Apply Now for the 11th Edition of UNAOC’s Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF)

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is inviting youth-led organizations worldwide to apply for the 11th version of its Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF). This distinctive funding alternative helps initiatives that foster peace, inclusion, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and equip younger leaders with the capability to drive sustainable social change of their communities.

What is the Youth Solidarity Fund?

Established in 2008, the Youth Solidarity Fund was created in direct response to calls from younger civil society leaders advocating for devoted funding mechanisms for youth-led organizations. The fund gives seed funding, capability constructing, and mentorship to youth-led organizations implementing revolutionary approaches to intercultural or interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and social cohesion.

Key Features of the Youth Solidarity Fund

• Seed Grants: Up to USD 25,000 for revolutionary initiatives selling peace, cultural and non secular pluralism, and inclusion.

• Capacity Building: Structured coaching and mentorship packages to strengthen organizational improvement, undertaking administration, and sustainability.

• Global Reach: Since 2008, YSF has invested over USD 2.59 million, funding 80 youth-led initiatives throughout 43 nations, positively impacting over 3.4 million beneficiaries.

Why Apply for the Youth Solidarity Fund?

In as we speak’s world, characterised by rising stigma, discrimination, hate speech, and violent extremism, the position of younger individuals as peacebuilders is extra crucial than ever. YSF empowers youth to:

• Design and implement initiatives addressing intolerance, discrimination, polarization, and identity-based conflicts.

• Promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue as instruments for peace and inclusion.

• Engage with decision-makers and group leaders to create systemic change.

Who Can Apply?

YSF is open to youth-led, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations operational for at the very least two years in eligible nations. Organizations should:

• Have management primarily aged 18-35 years.

• Be formally registered and exhibit accountability, transparency, and inclusive practices.

• Have initiatives fully developed, managed, and coordinated by youth.

Eligible Project Types

Projects ought to deal with:

• Intercultural and interfaith dialogue to stop violent extremism.

• Implementation of UN frameworks similar to Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535 on Youth, Peace, and Security, and Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

• Combating hate speech, racism, xenophobia, and non secular intolerance in keeping with UN methods and motion plans.

Geographical Coverage

The 11th version welcomes functions from youth-led organizations working in Official Development Assistance (ODA)-listed nations throughout Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, together with however not restricted to:

List of eligible nations, in alphabetical order:

Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte D’Ivoire; Cuba; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Republic of the Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; India; Indonesia; Islamic Republic of Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kiribati; Kosovo *; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Marshall Islands; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Federal States of Micronesia; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Pakistan; Palau; State of Palestine; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Rwanda; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; Serbia; Sierra Leone; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; United Republic of Tanzania; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tonga; Tunisia; Türkiye; Turkmenistan; Tuvalu; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe.

References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council decision 1244 (1999)

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated based mostly on:

• Clear targets advancing peace, intercultural understanding, and inclusion.

• Innovative actions fostering collaboration amongst youth from numerous cultural and non secular backgrounds.

• Impact potential with long-term sustainability and scalability.

• Strong monitoring and analysis plans guaranteeing accountability and measurable outcomes.

Application Deadline

🗓️ Deadline: Friday, 15 August 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (New York).

How to Apply

1. Prepare your application package deal, together with:

   • Completed on-line application kind.

   • Organization registration certificates and statutes.

   • Organizational chart displaying ages of decision-makers.

   • Biography of Executive/Managing Director.

   • CV of Project Coordinator (aged 18-35), plus their passport/ID scan.

2. Submit your application by way of the UNAOC on-line portal earlier than the deadline.

Impact Stories

✅ “UNAOC through YSF provided our organization with capacity development and mentorship that increased our ability to mobilize resources and apply sustainable models.” – Nthabiseng Modjadji, Project Coordinator, South Africa

✅ “YSF empowers youth to deconstruct structural inequalities and build peace, benefiting not just youth but entire societies.” – Sivatharsini Raveendran, Project Coordinator, Sri Lanka

Learn More and Apply

For full eligibility standards, pointers, and FAQs, go to the Youth Solidarity Fund webpage or contact ysf@unaoc.org for inquiries.