Youth for Peace: Intercultural Leadership Programme @United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially opened applications for the second edition of its Youth for Peace: Intercultural Leadership Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at empowering emerging leaders to promote social cohesion, inclusion, and peace through intercultural dialogue.

As societies become increasingly interconnected yet challenged by polarization, inequality, and rapid technological transformation, UNESCO highlights the urgent need for leaders capable of bridging divides and fostering trust across cultures. This programme is designed to equip participants with the leadership skills needed to mobilize collective action and create meaningful change within their communities.

The 2026 edition of the programme is centered on the theme “Human Connection and Dialogue in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Participants will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping communication, learning, and intercultural engagement while addressing critical challenges such as misinformation, online polarization, algorithmic bias, digital inequality, and the representation of diverse cultures in AI systems. The programme also emphasizes the potential of AI to enhance intercultural understanding, accessibility, and global collaboration.

Selected participants will join a global network of intercultural leaders and gain access to mentorship, resources, and platforms to advance dialogue-driven initiatives. The programme is structured in two phases. The first phase focuses on strengthening leadership capacity through an immersive online training programme covering topics such as intercultural leadership, strategic communication, conflict transformation, adaptive leadership, and the ethical use of AI for social impact.

In the second phase, participants will design and implement an intercultural dialogue initiative aligned with the programme theme. Approved projects will receive seed funding of up to USD 10,000 and must be implemented within six months at the local or national level. Participants will continue to benefit from mentorship and peer support throughout the implementation period.

UNESCO is seeking applicants between the ages of 25 and 45 as of 22 October 2026, who demonstrate a strong record of leadership and commitment to intercultural dialogue and social impact. Candidates must be open to collaboration, self-reflection, and engaging across cultural differences, as well as be fully available to participate in all programme activities.

The selection process includes application submission, eligibility screening, technical assessment by an international jury, and final selection. A total of 50 young leaders will be selected and notified by mid-October 2026.

Interested candidates must submit their applications through the official UNESCO portal on or before 19 July 2026 at 23:59 CET (Paris time). Applications can be completed via the official link:

Application Link

This programme offers a unique opportunity for emerging leaders to contribute to global peacebuilding efforts while developing innovative, dialogue-based solutions in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.