Recognising exceptional leadership in defending, renewing and promoting democracy

Applications generally open in the first quarter of each year. Exact dates will be communicated.

The application period for the 2026 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Award is from 14 April 2026 to 17 May 2026 (23:59 BST)

Applications must be submitted via the One Young World website application form. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of nomination.

To be eligible for this prize, you must:
 
– Be aged between 18 and 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.
– 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.

The 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.


The 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).
– A place to attend the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece, from 29 September to 2 October 2026, including travel and accommodation.Hotel accommodation in Cape Town in a private room between 2 and 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.

The Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize aims to:

– Recognise exceptional intellectual and/or “in action” leadership shown by a young activist in defending, promoting or renewing democracy;

– Support the recipient of the prize, including a one-year mentorship with a recognised democracy expert or senior leader and a monetary prize of USD 10,000;

– Inspire young people to commit to the advancement of democracy.

The Athens Democracy Forum (ADF) was founded ten years ago, inspired by Kofi Annan’s work on peace and democracy and his establishment of the United Nations Democracy Fund. In 2017, Kofi Annan delivered the Aristotle Address and the keynote speech at the Forum’s opening.

With the annual endorsement of the UN Secretary-General, the ADF has become the main global event marking the International Day of Democracy.

In 2015, it established the “City of Athens Democracy Award”. Throughout his tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations and later at the helm of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Kofi Annan worked to promote democracy, which he described as “a catalyst for better governance, greater security, and human development.” He was also a strong advocate for youth leadership and inclusion. He strived to facilitate the participation of young people in local, national and international decision-making forums.

An independent judging panel reviews a shortlist of applications and selects the award recipient. The judging panel will consider the following when deciding the winner:

Impact: The applicant’s actions had a demonstrated outcome, for instance, a change in policy in a given country, the rate of participation in elections, the number of people reached through a specific campaign, the number of users of a specific application, the number of students gaining a wider understanding of the importance of the democratic process, the number of community associations engaged in an educational campaign etc.

Innovation: The innovative character of these actions.

Sustainability: Whether the applicant has advanced the cause of democracy and human rights for a sustained period of one-year minimum, and whether these actions are sustainable over time and replicable in other contexts;

Values: The values displayed by the applicant through their actions.

Benefit: The added value the Award could bring to the applicant in terms of international notoriety and support.