Call for applications for Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education is open!! Apply now !! Join the global cohort transforming the future !!
The Leading Minds Climate Education Fellowship (LMCEF) is an 18-month youth-led program at the intersection of education, equity, and climate action. It treats climate education as both a right and a lever for systemic transformation, equipping young leaders to shape curricula, governance, and practice through:
- Youth-led foresight and participatory research
- Documentation and strengthening of “Bright Spots” in climate education
- Storytelling, advocacy, and communications
- Knowledge-sharing across local, national, and global platforms
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LMCEF focuses on two levels. The first one is local action, where they focus on strengthening and amplifying youth-led and community-based climate education initiatives. The second one is systemic transformation, where they focus on translating youth insights into advocacy tools, policies, and frameworks that influence national and global education systems. The Fellowship is led by UNICEF Innocenti’s Youth Engagement & Strategy (YES) team, in collaboration with partners and an advisory group.
The cohort will include 12 Leading Minds Fellows (ages 10 – 30), consisting of a set of Bright Spot initiatives (youth-led or youth-centered community projects) demonstrating transformative climate education practices and a set of thematic fellows to lead on specific outputs, including policy, ACE, Foresight, AI etc.
Applicants can join the fellowship programme as a Bright Spot Fellow (Youth-Led Initiative) or a Thematic Fellow (Research-Oriented). The Bright Spot Fellow will be the representative of a youth-led or community-based initiative that is already implementing or testing a transformative climate education approach in their community (school, neighborhood, village, city, or online network). Bright Spots may be eligible for a grant (separate from the individual stipend) to document, strengthen, and potentially scale their work.
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Thematic Fellow (Research-Oriented) will focus more deeply on one key area, such as policy and governance, communications and storytelling, foresight and futures, data science and AI
They will coordinate with the core team and help lead specific research and foresight processes and ensure that insights are coherent across all program outputs.
As the Leading Minds Climate Education Fellow, they 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. Bright Spot initiatives may receive a separate grant to support documentation, evidence gathering, and strengthening of their model. Fellows will receive technical mentorship, opportunities for global visibility and speaking, access to advisory and partner networks, and opportunities to co-lead key events and sessions.
Benefits
- Each selected fellow will be eligible for up to $20,000 in grant support
- 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
- Leadership development and access to a global network of youth advocates and leaders.
Eligibilities
- Age: 10 to 30 years old. Young people aged 25 and under are highly encouraged to apply, including strong applicants younger than 15 (with appropriate safeguarding support).
- Track record: Demonstrated commitment to climate action, education, advocacy, research, innovation, or youth organizing.
- Skills: Facilitation, writing, quantitative analysis, research, creative work, or communication skills that support content production.
- Values: Collaborative, reflective, and committed to inclusive and justice-centered change.
- Availability: Able to dedicate 4 – 5 hours per week over 18 months and to participate in regular online meetings with UNICEF and partners.
- Networks: Access to engaged youth and/or climate networks is an advantage.
- Languages: Working proficiency in English is required; other UN languages are an asset.
Application Process
- Applicants are required to fill the application form by providing required information given in the “apply link” below.
- Applicants will need to submit the following:
- Completed online application form
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
- Motivation statement
- 90 seconds video submission (which may include a spoken statement, visuals from your initiative, or samples of your work)
Application Deadline: December 31, 2025 (22 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
