The 2026 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize for emerging young Leaders (USD 10,000 prize and Fully Funded to the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece & One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa)

Application Deadline:

Applications are now open for the 2026 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize. Launched by the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF) and the Democracy and Culture Foundation in 2023, the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize is awarded annually to a young leader aged 18 to 30 and presented at the Athens Democracy Forum. The award recognises exceptional leadership shown by young activists in defending and promoting democracy, and aims to inspire more young people to commit to the advancement of democracy.

Throughout his mandate as Secretary-General of the United Nations and later at the head of KAF, Kofi Annan worked to promote democracy, which he called “a catalyst for better governance, greater security, and human development.” He was also a great believer in youth leadership and inclusion, and he strived to facilitate the participation of young people in local, national and international decision-making forums.

By OFA

Full story at OFA