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Introduction to the UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025
Are you a young innovator passionate about shaping the future of education through foresight, research, and policymaking? The UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025 offers a fully funded, 8-month program that brings together 15 emerging youth leaders from around the world to co-create forward-thinking strategies for educational transformation. If you want to make a lasting impact on how the world approaches learning, this fellowship is your opportunity to lead and influence global dialogue.
This unique program is not just a fellowship but a global platform that empowers young people with the skills and networks to change the world.
About the UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025
Offered by UNICEF Innocenti—the United Nations Children’s Research Office based in Florence, Italy—the Youth Foresight Fellowship is designed to empower youth aged 15 to 25 with tools to imagine, explore, and shape the future of education. UNICEF believes that young people should have a voice in policies that impact them most, especially when it comes to education and childhood development.
This 8-month fellowship provides participants with professional mentorship, structured foresight training, exposure to UNICEF global platforms, and direct participation in shaping the educational future of children worldwide. Fellows collaborate to develop local and global foresight projects and actively contribute to UNICEF’s flagship initiatives, including the Leading Minds Conference 2025, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya.
Eligibility Criteria for the UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025
You are eligible to apply if you:
- Are between 15 and 25 years old at the time of application
- Demonstrate a deep interest in education transformation, youth empowerment, or community leadership
- Have prior experience in youth advocacy, educational innovation, or public engagement
- Are comfortable communicating in English (fluency is preferred)
- Can commit to an 8-month hybrid fellowship, including remote collaboration and participation in in-person events when necessary
UNICEF encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented or marginalized communities. No formal academic qualification is required—what matters is your passion, insight, and drive.
Benefits of the UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025
- Fully Funded Fellowship: UNICEF covers participation costs, including travel and stipends, ensuring all fellows can fully engage without financial barriers.
- Expert Foresight Training: Fellows are trained in futures thinking, scenario planning, policy design, and systems innovation—skills essential for shaping the future of education.
- Global Mentorship and Collaboration: Work alongside experts in the field of education, foresight, and social innovation, and collaborate with a global cohort of like-minded youth leaders.
- Impact on UNICEF’s Strategy: Fellows will directly influence the development of UNICEF foresight tools and global publications, including key contributions to the Leading Minds Conference.
- Public Speaking and Policy Exposure: Get the opportunity to present your ideas to global leaders, development agencies, and policymakers through UNICEF’s international events and reports.
- Certification and Alumni Network: Upon completion, fellows receive formal recognition and become part of a global alumni network of changemakers driving educational reform.
Throughout the program, fellows will engage in creative problem-solving workshops, mentorship check-ins, peer feedback sessions, and contribute to national or regional foresight strategies supported by UNICEF Innocenti.
Application Requirements
To apply, you will need:
- A short personal statement (max 500 words) explaining your background and motivation
- A sample of your past work or community engagement (this can be a project, blog, video, or research paper)
- Contact information for one adult reference (non-family member)
- (Optional) A short video introducing yourself and your ideas
All application materials should be submitted in English. Selected fellows will receive support to participate fully, regardless of location or financial need.
Selection Criteria
Candidates will be chosen based on
- Their commitment to education and youth development
- Clarity and feasibility of their ideas
- Creativity in imagining future possibilities
- Willingness to collaborate and engage in team learning
- Regional and gender diversity
A selection panel from UNICEF Innocenti and partner organizations will assess all applications.
How to Apply for the UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025
Interested applicants should follow these steps:
- Visit the UNICEF Innocenti Youth Foresight Fellowship page
- Read the full program guidelines
- Complete the online application form
- Upload your supporting materials
- Submit before the August 15, 2025, deadline
Final Thoughts
The UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025 offers an extraordinary opportunity for young visionaries to shape the future of education and childhood. If you’re ready to go beyond advocacy and help design systems that truly serve future generations, this fellowship is your launchpad.
Don’t miss your chance to become one of 15 selected global fellows. Apply now and be part of the youth-powered revolution in education.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
See also:
Tokyo University Amgen Scholars Program 2025: Apply Now!
The Letten Prize 2025 for Researchers: Apply Now!
World Trade Organization Internship Program 2025
Apply for the $5,000 Pathways Access Scholarship
