Applications have opened for the African Climate Alliance (ACA) Ambassador Programme 2027, a nine-month hybrid programme that trains emerging climate justice activists to lead local climate action in their communities. Applications opened on 9 October 2026 and close on 1 November 2026 at 23:59 Central Africa Time (CAT). The programme combines climate justice education, peer mentorship and hands-on local projects, and graduates finish with certification, new networks and demonstrated project work.
The African Climate Alliance is a youth-led movement that places young people at the centre of climate action. Its Ambassador Programme has run for four years, training a cohort of young African activists each year through workshops, skills-building and mentorship. Past ambassadors have led projects in climate literacy, storytelling for climate change and climate-resilient skills, and graduates can apply to the Alliance’s Opportunity Fund for micro-grants to sustain their community projects.
What the ACA Ambassador Programme 2027 offers
According to the programme listing, the 2027 programme is built around three central areas: climate justice education and capacity building through four learning schools; peer mentorship and knowledge sharing among emerging activists; and local climate action and project leadership, with each ambassador leading a localised project that contributes to the wider climate justice movement.
Climate justice is the programme’s core lens: it recognises that climate change is not only an environmental issue, but one tied to inequality, access to resources, human rights and who bears environmental risks. Participants learn to organise in their communities, communicate advocacy messages and mobilise others around practical solutions — from awareness campaigns to community education and grassroots advocacy.
Who can apply and how
The programme is aimed at emerging climate justice activists who want to strengthen their knowledge, organising and advocacy skills and contribute to change in their own communities. The listing does not specify a minimum or maximum age, academic qualifications or nationality restrictions for 2027, so applicants should check the official application form for the precise eligibility requirements before applying.
Applicants should set aside 30 to 45 minutes to complete the form and prepare their answers in their own words. The programme has a strict policy on artificial intelligence: AI may be used to review writing or organise thinking, but applications flagged as containing AI-generated responses will be disqualified, because the organisers value applicants’ personal experiences and authentic voices.
For application-related enquiries, the programme lists the contact address ambassador@africanclimatealliance.org, and asks applicants to contact the organisers only when necessary because of the expected volume of enquiries.
Why youth-led climate action matters
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, yet the continent bears some of the heaviest impacts of climate change — rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and food insecurity threaten livelihoods and ecosystems. Young activists are already shaping local and global climate debates, and programmes like this one aim to turn passion into measurable, community-rooted impact.
Read more climate stories on Watan News in our Climate section.
Key facts
- Programme: African Climate Alliance (ACA) Ambassador Programme 2027
- Format: Nine-month hybrid programme for emerging climate justice activists
- Applications open: 9 October 2026
- Deadline: 1 November 2026 at 23:59 Central Africa Time (CAT)
- What graduates gain: Certification, networks and demonstrated local projects
- Application time: About 30 to 45 minutes
- AI policy: AI-generated application responses are disqualified
