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. Through this programme, UNESCO is cultivating a new generation of champions for dialogue, cohesion, and peace, empowering them to lead transformative action at local, national, and global levels. In its first year of operation, the theme for the Programme will be ‘Learning to collaborate for a shared future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move’.
Selected participants will become part of a dynamic, international network of young leaders and changemakers, gaining the opportunity to champion intercultural dialogue and drive meaningful impact in their communities. This immersive journey includes capacity-building, financial grants, ongoing mentorship and an opportunity raise your voice on an international platform. More importantly, it fosters long-term engagement in a community of leaders committed to using dialogue to drive solutions and shape policies that promote cohesion and foster peace. The programme is a key 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.
What the programme offers
1.Capacity-Building: Participants will engage in a structured capacity building programme that includes:
Online Training Workshops – An immersive programme featuring strategic sessions designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and tools to embody intercultural leadership, and implement concrete projects to champion intercultural solutions within their communities.
Ongoing Learning and Exchange – A continuing platform of training and exchange will help to further reinforce the skills and knowledge needed by participating Young Leaders as they begin to put plans into action through the implementation of projects in their communities (see below section for more details).
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Mentorship – Regular knowledge-sharing sessions and personalised coaching will be provided to help guide participating Young Leaders as they implement projects in their communities.
2. Financial Grants for Community Projects
Following the initial online training workshops, participants will finalise and submit plans to implement a project within their community, leveraging the knowledge and skills gained to design actions around the theme of ‘Learning to Collaborate for a Shared Future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move’. Upon approval, they will receive a grant of 10,000 USD to implement their project, accompanied by ongoing training, peer-support, and mentorship.
3. A Global Network and Lasting Impact
Participants will also gain the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities to scale and institutionalise the impact of their work within global policy discussions, including:
Access to a unique Global Alumni Network, offering ongoing exchange, learning, and opportunities;
Participation in the Global Youth Dialogue for Peace, a unique global forum bringing together Young Leaders with established decision makers to support learning and best practice sharing, provide avenues for influencing policy development, and reinforcing networks;
Access to UNESCO resources, toolkits, and methodologies for scaling best practices;
Opportunities to contribute to the UNESCO Global Intercultural Action Observatory, a repository of insights and good practices to support ongoing policy advocacy in favour of intercultural leadership for peace and cohesion.
Tentative timeline
September 2025: Online training workshops
October 2025: Finalise and submit your community project plan (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, with project presentations, dialogue with high-level leaders, and the launch of the Global Alumni Network.
May 2026: Submit final project reports.
From May 2026 onwards: Continued involvement in the Alumni Network and UNESCO-led opportunities for learning, advocacy, and collaboration
Programme language
English will be the official working language of the Programme.
All project proposals must be submitted in English, and all training, mentorship, and communication with UNESCO will be conducted in in this language, unless otherwise agreed.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, applicants must:
Be between 25 and 45 years old as of 1 September 2025.
Have a proven record of leadership in their field.
Demonstrate a commitment to intercultural dialogue and social impact.
Have the potential to influence and create change within their communities.
Be available to participate in all components of the programme.
Community-led projects must:
Align with the theme: ‘Learning to Collaborate for a Shared Future: Using dialogue to foster social cohesion in a world on the move’.
Be able to be implemented within six months.
Be of local or national scope.
Selection Process
Step 1: Application Submission
Interested candidates must complete the online application form and submit the required documents by June 22, 2025, 23:59 CET (Paris time).
Step 2: Pre-Screening
Applications will be reviewed to ensure they meet the minimum requirements for eligibility.
Step 3: Technical Review
An international jury will evaluate applications based on the predefined criteria (see Terms and Conditions for more details).
Step 4: Validation
The final 50 participants will be notified by August 2025.
Click HERE to access the application form and begin your journey toward becoming a champion for intercultural dialogue.
The application deadline is June 22, 2025, 23:59 CET (Paris time).
Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully before applying.
