Call for applications: Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

Call for applications are open for the  Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa. Are you a youth-led organisation driving solutions to address the intersection of human mobility, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and environmental sustainability? Do you want to strengthen your knowledge on the nexus, expand your impact to implement or scale up your Climate Mobility solutions? The International Organization for Migration (IOM) invites you to apply for the Youth Capacity Enhancement Programme on Climate Mobility 2025–2026: Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa.

The why – Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

Climate and environmental changes, driven by slow and rapid-onset processes and events like floods, landslides, and droughts, and ecosystem degradation, pose significant risks to the wellbeing, livelihoods, jobs, safety, and security of marginalized groups across Africa. These groups, including children, women, youth, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by the intersection of climate change with economic, social, and gender inequalities. These challenges profoundly influence human mobility, reshaping migration trends, patterns, and experiences.

Climate events have already displaced millions of people and forced others to undertake dangerous journeys in search of safety and stability (IDMC 2023). As climate impacts intensify, even more people are expected to be on the move, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable solutions to address these interconnected crises. Globally, 31 per cent of the international migrant stock is under 30 years old. In Africa, youth are more likely to migrate than other age groups, driven by the need for employment and better livelihoods. While young people are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change’s impact on human mobility, they also hold immense, often unrealized potential to drive solutions.

IOM has advanced meaningful youth engagement through a series of targeted initiatives. For example, youth engagement has been central to the Kampala Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change and its continental expansion, KDMECC-AFRICA. IOM also supports youth participation in key policy processes, including advocacy efforts in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes including Local and Regional Conferences of Youth (COYs), and other Rio Convention policy processes, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive youth representation in policymaking. Furthermore, through capacity building and awareness raising, young people interested in climate-induced human mobility have enhanced their understanding, knowledge and skills, enabling meaningful participation of youth in implementation of different policies.

About the programme – Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

This programme is a direct response to youth recommendations and is designed to equip youth-led civil society organisations (CSOs) in Africa with technical expertise, resources, and mentorship to implement bold, innovative, and community-driven climate mobility solutions.

What the programme offers – Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

1. Capacity Strengthening: Increase your knowledge in the MECC nexus, project development, M&E, reporting, resource mobilization, communications and advocacy.
2. Networking and mentorship: Connect with our experts and fellow youth leaders working on climate mobility solutions and other key stakeholders.
3. Visibility & policy engagement: Get the chance to showcase your work and promote youth-led solutions into regional and global discussions.

Programme components

1. Submission of application with projects concept ideas

2. Selection of participants by IOM

3. Online training (August–September 2025):

• Four Webinars covering: Introduction to climate change and human mobility; Project conceptualization (proposal development, budgeting, work plans); Monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting; Communication and advocacy
• Webinars will be organized via Zoom and will be conducted in English, French, Arabics with Portuguese interpretation available.
• Each session will cover a duration of 2 hours.
• Exact dates and times will be communicated with the selected participants only.

4. Revising Climate Mobility Concept Notes to project proposals

• Between the online and physical sessions, based on the learnings in the webinars, youth will independently work on revising their initial concept notes shared within the application to a project proposal, and submit to IOM before the physical workshop.

5. Physical training workshop (October 2025) 

• A 3-day immersive workshop to refine project proposals, learn from peers, and pitch projects to an expert panel.
• Exact location, dates and times will be communicated with the selected participants.
• IOM will provide logistical support and reimburse travel costs for selected participants.

6. Certification

• Participants will receive a certificate of completion of the programme for successfully completing all online and in person sessions.

After the end of the training programme, alumni will have the possibility to participate in IOM’s project competition for local climate mobility solutions. This competition will aim to support youth led CSO to implement Climate mobility solutions at local level by providing financial or in-kind support to a selected number of youth-led organisations who have innovative and scalable project ideas that can create sustainable impact at the local levels. More information to come soon.

 

Who can apply to the programme? – Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

Eligibility criteria

• Age: applicants must be aged 18-35 years old.
• Nationality: nationality from an African country.
• Organization: representative of a civil society organization which is youth-led (majority under 35) and legally registered in an African country.
• Experience: the organization must have between 2-5 years of experience in leading environmental or social projects with local communities and have implemented at least 2 such projects recently.
• Project idea: applicants must submit a project idea and its concept for an innovative climate mobility solution they are or want to work on. The project must be for the benefit of communities and youth.
• Travel: applicants must have a valid passport at least until May 2026 and be able to obtain necessary travel and health documents and insurances.
• Language: proficiency in English, French, Arabic or Portuguese is required, and local language skills are an advantage.
• Commitment: applicants must be able to commit to all programme components, including online training, physical workshops, and mentorship activities, and the ethical values.

Values: IOM organized activities are guided by high ethical and professional standards and a commitment to integrity, truthfulness, and honesty at all times. All the participants would have to adhere to these values, including:

• Freedom from discrimination: IOM promotes an environment that at all times respects the dignity, worth and equality of all people, without regard to race, gender, religion, color, national origin, marital status, biological sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, or political conviction. 
• Freedom from harassment:  IOM promotes an environment free of harassment, which the Organization has a duty to provide.  Any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual or gender harassment, as well as physical or verbal abuse is prohibited.
• Gender equality: IOM endeavors to uphold the equality of men and women and contribute to remove all barriers to gender equality.

Thematic areas for project ideas and concepts

Through the application form, applicants are required to submit a project concept idea outlining a proposed climate mobility intervention that they would be willing to implement with their CSOs. Thematic areas include, but are not limited to:

• Migration as an adaptation strategy – including planned relocations, labour migration, just transition, and climate security.
• Early warning systems & early action – strengthening climate preparedness and response mechanisms in disaster-prone areas.
• Resilience building – promoting resilient livelihoods, community adaptation strategies, and nature-based solutions.
• Diaspora & migrants for climate action – leveraging migrant communities and networks for climate resilience initiatives.
• Sustainable solutions for climate-induced displacement – addressing basic needs, and long-term support for displaced populations.
• Data, Ai & research on climate migration – generating evidence to inform policies and decision-making.
• Policy & governance – strengthening integration of climate mobility into national policies and international frameworks.
• Communication & storytelling – using digital media, art, and journalism to amplify voices and experiences in climate mobility.

 How to apply – Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

1. Application period: 15 May – 15 June 2025.
2. For details visit the official website of the program
3. Application deadline: 15 June 2025, 6pm UTC (9 pm EAT)
4. Application form: ENG | FR | AR | PT (Familiarize yourself with the application questions and requirements before applying. Find the application questions here ENG | FR | AR | PT)
5. Application form includes a section to submit a Project idea and concept for a climate mobility solution that applicants CSOs would be able to implement in 2026.
6. Required documents that will be requested at a later stage depending on initial assesment of the applications:
   • Proof of organization registration
   • Letter from the organization on the representation
   • Curriculum Vitae of the lead applicant/representative of the organisation
   • Proof of previous project implementation (e.g., reports, photos, website, social media)