UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund for Youth-led Organizations

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) invites youth-led organizations from eligible countries to apply for the 11th edition of the Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF).

YSF supports projects that promote peace and social inclusion by enhancing mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration across borders, cultures, faiths, and beliefs.

📖 About UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund

The Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF) provides seed funding to youth-led organizations dedicated to fostering peaceful and inclusive societies. It supports projects designed and developed for and by young people, demonstrating innovative and effective approaches to intercultural or interfaith dialogue.

Key Details

• Date Published: June 24, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
• Category: Grants

YSF offers capacity-building and mentorship support to strengthen project implementation and enhance organizational development. Established in 2008, YSF was initiated in response to calls from young civil society leaders worldwide for funding mechanisms for youth-led organizations.

Now in its eleventh edition, YSF focuses on promoting cultural and religious pluralism, peace, mutual respect, and preventing violent extremism. It also addresses stigma, discrimination, and identity-based conflicts while fostering respect for different religions and cultures.

💡 Type of Projects

YSF provides seed funding of up to USD 25,000 for outstanding projects promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Proposals linked to the implementation of the following frameworks/policies are encouraged:

• Youth, Peace and Security: Projects supporting UN Security Council Resolutions 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018), and 2535 (2020).
• Women, Peace and Security: Projects enhancing women’s participation in conflict prevention and mediation processes.
• Preventing Violent Extremism: Projects promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue as a prevention tool.
• Safeguarding Religious Sites: Projects promoting respect for religions and cultures, combating extremist ideologies, and ensuring safety for practicing faith.
• Hate Speech: Projects addressing hate speech and its impact on young people.
• Combating Racism and Discrimination: Projects promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue to eliminate intolerance and discrimination.

🎁 Benefits

• Seed Funding: Grants of up to USD 25,000 to implement impactful youth-led projects aligned with UNAOC’s mandate.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

For Youth Organizations

Youth organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Youth-led: Majority of decision-making roles held by individuals aged 18–35.
• Non-profit: Registered as a charity, trust, foundation, or association.
• Operational: Officially registered and operational for at least two years (since June 2023 or earlier).
• Geographical Coverage: Operate in eligible countries.
• Governance: Democratic governance structure with consultative processes.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Demonstrate proper monitoring, evaluation, and record-keeping.
• Gender Balance: Reflect gender balance in staff, beneficiaries, and activities.
• No Violent Affiliations: No adherence to violent ideologies or antagonism against any group.
• Funding History: Organizations that received funding under past YSF editions or the Intercultural Innovation Hub are ineligible.

Note: Organizations that applied for YSF in the past but were not selected can apply again.

For Projects

Eligible projects must fulfill the following criteria:

• Origin: Developed and written by youth.
• Target Audience: Primarily target youth with gender balance among participants.
• Objective: Advance UNAOC’s mandate of promoting mutual respect among different cultural and religious identities.
• Management: Managed by a youth-led organization.
• Project Coordinator: Affiliated with the applying organization and aged 18–35.
• Duration: Implemented within 12 months, with final reports submitted one month after completion.
• Location: Activities implemented in eligible countries.
• Budget: Requested funds must not exceed 50% of the organization’s annual budget in 2024, with grants capped at USD 25,000.
• Language: Application and CV/resume must be submitted in English.
• Registration Documents: Copies of registration certificate and statute must be attached.

📝 Application Process

To apply, organizations must submit the following through the online application system:

1. Completed application form certified by the applicant’s organization.
2. Copy of the registration certificate.
3. Copy of statutes/by-laws.
4. Organizational chart showing ages of key decision-makers.
5. Biography of the Executive/Managing Director (one page maximum).
6. Resume/CV of the project coordinator (two pages maximum).
7. Picture or scan of the project coordinator’s passport identification page (or national ID card).

Note: Word/character limits for each question in the application form must be respected.

📅 Application Deadline

August 15, 2025

For more details, visit the official UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund page or apply directly through the application portal.

• The UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund provides seed funding of up to USD 25,000 to implement impactful youth-led projects that advance intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and are aligned with the mandate and mission of UNAOC.