UNICEF Invites Applications: Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education 2026 (Up to US$20,000 for Youth-Led Climate Education Projects)
UNICEF has announced an exciting global opportunity for young climate leaders through the Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education 2026. This prestigious fellowship is designed to support youth-led initiatives that are transforming how climate change is taught, understood, and acted upon in communities and education systems worldwide. With funding of up to US$20,000, along with mentorship and global exposure, the fellowship empowers young people to scale impactful climate education solutions.
UNICEF Invites Applications: Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education 2026 (Up to US$20,000 for Youth-Led Climate Education Projects)
About the Leading Minds Fellowship
The Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education is a youth-centered initiative led by UNICEF that recognizes the critical role of education in addressing the climate crisis. Climate change poses serious risks to children and young people, particularly in vulnerable communities. By investing in youth-led climate education projects, UNICEF aims to strengthen education systems, promote climate justice, and amplify young voices in policy and decision-making spaces.
The fellowship brings together a diverse global cohort of young innovators who are already leading climate education “bright spots” — projects or initiatives that demonstrate innovative, inclusive, and scalable approaches to climate learning.
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Who Can Apply
This opportunity is open to young people aged 10 to 30 years from all regions of the world. Applicants must be actively involved in leading or co-leading a climate education initiative, either formally or informally. Eligible projects may include school-based programs, community learning initiatives, youth advocacy campaigns, digital education platforms, or climate education integrated into humanitarian or development work.
Applicants should be committed to dedicating approximately 4 to 5 hours per week to fellowship activities throughout the program duration, which runs from early 2026 through mid-2027. Working knowledge of English is required, as collaboration and outputs will be developed in an international environment.
What the Fellowship Offers
Selected fellows will join a global cohort of young climate leaders and receive comprehensive support to strengthen their initiatives. The fellowship provides financial support of up to US$20,000 to help expand or scale youth-led climate education projects. In addition, fellows may receive stipends for their contributions during the fellowship period.
Beyond funding, participants benefit from mentorship, technical guidance, leadership development, and peer learning opportunities. Fellows will contribute to research, foresight, and systems-level thinking on climate education, while also participating in dialogues with policymakers, educators, and global stakeholders.
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Key Activities and Responsibilities
Fellows are expected to document and strengthen their climate education initiatives, contribute youth-led insights to global discussions, and co-create tools, stories, and evidence that support education system transformation. They may also participate in workshops, convenings, and public engagements focused on climate education, youth leadership, and child rights.
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Why This Opportunity Matters
The Leading Minds Fellowship is more than a grant program — it is a platform for youth to shape the future of climate education. By supporting young leaders at the forefront of climate action, UNICEF is investing in solutions that are rooted in lived experience, innovation, and intergenerational equity.
For young people passionate about climate justice and education, this fellowship offers a rare opportunity to turn ideas into lasting impact and influence global education systems for a more sustainable future.
