Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme

The Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme is an initiative designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills, knowledge, and resources to champion intercultural dialogue as a strategy to address pressing global challenges. This program empowers young leaders to lead transformative action at local, national, and global levels.

The theme for the 2025 Programme is:
"Learning to Collaborate for a Shared Future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move."

📅 Key Dates

• Date Published: May 20, 2025
• Application Deadline: June 22, 2025
• Programme Timeline:
  • September 2025: Online training workshops
  • October 2025: Finalize and submit community project plans (with mentor support); grants disbursed
  • November 2025 – May 2026: Project implementation with ongoing mentorship and training
  • April 2026: Participate in the in-person UNESCO Global Youth Leaders Dialogue for Peace in Guangzhou, China
  • May 2026: Submit final project reports
  • From May 2026 onwards: Continued involvement in the Alumni Network and UNESCO-led opportunities

🌟 About the Programme

This initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of champions for dialogue, cohesion, and peace. Participants will gain opportunities to:

• Champion intercultural dialogue
• Drive meaningful impact in their communities
• Engage in capacity-building, receive financial grants, and benefit from ongoing mentorship
• Raise their voices on an international platform

The program is part of UNESCO’s "Road to Peace: Dialogue and Action for Tolerance and Intercultural Understanding" initiative, amplifying youth-led action and contributing to systemic change worldwide.

🎁 Benefits of the Programme

1. Capacity-Building

Participants will engage in a structured capacity-building program that includes:

• Online Training Workshops: Strategic sessions to equip participants with skills and tools for intercultural leadership.
• Ongoing Learning and Exchange: A platform for continued training and knowledge-sharing.
• Peer-to-Peer Learning and Mentorship: Regular sessions and personalized coaching to guide project implementation.

2. Financial Grants for Community Projects

• Participants will receive a grant of $10,000 USD to implement a community project aligned with the program's theme.
• Projects will be supported by ongoing training, peer-support, and mentorship.

3. A Global Network and Lasting Impact

Participants will gain access to:

• A Global Alumni Network for ongoing exchange and opportunities.
• Participation in the Global Youth Dialogue for Peace, a forum for policy influence and best practice sharing.
• UNESCO resources, toolkits, and methodologies for scaling best practices.
• Opportunities to contribute to the UNESCO Global Intercultural Action Observatory.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be between 25 and 45 years old as of September 1, 2025.
• Have a proven record of leadership in their field.
• Demonstrate a commitment to intercultural dialogue and social impact.
• Show potential to influence and create change within their communities.
• Be available to participate in all components of the program.

Community-Led Project Requirements:

• Must align with the theme:
  "Learning to Collaborate for a Shared Future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move."
• Must be implementable within six months.
• Should have a local or national scope.

📝 Application Process

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Application Submission:
   Complete the online application form and submit required documents by June 22, 2025, 23:59 CET (Paris time).

2. Pre-Screening:
   Applications will be reviewed to ensure they meet the minimum eligibility requirements.

3. Technical Review:
   An international jury will evaluate applications based on predefined criteria.

4. Validation:
   The final 50 participants will be notified by August 2025.

🌐 Programme Language

• English will be the official working language of the program.
• All project proposals, training, mentorship, and communication with UNESCO will be conducted in English unless otherwise agreed.

📌 Application Deadline

• June 22, 2025

🔗 Application Portal

• View details of the UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme.
• Apply for the program via the UNESCO Application Portal.

This is a unique opportunity to join a global network of changemakers and contribute to fostering intercultural dialogue and social cohesion. Don't miss your chance to make an impact! 🌍

• Capacity-Building: Engage in structured capacity building including online training workshops, ongoing learning and exchange, and peer-to-peer learning and mentorship.
• Financial Grants for Community Projects: Receive a grant of 10,000 USD to implement approved community projects.
• A Global Network and Lasting Impact: Access to a Global Alumni Network, participation in the Global Youth Dialogue for Peace, and access to UNESCO resources and methodologies.