Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 Accepting Applicants

The Z Zurich Foundation just launched one of the most compelling scholarship opportunities of the year — and it is laser-focused on young African leaders who are building real, grassroots solutions to help vulnerable youth move from classrooms to careers. Twenty-five selected scholars will receive full funding to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, this November, plus access to a structured leadership program before and after the event.

This is not a generic leadership award. The Foundation operates across four pillars — climate adaptation, mental well-being, social equity, and crisis response — and this particular scholarship zeroes in on social equity. They want founders and frontline leaders running early-stage, not-for-profit initiatives that tackle the brutal gap between education and employment for young people in low-income and underserved communities across Africa.

Africa’s population is the youngest on the planet, with over 60 percent under 25. Yet fragmented education systems, thin labor markets, limited access to finance and technology, and the compounding pressures of climate disruption and conflict keep millions of young people locked out of economic opportunity. The Z Zurich Foundation is betting that the people closest to these problems — young leaders already doing the work on the ground — are the ones best positioned to solve them.

Here is everything you need to know before you apply.

What the Scholarship Actually Pays For?

The Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded opportunity — scholars are not expected to cover any core participation costs out of pocket. The scholarship package includes:

• Full travel costs to Cape Town, South Africa, for the One Young World Summit (3–6 November 2026)
• Accommodation and meals during the Summit
• Summit registration and access to all plenary sessions, networking events, and workshops
• Participation in a curated Pre-Summit Engagement and Preparation Program running through September and October
• A Post-Summit Debrief Session in late November, including guided reflection and inner development activities
• Integration into a peer network of fellow ZZF scholars and the broader One Young World community

Number of awards: 25 scholarships will be granted for the class of 2026.

Who Qualifies — The Non-Negotiable Checklist

The Foundation is not looking for polished resumes or big-budget organizations. They want early-stage leaders whose work is rooted in community-level impact and aligned with social equity. To be eligible, you must meet every one of these criteria:

• Be between 18 and 35 years old by November 2026
• Hold nationality of and currently reside in an African country
• Lead an initiative that aligns with the Z Zurich Foundation’s Enabling Social Equity pillar — specifically around education access, youth employability, youth entrepreneurship, or digital inclusion
• Run an early-stage initiative that is not backed by major corporate or institutional funders
• Operate through a formally registered entity with a clear not-for-profit mission and a bank account in the organization’s name
• Hold a primary leadership role within the initiative — this scholarship is for founders and lead decision-makers, not team members
• Commit to full participation in the Pre-Summit program (September–October), the Summit itself (November 3–6), and the Post-Summit debrief session (late November)
• Be willing to actively collaborate with fellow scholars and contribute to peer learning before, during, and after the Summit

Apply: https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/z-zurich-foundation-scholarship-2026

The Deadline You Cannot Afford to Miss

The application window for the Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 opened on 16 March 2026, and the hard deadline to submit your completed application is 4 May 2026. That gives applicants roughly seven weeks — enough time to put together a compelling application, but not enough to sit on it.

The Z Zurich Foundation receives a high volume of applications from young leaders across the African continent each year, and late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. If your work sits at the intersection of education, employment, and equity for African youth, the Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 is built for leaders exactly like you. Apply before the 4 May 2026 deadline closes.