8th Southern Africa Youth Forum 2026

The Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) is a regional youth forum convened ahead of the SADC Summit to bring together young leaders for policy dialogue, workshops and collaborative sessions. The 2026 edition's theme is 'Nourishing Futures: Enhancing Food Security and Water Resilience through Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action for Youth Empowerment.' The event includes high-level discussions, collaborative workshops, the 2nd Sitting of the 3rd SADC Youth Parliament, and opportunities to influence regional policy. It targets youth engagement on food security, water resilience, climate action and related areas.

Full sponsorship: travel, accommodation, meals and participation costs; Partial sponsorship: conference access and lunch. Participation includes workshops, policy dialogue and networking opportunities.

Applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years, be a citizen of a SADC Member State, demonstrate interest or active involvement in fields such as agriculture, climate action, entrepreneurship, water, nutrition, or policy advocacy, and be available to attend the full duration of the Forum.

Submit an application via the provided online application form.