Deadline:30Th September, 2026
The 2026 Cohort of the Young Leaders Fellowship Programme, is a 16-week, hands-on leadership and project management fellowship designed to help university students transform ideas into meaningful initiatives within their campuses and communities.
The Young Leaders Fellowship Programme is open to young leaders between the ages of 18 and 29 who are currently enrolled in university studies at any level and are either already implementing an initiative or have an idea they would like to develop.
Rather than participating in a traditional leadership course, fellows will gain practical experience by developing and implementing initiatives connected to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Over the course of 16 weeks, fellows will participate in approximately two hours of structured learning and engagement per week, developing practical skills in areas such as leadership, project management, communication, teamwork, stakeholder engagement, problem-solving, budgeting, risk management, impact measurement, storytelling, pitching, and the responsible use of emerging tools such as AI and GenAI.
Benefits
Participants who successfully complete the Fellowship will benefit from:
- 16 weeks of hands-on leadership and project management training
- A Certificate of Learning with verifiable skills and a QR code
- The possibility of receiving seed grant support for selected projects
- Practical experience developing and implementing an initiative linked to the SDGs
- Leadership experience within their university campus and community
- Opportunities for their projects and achievements to be showcased internationally through UNY Global
- Access to information about internationally funded conferences, workshops, and youth opportunities
- Connection to a growing international network of young leaders
The programme is designed to ensure that participants graduate from the experience with more than theoretical knowledge. Fellows will be able to point to a real initiative they helped develop, implement, and document, providing tangible leadership and project experience that can support their future academic, professional, and community engagement.
Eligibility
Applicants should:
- Be between 18 and 29 years old
- Be currently enrolled in university studies, at any educational level
- Be implementing an initiative or have an idea for a future initiative
- Be willing to commit to the 16-week programme, approximately two hours per week
- Form or participate in a university hub of at least eight members
- Submit their application by September 30, 2026
For more information and application.