Applications Invited for Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education

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About the Organization

UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight drives change for children and young people by generating evidence, collecting data, featuring the voices of children and offering foresight on frontier issues and emerging practices. Our work aims to inform policy and advocacy that will eventually help UNICEF and the global community protect the lives and rights of children, young people and families.

Led by Director Bo Viktor Nylund, UNICEF Innocenti is sustained by a passionate team of experts. Our research and foresight units are rich and diverse knowledge banks that bring multidisciplinary approaches and informed analysis to research and foresight.

About the Fellowship  

Are you passionate about climate education and transforming the way the world responds to the climate crisis?

This is your chance to help reimagine climate education, so that every child, everywhere, grows up prepared, empowered, and able to shape a just and sustainable future.  

As a Leading Minds Climate Education Fellow, you will join a global cohort elevating youth-led initiatives, conducting research and foresight, shaping policy and helping design strategic convenings. Selected initiatives are eligible to receive grant support of up to $20,000.

Fellowship Overview:

The UNICEF Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education is an 18-month initiative (February 2026 - July 2027) that empowers young people to drive systemic transformation in climate education. We frame climate education as both a fundamental right and a catalyst for intergenerational justice, supporting youth-led research, foresight, and advocacy to influence education policy and climate strategy globally.

The Fellowship is designed to work at two complementary levels: 

• Supporting individual youth fellows to generate research, foresight, and advocacy that surface systemic barriers and enablers for climate education, and 
• Documenting and learning from youth-led initiatives (“Bright Spots”) to anchor these insights in practice.

Together, these tracks will inform frameworks, policy recommendations, and advocacy strategies that can enable system-level change in youth-led and youth-centered climate education. The programme is not focused on scaling pilots, but on elevating evidence, lessons, and opportunities to inform global and regional strategies.

UNICEF is selecting up to 12 young climate leaders (ages 10–30) who are strengthening climate education in their schools, communities, and countries in both formal and informal settings.

A youth-led climate education initiative can include, for example:

• School system integration: curriculum development, educational networks, or school-based climate clubs;
• Government partnerships: collaborative models working with education authorities or policymakers;
• Rights-based and justice frameworks: initiatives linking climate education to equity, justice, and human rights;
• Community resilience and informal education: local projects, campaigns, or community-led learning; and
• Digital campaigns and media: online platforms, storytelling, or awareness-raising initiatives.

If you're helping others learn, adapt, engage, or act on the climate crisis — this Fellowship is for you.

What will you do:

• Document, strengthen and elevate your climate education “Bright Spot”;
• Contribute to youth-led research, foresight, and systems thinking;
• Shape policy and participate in national and global dialogues;
• Produce stories, tools, and evidence that improve education systems; and
• Co-design and co-host strategic convenings.

Why apply:

• Stipend for work and contributions during the fellowship period;
• Technical mentorship and collaboration with research partners;
• Visibility and speaking opportunities;
• Hands-on experience in child rights, foresight, youth engagement, and advocacy; and
• Leadership development and access to a global network of youth advocates and leaders.
• Each selected fellow will be eligible for up to $20,000 in grant support

Eligibility

Young people ages 10–30 who are:

• Leading or representing a climate education initiative;
• Passionate about climate action, climate education, and creating positive change;
• Ready to dedicate four to five hours a week from February 2026 to July 2027; and
• Comfortable working in English (other UN languages are an asset).

How to Apply

The application consists of 6 sections (estimated time: 45-60 minutes) and requires a 90-second video submission.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2025

Apply now

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Education and Education Technology (edtech) Environment and Sustainability Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocacy Leadership Others