One Young World is currently accepting applications for its Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About One Young World - Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
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.
Benefits of One Young World - Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner will receive:
- 10,000 USD and one-year's mentorship with a recognised democracy expert.
- A place to attend the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece from 29 September - 2 October 2026, including travel and accommodation.
- An invitation to co-curate a session on youth and democracy at the following year's forum.
Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner and nine finalists will receive:
- A fully-funded place to attend the One Young World Summit Cape Town, South Africa from 3 - 6 November 2026.
- Travel to and from Cape Town (flights in economy).
- Hotel accommodation in Cape Town in a private room between 2 - 7 November 2026.
- Lifelong membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community, a global network with 20,000+ members in 190+ countries.
- Opportunity to present their work at international fora and conferences.
- Opportunity to connect with the past winners of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize.
- Opportunities to engage in additional One Young World-led events and programming, including additional mentorship opportunities.
One Young World - Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize Requirements
To be eligible for this prize, you must:
- Be aged between 18 - 30 at the time of the application.
- Have demonstrated capacity for leadership.
- Be willing and able to participate in public activities in the context of the Athens Democracy Forum and One Young World Summit 2026.
- Submit a short video outlining your work defending democracy, and why you have chosen to engage in it.
- Submit your application in English.
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Submit a letter of support written and signed by an organisation recognised in the field of protecting and advancing democracy*. The individual writing your letter of support should be someone who knows you and is familiar with your work. The individual must not be a family member, personal friend, an employee or co-founder of your organisation (if you are also a co-founder). In their letter of support, the individual must:
- State their full name, organisation and title.
- Explain how they know you and for how long they have known you.
- Explain their understanding of your role.
- Explain why they believe your work helps protect and advance democracy.
- Write the letter in English.
You must have explicit consent from the individual supporting your application to share their personal details with One Young World. The name and organisation of the individual supporting your application may be shared with relevant third-parties involved in the selection process. You must obtain consent to share these details for this purpose.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
17 May, 2026
Opportunity Application
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One Young World - Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
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