UNDP and Government of Italy launch new round of direct funding through Youth4Climate to support young climate leaders

Rome - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of Italy, has announced the launch of the Youth4Climate Call for Solutions 2026. This is the fourth edition of a global funding and learning opportunity that is designed to help young people and youth-led entities turn climate solutions into real-world impact. Applications will be open until 30 April 2026.

Across the world, young people are already taking climate action, often with a justice lens that connects climate to inequality, livelihoods, and rights. Despite young people under 30 making up close to half the world population, youth-led initiatives receive less than one percent of climate funding, and many face limited access to the technical and political support needed to implement and scale their work. Reports have shown that young innovators often identify access to funding as one of the biggest barriers to moving their ideas forward. This year’s Youth4Climate round of funding responds to that gap through direct catalytic funding, together with tailored technical guidance and networks to help youth-led solutions move from idea to implementation, demonstrate results, and scale.

“Young people are at the heart of implementing the climate transition. UNDP, with the Government of Italy’s support, has been helping to bridge a persistent gap in finance and support for youth-led innovation, while strengthening the skills and networks needed to deliver impact, including in support of Nationally Determined Contributions and national adaptation priorities.” 

— Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.

Since 2023, through the first three rounds of its Call for Solutions, Youth4Climate has allocated an envelope of US$4 million in direct funding to 150 youth-led climate projects across 59 countries. The 2026 Call builds on this track record to continue supporting solutions that are ready to be implemented or scaled.

Under the Call for Solutions 2026, each applicant can request up to $30,000 in funding. Selected awardees will also benefit from capacity development opportunities and networks to strengthen their long-term impact.

Following three successful rounds of support for youth-led solutions, the 2026 Call expands its thematic scope to align with evolving climate action priorities. This year, applications are invited under the following themes:

• Sustainable Energy - Accelerating clean energy access and innovation.
• Food and Agriculture - Supporting food systems change.
• Climate, Peace, and Security - Strengthening peace-positive climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Oceans and Blue Economy - Protecting marine ecosystems, reducing pollution, and advancing inclusive, low-emission, and climate-resilient blue livelihoods.
• Architecture for Adaptation - Innovations in design, construction, materials, and spatial planning that integrate nature-based solutions and circular economy principles.
• Sustainable Fashion and Textiles - Alternative consumption and production pathways that reduce emissions, waste, and pollution, while promoting fair and safe labour, transparency, and cultural expression.

To ensure greater accessibility, the 2026 Call for Solutions will be accepting applications in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. We welcome proposals led by young women and Indigenous youth-led organizations, especially projects in Indigenous territories and approaches that strengthen land, water and tenure governance.

Young climate leaders and organizations are encouraged to apply by April 30, 2026. To apply and for detailed information on eligibility criteria and the application process, click here.

Youth4Climate (Y4C) is a global initiative, launched in May 2022, co-led by the Government of Italy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative has its Secretariat at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition, and is supported through the 8x1000 funds of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai.

Y4C brings together existing and new online and offline resources, tools, capacities, partnerships, networks and movements led by and designed for youth, with a strong focus on the implementation of solutions, for a more sustained impact on climate on the ground. It aims to foster an inclusive, safe and enabling environment for youth to lead and partner with other stakeholders on climate action.

For more information about the initiative, visit the Youth4Climate platform.
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Learn more broadly about UNDP’s work on, with and for youth here and on inclusion here.