2025 UNESCO-NESTLÉ Youth Impact Program

Applications are currently open for the 2025 UNESCO-NESTLÉ Youth Impact – Because You Matter Programme. This initiative, known as YOUTH IMPACT – BECAUSE YOU MATTER – For Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action, is a joint effort between UNESCO and Nestlé, supported by the Nestlé Youth Entrepreneurship Platform. It aims to empower young people to make a difference in their communities through climate action and environmental sustainability projects by equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to implement their innovative ideas.

Themes

The program focuses on the following key areas:

• Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies that benefit local communities
• Sustainable food systems
• Regenerative agricultural practices
• Packaging sustainability innovations

Benefits of the UNESCO-NESTLÉ Youth Impact Program

Participants in the program will receive various benefits, including:

• Immersion Training: Engage in specialized workshops on entrepreneurship, project management, and youth-led initiatives, led by Nestlé experts worldwide.
• Online Contextualized Trainings: Gain access to tailored training sessions based on your region and project theme, addressing local challenges with the help of UNESCO regional partners.
• Monthly Online Trainings and Gatherings: Learn from UNESCO and its partners about project management and integrating societal issues. Experience Nestlé’s Innovation Box, where you will explore ideation, consumer validation, prototyping, and pitching techniques.
• One-on-One Mentorship: Receive personalized guidance from a Nestlé executive mentor who will support you throughout your project and beyond.

Additionally, 100 project leaders will be selected globally to receive:

• A grant of USD 8,500 each
• Training and one-on-one mentorship throughout their project implementation

A total of 100 grants of USD 8,500 are available worldwide, distributed across UNESCO regions as follows:

• 20 grants for Africa
• 20 grants for the Arab Region
• 20 grants for Asia and the Pacific
• 20 grants for Europe and North America
• 20 grants for Latin America and the Caribbean

The 100 grantees will embark on an exclusive six-month transformational training and mentoring program with experts from Nestlé and UNESCO.

Requirements for the UNESCO-NESTLÉ Youth Impact Program

Eligible participants must meet the following criteria:

• The primary and direct beneficiaries must be young individuals, youth-led organizations, enterprises, associations, or networks.
• Applicants must be recognized as “youth” in their respective countries or, in the absence of a national definition, be within the age range of 18-30 years old from the beginning to the end of the project.
• Applicants should be engaged in activism, changemaking initiatives, or entrepreneurship, either individually or as part of an organization or association.
• Youth-led organizations and networks aiming for grassroots impact with a regional, national, or local scope, or chapters of international organizations, must be based in the country where their project will be implemented.

All proposed projects must:

• Align with the initiative’s themes listed above
• Be completed within six months
• Have a local or national scope
• Be implemented by a team of at least three young people with a clearly identified project leader

For more details, including the selection process, please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

Selection Process

The selection process will follow this timeline:

• Call for Applications: March 18 – April 8, 2025
• Project Evaluation: April 9 – June 9, 2025
• Award Ceremony: September 18, 2025
• Capability Building Program: August 2025 – April 2026

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications is April 18, 2025.

How to Apply

If you are interested and meet the qualifications, visit UNESCO’s application portal at www.nestleyouthentrepreneurship.com to apply.

For more details, check the UNESCO webpage.