Call for Applications · Second Edition Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme
Application Deadline extended to 26 July 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Lead Change Through Intercultural Leadership
As societies become increasingly interconnected yet fragmented by polarisation, inequality, and rapid technological change, there is a growing need for leaders who can bridge divides, foster trust, and mobilise collective action across differences.
The Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme is UNESCO’s flagship initiative for emerging leaders who are driving social cohesion, inclusion, and peace through intercultural dialogue. The programme is founded on the conviction that intercultural dialogue is not simply a communication tool — it is a transformative form of leadership that equips people and communities to navigate complexity, build trust across differences, and develop shared solutions to common challenges.
Through leadership development, mentorship, community action, and global engagement, the programme builds a new generation of intercultural leaders who translate dialogue into meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
2026 Theme: Human Connection and Dialogue in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is transforming how people communicate, learn, work, and engage across cultures — creating new opportunities for participation, education, and connection while raising urgent questions about trust, inclusion, representation, and equality.
Participants will explore how AI is reshaping intercultural relationships and social cohesion, engaging with challenges including:
Misinformation, hate speech, and online polarisation
Algorithmic bias, stereotyping, and digital discrimination
Unequal access to technology, infrastructure, education, and digital skills
The representation of diverse cultures, languages, and knowledge systems within AI
At the same time, participants will examine how AI can advance intercultural understanding through multilingual communication, accessibility, civic participation, cultural preservation, conflict prevention, and new forms of cross-border collaboration.
Through this lens, participants will develop dialogue-based responses that place human connection and intercultural understanding at the centre of technological change.
Selected participants will join a global community of intercultural leaders and receive the support, resources, and platform to advance dialogue-driven initiatives, contribute to international policy conversations, and help build more inclusive and peaceful societies.
The programme forms part of UNESCO’s Road to Peace: Dialogue and Action for Tolerance and Intercultural Understanding initiative.
Call for applications - OPEN
Application deadline extended to 26 July 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Are you ready to lead change in your community? Apply for the Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme today! Click HERE to access the call for application and begin your journey toward becoming a champion for intercultural dialogue.
Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully before applying.
