The Youth Leadership Competition is organised as a component of the African Leadership Forum (ALF) to provide a space for Africa's youth and the next generation of leaders in the region to contribute to important discussions on leadership and sustainable development.

In each competition, African citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 are invited to write about their leadership perspectives on an ALF-related topic.

The essays are rigorously assessed on the basis of originality, organisation, creativity, appropriateness to the competition theme and use of language. The winners have the opportunity to take part in the ALF plenary session and receive their prizes at an awards ceremony - in the presence of distinguished forum delegates.

Since 2013, seven competitions have been organised. The thematic areas covered include: Meeting the challenges of Africa's transformation (2014); Moving towards an integrated Africa: What needs to be done? (2015); Enabling African businesses to transform the continent (2016); Peace and security for an integrated, united and sustainable Africa (2017); Financing Africa's transformation for sustainable development (2018); Promoting sound natural resource management for socio-economic transformation in Africa (2019); and Promoting intra-African trade to unlock Africa's agricultural potential (2020).

Apply here.