YSD 3rd Cohort: Youth Advocacy Training
Youth on Sustainable Development (YSD) is a youth-led organization committed to empowering young people to become active drivers of sustainable development in their communities, across Zambia, and throughout Africa. Our mission is to train and mobilize 10,000 youth advocates by 2030 who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage in policy, advocacy, volunteerism, and community-led solutions aligned with global and regional development frameworks.
Our Third Cohort Youth Advocacy Training Program is a 10-week learning and action-based journey designed to develop young leaders who can translate big global commitments into meaningful local impact. The program is grounded in three key frameworks:
• Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want
• National Development Plans and local policy priorities
In recognition of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers, this cohort places a strong emphasis on volunteerism as a pathway to leadership, service, and social change. YSD itself is built and run by young volunteers, and this program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of how volunteering strengthens communities, builds civic responsibility, and creates opportunities for young people to shape development from the ground up.
Participants will engage in sessions on youth advocacy, sustainable development, leadership, policy influence, communication, and community action, while also taking part in volunteer-driven initiatives that connect learning to real-world impact.
This call for applications is open to young people who are passionate about making a difference, contributing their time and skills, and becoming part of a growing network of youth shaping Africa’s sustainable future.
If you believe in service, leadership, and building solutions that leave no one behind, we invite you to apply and be part of the movement toward a more inclusive, just, and sustainable Africa.