The Youth Leadership & Innovation Award for Migration (YLIA) is a global competition run by the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP). Its 4th edition carries the theme Innovation amid Adversity.
Young people enter an existing, tested migration solution in one of three categories: Opportunity, Resilience or Inclusion. For the first time the whole contest is online, ending in a live Zoom pitch to a high-level jury.
Benefits & funding
- Seed funding for three winners, one per category, to scale or replicate their project; amount to be announced.
- About a month of online coaching in storytelling, public speaking and pitching for all six finalists.
- A live pitch to a high-level jury and promotion on MYCP channels.
- Continued mentoring, training and networking for winners.
- Funds arrive via Wise, so the project’s bank account must accept international transfers.
Eligibility
- Aged 18–30 inclusive on 23 November 2026; no exceptions.
- Open to any nationality, wherever you live.
- Individuals or teams; a team names one lead applicant, who alone must meet the criteria and represents the project.
- The initiative is youth-led or has a significant youth-leadership share.
- It is already implemented or tested with demonstrable results; ideas alone do not qualify.
- It can be replicated or scaled and centres on migrants, diaspora, displaced people or other migration actors.
- Migrant and displaced youth are strongly encouraged.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Age requirement
18–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Fill in the online form in English, Spanish or French and upload a CV (two pages max, PDF).
- 2Optionally add a video pitch and supporting files.
- 3Submit by 10 October 2026, 23:59 CET.
- 4Finalists take part in coaching and the pitch in English, at roughly B2 level; no certificate needed.
Program timeline
Application deadline (23:59 CET)
10 Oct 2026
Finalists announced
18 Oct 2026
Online coaching (exact dates TBA)
c. 22 Oct–22 Nov 2026
Online Youth Pitch Contest
23 Nov 2026