Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme 2025/26
- Omran Aburayya
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
If you're a young changemaker passionate about fostering peace and intercultural understanding, the Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme 2025 offers a unique opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, implement impactful community projects, and join a global network of like-minded individuals. Applications are now open for this fully funded programme, which includes a $10,000 grant to support your community initiative.
📝 Programme Summary
Location: Global (Online and in-person components)
Host Institution: UNESCO
Target Group: Emerging leaders aged 25–45 from UNESCO Member States
Fields of Focus: Intercultural dialogue, social cohesion, peacebuilding
Award Value: $10,000 grant for community project implementation
Programme Duration: September 2025 – May 2026
Application Deadline: June 22, 2025, 23:59 CET (Paris time)
Programme Language: English
Eligible To: Individuals with a proven record of leadership and commitment to intercultural dialogue
🌍 Programme Overview
The Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme is designed to empower young leaders to champion intercultural dialogue as a means to address pressing global challenges. Under the theme “Learning to Collaborate for a Shared Future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move”, the programme aims to:
Equip participants with skills and knowledge to lead transformative actions.
Support the implementation of community-based projects promoting social cohesion.
Foster a global network of young leaders committed to peace and intercultural understanding.
🎓 Programme Structure
1. Capacity-Building
Online Training Workshops: Interactive sessions focusing on intercultural leadership, project development, and strategic planning.
Ongoing Learning and Exchange: Continuous support through training and peer-to-peer learning platforms.
Mentorship: Personalized coaching to guide project implementation.
2. Financial Grants for Community Projects
Participants will design and implement projects aligned with the programme's theme.
Each approved project will receive a $10,000 grant, along with ongoing mentorship and support.
3. Global Engagement and Alumni Network
Global Youth Dialogue for Peace: An in-person forum in Guangzhou, China, bringing together young leaders and decision-makers.
Global Alumni Network: Access to a community of past participants for continued collaboration and learning.
UNESCO Resources: Utilization of UNESCO's toolkits and methodologies for scaling best practices.
🎁 Programme Benefits
Comprehensive training in intercultural leadership and project management.
$10,000 grant to implement a community project.
Personalized mentorship and peer support.
Participation in international forums and policy discussions.
Access to a global network of changemakers and UNESCO resources.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Be aged between 25 and 45 as of September 1, 2025.
Have a proven record of leadership in their field.
Demonstrate a commitment to intercultural dialogue and social impact.
Possess the potential to influence and create change within their communities.
Be available to participate in all components of the programme.
Community-led projects must:
Align with the theme: “Learning to Collaborate for a Shared Future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move”.
Be implementable within six months.
Have a local or national scope.
🗓️ Programme Timeline
September 2025: Online training workshops.
October 2025: Finalization and submission of community project plans; grants disbursed.
November 2025 – May 2026: Project implementation with ongoing mentorship and training.
April 2026: Participation in the UNESCO Global Youth Leaders Dialogue for Peace in Guangzhou, China.
May 2026: Submission of final project reports.
From May 2026 onwards: Continued involvement in the Alumni Network and UNESCO-led opportunities.
📝 Application Procedure
Interested candidates must:
Complete the online application form.
Submit the required documents by June 22, 2025, 23:59 CET (Paris time).
🕵🏻 Selection Process:
Pre-Screening: Verification of eligibility criteria.
Technical Review: Evaluation by an international jury based on predefined criteria.
Validation: Notification of the final 50 participants by August 2025.
🔗 OFFICIAL LINK
