

Background:

The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. In support of our mandate on young people, UNFPA Ghana launched the Youth Leaders (YoLe) Fellowship Programme which aligns with the UNFPA’s Youth Strategy, “My Body, My Life and My World” as well as the United Nations Youth Strategy that calls on UN agencies to “increase impact and expand global, regional and country-level action to address the needs, build the agency, and advance the rights of young people in all their diversity”. The YoLe Fellowship Programme also supports the Government of Ghana’s priorities on youth development; economic and financial empowerment of young people, youth entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, youth employment, youth and agriculture, youth migration and mobility, and sexual and reproductive health (Ghana National Youth Policy, 2010).

About the Programme:

The YoLe Fellowship is a one-year programme designed to empower Fellows to be innovative and transformational Leaders. It builds the capacity of young people by providing opportunities for professional and career development in the area of leadership at various levels and in different sectors, including within the UN system. Fellows also have access to one-on-one high-level mentorship and coaching from high-achieving personalities within different sectors. For more information about the Fellowship, visit the Youth Leaders (YoLe) Fellowship Programme Brochure or the UNFPA Ghana website.

Highlights of the Fellowship Programme Activities 

1. Onboarding, Orientation and Induction
2. Leadership and Development Training 
3. Internships placement to different Departments/Units at the Country Office
4. External Placement to other Agencies/Organization/Institutions
5. Mentorship & Special Engagements (concurrent throughout nine-months) 
6. Experiential Learning and Public Speaking Session
7. Leadership Project (Capstone Project)
8. Close-out and Graduation 

Eligibility:

The applicant must be:

1. Aged between 18 - 30 years
2. A graduate of a tertiary institution.
3. Able to commit to the Fellowship duration fully (one year), on-site at the UNFPA Ghana Country Office, Accra. Fellows withdrawal before Nine months in the Fellowship will not be awarded the Fellowship Certificate.  
4. Proactive and possesses strong interpersonal skills
5. Proficient in English (working knowledge of English) — important for general communication purposes. All application materials must be submitted in English).
6. Passionate about Leadership, Sustainable Development, Peace and Human Rights to drive change in all sectors including Social Entrepreneurship which includes agribusiness, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI) and demonstrate a desire to make a difference in their community
7. Demonstrate interest and dedication to development issues and passionate about contributing towards Ghana's aspirations on Agenda 2030 
8. Demonstrate affiliation with youth organization/network, volunteer or work experience, in areas of UN and UNFPA’s mandate.

If you meet the above criteria, then the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana invites you to apply for the 7th Cohort of the Youth Leaders (YoLe) Fellowship Programme (October 2025 – September 2026).

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit:

1. An application letter (not more than one page), stating your professional goals and why you are applying for the Fellowship.
2. C.V./Resume.
3. Legal evidence of age (Ghana Card, passport, birth certificate).

Kindly note

• All applications should be uploaded through this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrPqmX-dUp4fTT4e4htq_kXNfwS5GsEPgccuYMPd3Ad-tkEg/viewform no later than 11:59 p.m. on 18^th April 2025.
• There will be an information session for applicants on Friday, 4th April 2025. More information will be provided on the UNFPA Ghana’s social media platform.
• Persons living with physical disability are encouraged to apply.
• Young people working with youth-led organisations and needing leadership competencies are encouraged to apply.
• Applications after the deadline will not be accepted.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• There is no provision for accommodation for successful applicants.
• Selected Fellows who leave the Fellowship within 6 months of starting the programme will not be certified. 
• Accepted applicants are expected to fully engage in Fellowship activities from 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  each day of the week.
• UNFPA has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse

Applicants who do not qualify to apply to the YoLe Fellowship include:

• Former Interns or past Yole Fellows of UNFPA Ghana 
• Children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member of UNFPA.