Addis Ababa, May 10, 2023 - The Office of the African Union Youth Envoy supported by the Women, Gender & Youth Directorate, in partnership with Plan International MEESA and YouLead Africa, is set  to announce the launch of the 2023 Cohort of the Lead(H)er Fellowship. The Lead(H)er Fellowship, which stands for "She is a Leader," is a pan-African initiative aimed at empowering young African women with the vital skills and knowledge to lead in the fields of politics, business, trade and entrepreneurship, and peace and security.

The Fellowship cohort will feature young women up to  25 years old who are passionate about leadership, social justice, and community development, and who are interested in contributing to Agenda 2063 and creating The  "Africa We Want." The Fellowship's unique module includes mentorship, leadership training, and networking opportunities, co-designed with YouLead Africa and Plan International to enable young African women to reach their full potential.

The African Union Chairperson's Youth Envoy, Ms. Chido Mpemba, will convene the 2023 Cohort in a virtual launch scheduled for the 10th of May 2023 at 3pm EAT, running under the theme "Empowering the Next Generation". The event aims to create awareness of the Lead(H)er Fellowship and its impact on Young African women, provide a platform to engage with each other and with the Office of the African Union Youth Envoy as translating the vision of the African Union Commission under the leadership of the Chairperson H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat in supporting young women's leadership and empowerment as part of the One Million Next Level Campaign.

The launch of the 2023  Cohort of the Lead(H)er Fellowship presents an opportunity to showcase the potential of young African women as leaders and change-makers. The fellowship also highlights the importance of partnerships and collaborations in supporting women's leadership across Africa and beyond borders.

Register below to join the virtual launch:

Date - 10 May 2023

Time - 3pm EAT

Link - https://bit.ly/LeadHer2ndCohort

To request an interview, or for more information, please contact:

Office of the African Union Youth Envoy auyouthenvoy@africa-union.org

Gumiso Chisi gchisi@africayouthenvoy.org