UNICEF Opens Applications for the 2026 Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education | Up to $20,000 Available for Nigerian Youths
The Global Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has announced a major opportunity for young Nigerians to apply for a groundbreaking climate-action fellowship.
The 2026 Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education offers up to $20,000 to support youth-led initiatives that strengthen climate learning and community resilience.
This programme is designed for young innovators who are already involved in climate-education efforts — or those who have strong ideas and the passion to build impactful projects.
A Platform to Turn Passion Into Real Impact
UNICEF’s fellowship combines funding, mentorship, training and global visibility to help young people shape how climate education is understood and implemented worldwide.
The core belief behind the programme is simple: Young people are not just affected by climate change — they are leaders who can help communities understand, adapt and respond to it.
Also Apply: Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant 2025 | Link to Apply
According to UNICEF, selected fellows will receive grants of up to $20,000 to expand their initiatives, including:
- School-based climate clubs
- Digital learning tools
- Community outreach projects
- Storytelling and media campaigns
- Advocacy or policy-influencing work
In addition to funding, fellows also receive a stipend, and work closely with UNICEF researchers, educators and climate experts — gaining access to technical guidance, policy insights and tools to scale their projects.
Participants will also become part of a global network of youth innovators working at the intersection of climate action and education.
For many Nigerian youths seeking support to grow promising ideas, this fellowship offers a rare chance to turn early efforts into long-term, structured impact.
Fellowship Benefits: What Selected Youths Will Gain
Selected fellows will receive:
- Up to $20,000 in project funding
- A fellowship stipend
- Technical mentorship from UNICEF partners and climate-education experts
- Visibility and media opportunities across global platforms
- Leadership and advocacy training (systems thinking, storytelling, research, community engagement)
- Global networking with other climate-education leaders
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to young people aged 10 to 30 who are leading or representing a youth-driven climate-education initiative.
Eligible projects include:
- School-based climate clubs or curriculum development
- Community workshops and awareness campaigns
- Digital media, creative storytelling or educational content
- Partnerships with local authorities
- Rights-based or climate-justice-focused education initiatives
Applicants must be able to commit 4–5 hours per week from February 2026 to July 2027, and should be comfortable working in English.
What Fellows Will Do
Selected fellows will continue building their climate-education projects while receiving structured support. Activities include:
- Strengthening and documenting their climate-education work
- Contributing to youth-led research and foresight studies
- Designing innovative educational tools and campaigns
- Producing stories, evidence and resources to guide climate learning
- Participating in global events, dialogues and policy conversations with climate leaders
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