Building Leadership Pathways for 5000 Young Africa

The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles across sectors remains one of Africa’s most persistent challenges. In response, LEAP Africa continues to advance the Leadership Accelerator Programme (LAP), a flagship initiative designed to equip young African women with the knowledge, networks, and skills required to lead boldly and drive sustainable change across the continent. The Call for Applications is currently open for this year’s cohort, offering another opportunity for emerging women leaders across Africa to join a programme shaped by evidence, learning, and lived experience.

Insights from previous cohorts have consistently shown that some of the women who apply to the programme already own businesses, while others go on to establish enterprises after completing the programme. These observations highlight the growing intersection between leadership and entrepreneurship among African women and birthed the need for tailored support along different leadership pathways. In response, the 2026 edition of the programme introduces a new Entrepreneurship Track alongside the existing Career Professionals Track, ensuring that participants receive learning that aligns with their aspirations and realities.

The Leadership Accelerator Programme is structured to support participants through a carefully designed learning journey that combines virtual learning, an immersive in-person boot camp, and a capstone project. This blended approach allows participants to build foundational knowledge online, deepen learning through experiential sessions during the physical boot camp, and apply insights through a capstone project supported by mentorship.

The introduction of the Entrepreneurship Track marks an important evolution in the Leadership Accelerator Programme, reflecting LEAP Africa’s commitment to responsive, learner-centred programming. With applications currently open, LEAP Africa looks forward to welcoming a new cohort of women whose leadership within organisations and through enterprise will contribute meaningfully to Africa’s progress. 

Your continued support enables us to strengthen leadership pipelines, foster innovation, and expand pathways for inclusive and sustainable development across the continent. 

Thank you.

The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles across sectors remains one of Africa’s most persistent challenges. In response to this, LEAP Africa continues to advance its Leadership Accelerator Programme (LAP), a transformative initiative designed to equip young African women with the knowledge, networks, and skills to lead boldly and drive sustainable change.

This September, LEAP Africa hosted 23 exceptional young women from South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Nigeria for the LAP Boot Camp, an immersive four-day experience that combined learning sessions, panel conversations, and case study presentations. Guided by a distinguished lineup of speakers, facilitators, and judges, participants explored powerful themes including male allyship, storytelling, emotional intelligence, ethics, and leadership. They were challenged to redefine success, embrace vulnerability as a strength, and use their voices to influence systems and culture. These conversations sparked moments of reflection, courage, and clarity for the women’s leadership journeys.

The boot camp also featured team based case studies, encouraging participants to tackle real world challenges with innovation and collaboration. One standout group advocated for menstrual leave policies in African workplaces, drawing on global examples from Indonesia, Japan, Zambia, and Spain to strengthen their arguments.

As the programme transitions to the capstone execution phase, participants will continue to receive personalised guidance from seasoned professionals who will support them in translating their learnings into impact. 

Your unwavering support enables us to equip more African women with the knowledge and resources they need to shape Africa’s progress. Together, we are fuelling transformation and opening pathways for impactful leadership across the continent.

Thank you.