Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 – Attend One Young World Summit in South Africa | Eligibility and How to Apply

The Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded opportunity for young African leaders to attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 6 November 2026. This is not just a conference pass. It is a carefully structured leadership programme that includes pre-summit preparation, peer networking, and post-summit engagement designed to amplify the impact of young changemakers working on education, employment, and entrepreneurship across Africa.

This scholarship is built specifically for early-stage grassroots leaders who are driving youth-focused solutions in communities where opportunities are limited. If you are running an initiative that helps young people move from learning to earning, and your work is not yet supported by major institutional funders, this opportunity was created for you.

This post covers everything you need to know about the Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026: who qualifies, what is included, what documents you need, how to apply step by step, and practical tips to help you put together a strong application before the May 4, 2026 deadline.

Scholarship Overview

Eligibility

To be considered for the Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Age: You must be between 18 and 35 years old by the date of the One Young World Summit in November 2026.
• Nationality and Residency: You must be a national of and a resident of a country in Africa. Both conditions must be met.
• Focus Area Alignment: Your work must demonstrate impact aligned with the Enabling Social Equity pillar of the Z Zurich Foundation, specifically through education, employability, or entrepreneurship solutions for youth.
• Initiative Stage: You must be leading an early-stage initiative. Initiatives supported by major corporate or institutional funders are not eligible.
• Legal Registration: Your organisation must be formally registered with a clear not-for-profit mission and a bank account registered in the organisation’s name.
• Leadership Role: You must be serving in a primary leadership role within the initiative. This is not open to employees or secondary contributors.
• Programme Commitment: You must be committed to participating in the Pre-Summit Engagement and Preparation Programme (September to October 2026) and the Post-Summit Debrief Session (late November 2026), including reflection and inner development activities.
• Peer Engagement: You must be willing to actively collaborate and contribute to peer learning before, during, and after the summit.

Eligible Countries

This scholarship is open to nationals and residents of countries across Africa. The regions below represent the African continent:

North Africa:

• Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia

West Africa:

• Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

East Africa:

• Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Central Africa:

• Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe

Southern Africa:

• Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Eligible Fields of Study

This scholarship is not tied to a field of academic study. It is focused on the type of work you are leading. Your initiative must fall within one or more of the following areas:

1. Youth Employability – initiatives that help young people transition into decent work by aligning education and vocational training with local labour market demand. This includes addressing barriers to education completion and transition.
2. Youth Entrepreneurship  –  Check the official website for the complete criteria under this pillar.
3. Digital Inclusion and Future of Work – Check the official website for complete details.

Cross-Cutting Priorities: The scholarship also recognises solutions that address overlapping themes across the three areas listed above. 

Benefits

The Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship covers the following:

• Summit Attendance: Full coverage to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 6 November 2026.
• Travel Costs: Confirm whether international flights to and from Cape Town are covered.
• Accommodation:  Confirm whether hotel or housing during the summit is included.
• Visa Support: Confirm whether visa fees or support letters are provided.
• Pre-Summit Programme: A curated preparation and engagement programme running from September to October 2026 to prepare scholars for the summit experience.
• Post-Summit Debrief: A structured debrief session in late November 2026 to support reflection and continued growth.
• Peer Network Access: Connections with 25 fellow African scholars and the broader One Young World global community of young leaders.
• Leadership Development: Inner development activities and structured peer learning throughout the programme.

Required Documents

 Based on the nature of this scholarship, the following are likely required. 

1. Completed online application form
2. Proof of age (passport, national ID, or birth certificate)
3. Proof of nationality and residency in an African country
4. Description or profile of your initiative including its mission and impact
5. Evidence of formal registration of your organisation
6. Proof of a bank account registered in the organisation’s name
7. Personal statement explaining your leadership journey and alignment with the Z Zurich Foundation focus areas
8. Letters of reference or recommendation from relevant community leaders or partners
9. Evidence of impact achieved by your initiative (data, reports, testimonials, or media coverage)
10. CV or resume highlighting your leadership experience

How to Apply

Step 1: Visit the official Z Zurich Foundation website and navigate to the Scholarships section to find the 2026 application page.

Step 2: Read through the full candidate criteria carefully. Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements, including age, residency, organisation registration, and focus area, before proceeding.

Step 3: Prepare your initiative profile. Write a clear and concise overview of what your organisation does, who it serves, the problem it addresses, and the impact it has achieved so far.

Step 4: Gather your supporting documents. This includes your proof of identity, proof of African residency and nationality, and your organisation’s registration documents and bank account details.

Step 5: Write your personal statement. Focus on your leadership journey, the specific barriers your initiative is addressing, and how attending the One Young World Summit will strengthen your work and impact.

Step 6: Collect evidence of your initiative’s impact. This could include statistics, case studies, community testimonials, media features, or programme reports. Strong applications show concrete results, not just intentions.

Step 7: If recommendation letters are required, reach out to your referees early. Give them enough time to write a thoughtful letter that specifically speaks to your leadership and the impact of your work.

Step 8: Complete the online application form thoroughly. Do not leave any section blank. Where something does not apply, explain why briefly.

Step 9: Review your full application before submitting. Check for spelling errors, unclear statements, and missing documents. Ask a trusted peer or mentor to review it as well.

Step 10: Submit your completed application through the official portal before 4 May 2026. Do not wait until the last day. Technical issues are not accepted as reasons for late submissions.

Key Dates and Timeline

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 4 May 2026.

Applications submitted after this time will NOT be accepted.

Selection Criteria

The Z Zurich Foundation selects scholars based on several factors beyond basic eligibility:

• Demonstrated Impact: Committees look for applicants whose initiatives have already produced measurable results in education, employment, or entrepreneurship for youth in vulnerable contexts.
• Clarity of Mission: Your organisation must have a clear not-for-profit mission and a focused approach to addressing structural barriers for young people.
• Grassroots Authenticity: Priority is given to initiatives that are not funded by major corporate or institutional sources. The fund is specifically designed to uplift emerging, community-rooted solutions.
• Leadership Quality: Applicants must demonstrate that they are not just participants in their organisation but the primary driving force behind it.
• Community Fit: Your initiative should serve young people in low-income, fragile, or underserved communities where barriers to opportunity are greatest.
• Commitment to Learning: Scholars must show genuine willingness to engage in pre- and post-summit activities, peer collaboration, and personal development, not just attend the summit event itself.
• Alignment with ZZF Pillars: Your work must connect clearly to the Enabling Social Equity pillar and specifically to the learning-to-earning transition for youth.

Important Tips

1. Show impact, not just intention: The Z Zurich Foundation is looking for leaders who are already producing results. Use numbers, names, and stories to demonstrate the real change your initiative has created.
2. Be specific about the barriers you are addressing: Saying you support youth is not enough. Explain which specific systemic barriers, such as lack of vocational skills, digital access, or employment pathways, your work directly tackles.
3. Emphasise the early-stage nature of your work honestly: This scholarship is designed for emerging leaders who are not yet supported by major funders. If your organisation has grown significantly, make sure you are still within the intended scope.
4. Confirm your organisation’s registration before applying: You must have a formally registered entity with a bank account in the organisation’s name. If you are not yet registered, do not apply until this requirement is met.
5. Highlight your primary leadership role clearly: The scholarship is for the person leading the initiative. Make it unmistakably clear in your application that you are the founder, executive director, or primary decision-maker.
6. Prepare for the pre- and post-summit commitment: Applying means committing to a full programme that runs from September through late November 2026. If you have other major commitments during that period, plan around them now.
7. Connect your work to the One Young World community: Research what One Young World is, who attends the summit, and how your work fits into the broader global conversation about youth and social equity. This understanding should come through in your application.
8. Apply early: The deadline is 4 May 2026, but submitting two to three weeks before the deadline gives you time to correct any mistakes or provide additional information if asked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Link

Apply directly through the Z Zurich Foundation official scholarship page: https://www.zurichfoundation.com/our-scholarships/z-zurich-foundation-scholarship-2026

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