Youth for Peace is UNESCO’s annual intercultural leadership programme for emerging leaders worldwide. Its 2026–2027 second edition focuses on human connection and dialogue in the age of artificial intelligence.
A cohort of 50 participants combines online learning, mentorship, a locally or nationally implemented community initiative, and global engagement. The journey concludes with an in-person Global Youth Dialogue for Peace in Guangzhou, China.
Benefits & funding
- US$10,000 in seed funding after UNESCO approves the participant’s action plan; the grant supports a community initiative completed within six months.
- Interactive online leadership workshops covering dialogue, communication, mediation, foresight, adaptive leadership, and responsible uses of technology and AI.
- Ongoing mentorship, peer learning, and capacity-building while the community initiative is implemented.
- Membership in the Youth for Peace Global Alumni Network and opportunities to contribute to UNESCO’s international dialogue and policy platforms.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be 25 to 45 years old as of 22 October 2026.
- They must have a demonstrated leadership record, a commitment to intercultural dialogue and social impact, and the potential to create positive change in their communities.
- They must be open to reflection, dialogue across differences, and collaborative learning.
- They must be professionally proficient in English and available for every programme component, including online training, the six-month project, mentoring, and the in-person global dialogue.
- UNESCO states that applicants are invited from around the world and does not publish a nationality, residence, degree, or gender restriction for this call.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Age requirement
25–45 yrs
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Application process
- 1Complete the UNESCO online application form by the stated deadline.
- 2Provide personal and professional information, describe leadership experience and motivation, upload a CV, and submit a link to a one-to-two-minute video introducing the proposed community project.
- 3Confirm professional English proficiency and full availability, and disclose any use of AI tools in preparing the application.
- 4Eligible applications proceed from screening to technical assessment by an international jury.
- 5The selected cohort and designated substitutes are contacted; UNESCO scheduled notification for mid-October 2026.
Program timeline
Extended application deadline
Jul 26, 2026, 23:59 CEST
Selected cohort notified
Mid-October 2026
High-level online preparatory training
Q4 2026
Six-month community initiative with virtual mentoring and capacity-building
Q1–Q2 2027
In-person Global Youth Dialogue for Peace in Guangzhou, China
Q3–Q4 2027