About the opportunity
The African Union Commission invites young African creatives to design the official logo and visual identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027: “AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary: Leveraging the Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental Integration.” The competition gives Africa’s youth a platform to visually express the continent’s 25-year journey, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), digital transformation, and Agenda 2063 goals. The winning logo will serve as the official visual identity throughout 2027 across the continent and beyond.
Funding and benefits
- First place: USD 5,000
- Second place: USD 2,000
- Third place: USD 1,000
- Certificate of recognition and official acknowledgement through African Union platforms
- Training opportunities
- Opportunity for the winner to participate in the AU Summit and see the winning logo officially unveiled
Who can apply?
- Open to citizens of all African Union Member States
- Applicants must be aged 18 to 24 on the submission deadline
- Entries must be submitted by individuals only (no joint or team submissions)
- Open to students, designers, artists, digital creatives, and innovators (formal qualifications not required)
- Limited to one entry per applicant
- Members of the evaluation process, AU personnel, contractors, and their immediate family members are not eligible
Required documents
- Completed application form including name, nationality, date of birth, contact details, and a brief profile
- Proof of nationality and age
- Presentation PDF containing the primary logo mark (with and without campaign title), colour, monochrome, and reversed versions, basic colour palette, typography direction, concept explanation, and three mock-ups (digital card, event backdrop, publication cover)
- High-resolution preview PNG or JPEG files (minimum width 3000px)
- Concept note (maximum 500 words) explaining the idea, symbolism, colour choices, and adaptability
- Signed originality, intellectual property, and AI declaration form
When to apply
- Opening date: September 24, 2026, at 17:00 EAT
- Submission deadline: October 23, 2026, at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3)
How to apply
- Download and read competition documents from the official webpage
- Prepare the complete submission package in the required formats and ensure all applicant identification is removed from the design presentation file
- Submit the application and files through the official submission channel accessible from the competition webpage
- Retain the automated acknowledgement message as proof of submission
Additional information
- Generative AI is strictly prohibited; all entries must be original and human-created without the use of generative AI features in design software.
- Shortlisted applicants must be prepared to provide editable vector source files (SVG, EPS, .ai) within 3 working days upon request.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- An exceptional opportunity for young African graphic designers, digital artists, and students looking to showcase their talent on a continental stage.
- A strong fit for creatives who are passionate about Pan-African integration, digital transformation, and shaping public narratives through design.
- Provides significant career visibility, financial support, and a chance to attend an official African Union Summit.
What should you think carefully about?
- Submissions must be strictly individual, meaning collaborative design teams cannot enter together.
- Generative artificial intelligence tools are completely barred, requiring traditional human-crafted design workflows.
- The strict age limit (18–24 years) excludes creatives outside this specific bracket.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This competition serves as an ideal platform to build a high-profile portfolio piece, gain international recognition from a major intergovernmental organization, and establish professional credibility early in a creative career.
Our take
Young African designers and creatives aged 18 to 24 who possess strong visual branding skills and a deep understanding of Pan-African themes should seriously consider applying before the October deadline.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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