Youth for Peace is UNESCO’s leadership programme for people already working on social cohesion, inclusion and peace. Each year it selects 50 emerging leaders aged 25 to 45 from every region of the world. Selected leaders first train online with UNESCO experts, then design and run a six-month intercultural dialogue initiative in their own community with USD 10,000 of seed funding. They close the cycle by bringing that work into UNESCO’s Global Youth Dialogue for Peace and joining the alumni network. The programme runs with financial support from Kingold Group, and UNESCO states a commitment of USD 2.5 million over five years for the community projects. The second edition, themed “Human Connection and Dialogue in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, closed applications on 26 July 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Seed funding of USD 10,000, released once the participant’s action plan is approved.
- A structured series of interactive online workshops covering intercultural leadership, communication, mediation, foresight and AI tools.
- Mentoring from an international network of experts throughout the community initiative.
- A place in UNESCO’s Global Youth Dialogue for Peace; the first cohort’s forum was held in Guangzhou, China in April 2026.
- Access to UNESCO tools, methodologies and resources, plus membership of the alumni network.
- No participation fee. Travel and accommodation terms are not published on the programme pages.
Eligibility
- Aged 25 to 45 as of 22 October 2026 (the second edition’s cut-off date).
- Open to applicants of any nationality and any country of residence. UNESCO states that the first cohort of 50 came from 48 countries, spanning all five of its regions.
- A demonstrated record of leadership in the applicant’s own field.
- Commitment to intercultural dialogue and social impact, and openness to self-reflection, dialogue across differences and collaborative learning.
- English is the official working language of the programme, and applications are submitted in English.
- Full participation in every component is required. Applicants who cannot commit to all of it are not selected.
- No degree or minimum number of years of experience is specified.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Age requirement
25–45 yrs
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Application process
- 1Wait for the annual call to open. The second edition opened on 29 June 2026.
- 2Complete the online application form with all required documentation before the deadline.
- 3Applications are screened against the published eligibility criteria.
- 4Eligible applications go to a technical assessment by an international jury. The first edition’s jury of 22 experts reviewed 8,250 applications.
- 5The final cohort of 50 is notified and announced.
- 6Selected leaders join the online training, submit an action plan, and receive the seed funding once it is approved.
Program timeline
Second-edition call for applications opens
29 June 2026
Original application deadline
19 July 2026
Extended application deadline, 23:59 CEST
26 July 2026
Final selection of the 50 Young Leaders announced
Mid-October 2026
Six months from action-plan approval
community initiatives are implemented
First edition, for reference
programme started 28 August 2025, with the global forum in Guangzhou, China in April 2026