UNICEF Announces the 2026 Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education for Young Nigerians – Win $20,000

Job Description

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UNICEF, through the Global Children’s Fund, has opened applications for the 2026 Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education—a prestigious opportunity designed to support young Nigerians driving climate learning, environmental awareness, and community resilience.

This fellowship provides up to $20,000 in funding to scale youth-led climate-education initiatives and empowers young leaders with mentorship, technical support, and global exposure.

A Platform for Young Innovators to Create Lasting Impact

The fellowship is built on a central vision: young people are not just vulnerable to climate change; they are key agents of change who can help communities understand, adapt, and respond to climate challenges.

UNICEF’s programme combines grant funding, capacity building, training, and international visibility to help participants strengthen their work and shape the future of climate education globally.

Selected fellows may implement or expand projects such as:

• School-based climate clubs and education programmes
• Digital climate-learning tools and platforms
• Community outreach and youth engagement initiatives
• Storytelling, media advocacy, and awareness campaigns
• Policy or rights-based climate-education activities

In addition to the project grant, fellows receive a stipend and gain access to UNICEF researchers, educators, and climate experts who provide ongoing guidance throughout the programme.

Participants will also join a global network of youth climate innovators, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and continued growth.

Key Benefits of the 2026 Fellowship

Successful applicants will receive:

• Up to $20,000 in project funding
• A fellowship stipend
• Technical mentorship from UNICEF partners and climate-education specialists
• Media visibility and global storytelling opportunities
• Training in leadership, systems thinking, advocacy, research, and community engagement
• Access to a global community of youth leaders working on climate education

Eligibility Criteria

The fellowship is open to young people aged 10 to 30 who are leading or representing a youth-driven climate-education initiative.

Eligible initiatives include:

• School or community climate clubs
• Curriculum development or educational programmes
• Digital or media-based educational content
• Rights-based or climate-justice-oriented campaigns
• Partnerships with local authorities or grassroots organisations

Applicants must:

• Commit 4–5 hours per week from February 2026 to July 2027
• Be comfortable working in English
• Demonstrate passion, leadership, and the potential for long-term impact

What Fellows Will Do

Throughout the programme, selected youth fellows will:

• Strengthen, expand, and document their climate-education projects
• Contribute to youth-led research and foresight studies
• Develop innovative learning tools, curricula, and advocacy campaigns
• Produce stories, insights, and evidence to advance climate education
• Participate in global dialogues, conferences, and policy engagements