Are you passionate about protecting the planet? Do you have an innovative idea to address climate change or promote sustainability in your community? If you’re a young changemaker ready to take action, YOUTH IMPACT – BECAUSE YOU MATTER is calling on you.

Led by UNESCO in collaboration with Nestlé, this initiative supports young people in launching impactful environmental and climate action projects. Funding, training, and mentorship help transform innovative ideas into real solutions that benefit communities and the planet.

Participants will receive a USD 8,500 grant and participate in a six-month training and mentoring program. Guided by experts from UNESCO and Nestlé, young leaders will develop key entrepreneurial and project management skills tailored to their local needs.

If you’re between 18 and 30 years old, this is your chance to turn your vision into action and help build a sustainable future, because your impact matters.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: 15 April 2025, 23:59 CET
• Project Evaluation: 16 April – 9 June 2025
• Award Ceremony: 18 September 2025
• Capability Building Program: August 2025 – April 2026
• Funding Type: Grant
• Organizers: UNESCO, in collaboration with Nestlé
• Eligible Countries: All
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Youth (18–30 years old), youth-led organizations, associations, or networks
• Focus Areas: Environmental sustainability, climate action
• Number of Opportunities: 100 total (20 per UNESCO region)
• Duration: 6 months
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: Online

Theme

The main theme of the initiative is “Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action,” focusing on four main areas:

• Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
• Sustainable food systems
• Regenerative agricultural practices
• Packaging sustainability innovations

All projects must align with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDGs 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

Capacity Strengthening Program (6 Months)

The program comprises several main components to support grantees throughout their journey. Organizers may adjust timelines as needed, with proper notification.

• 1. Co-Design Phase (1 month): Grantees define their capacity-building needs with support from UNESCO, Nestlé, and partners. This phase is the foundation of a tailored training experience.
• 2. Immersive Training (2 weeks): Intensive online or in-person sessions on project management, youth-led action, and social entrepreneurship. Grantees also learn about UNESCO’s and Nestlé’s youth-focused initiatives.
• 3. Contextualized Online Training (6 months): Regional or country-specific sessions led by local partners, helping grantees tackle real-world challenges in their project areas.
• 4. Monthly Thematic Sessions (6 months): Training covers topics such as leadership, communication, branding, financial planning, and networking. Sessions also include peer learning, progress sharing, and informal community-building activities.
• 5. One-on-One Mentoring (6 months): Each grantee is paired with a Nestlé mentor for personalized guidance, feedback, and intergenerational learning throughout their project implementation and follow-up.

Mentoring

Each selected participant will be matched with a Nestlé executive mentor who will provide one-on-one virtual guidance throughout the 6-month project.

Mentoring sessions will be held monthly (minimum 1 hour), with flexibility for more frequent engagement.

Participants and mentors will also communicate via email to exchange resources, feedback, and materials. Optional in-person sessions will be available by mutual agreement.

Benefits and Grants

UNESCO will provide the winners with the following benefits:

• USD 8,500 grant for each of the 100 selected project leaders
• 6-month immersive training journey, including:
  • Entrepreneurship and project management workshops
  • Contextualized online training
  • Monthly group training and interactive gatherings
  • Nestlé’s Innovation Box training for ideation and pitching
• Dedicated mentorship from global Nestlé professionals
• International recognition and networking opportunities

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be 18 to 30 years old from project start to finish
• Be active in their community (individually or through a youth-led group)
• Submit a project aligned with the initiative’s themes
• Implement the project within 6 months
• Form a team of at least three people with a clearly identified project leader
• Ensure the project is local or national in scope
• Submit all materials in English
• UNESCO and Nestlé employees are not eligible to apply.

Selection Process and Criteria

Grantee selection will take place in two stages. Only selected applicants will receive notifications.

• Pre-Selection: Applications that don’t meet the basic criteria will be eliminated using an AI tool. The remaining applications will undergo multiple evaluations. A shortlist of up to 250 applications will be sent to the Global Jury.
• Final Selection: A Global Jury—including members from UNESCO, Nestlé, and five youth representatives from different regions—will evaluate shortlisted applications. The jury members will be selected based on their expertise, diversity, and impartiality.

The Global Jury will select up to 100 applicants to lead their projects. They must confirm participation within 5 days of being notified.

About 20 additional projects will remain on a waiting list. If selected participants withdraw or fail to confirm, alternates will be invited based on ranking and fit.

If a project lead withdraws during the program, a team member may take over. If no one from the team can continue, the project will be replaced by an alternate, only if this occurs before training and mentoring begin. Late replacements will gain access to prior training materials.

Selection Criteria
Project assessment criteria are as follows:

Additionally, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicant and Team Profile: Ability to lead and implement the project effectively.
• Problem-Solution Fit: Clear understanding of the issue and feasibility of the proposed solution.
• Community Impact: Potential to create real change within the target community.
• Seed Funding Model: Project’s sustainability beyond the grant.
• Clarity: Clear, concise, and well-structured application.
• Motivation: Demonstrated passion and commitment in the video submission

How to Apply?

• Review the official Terms and Conditions thoroughly
• Prepare your project proposal in English
• Ensure your team meets all eligibility requirements
• Submit your proposal via the official UNESCO application portal before 15 April 2025, 23:59 CET

Submit Now

For questions, contact [email protected] or visit the official UNESCO website.

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