The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) recruits participants for its 2026 cohort of the Local Pathways Fellows. The 10-months fellowship program provides young leaders with a platform, capacity building, training opportunities and contacts of leading development experts and practitioners. The Local Pathways Fellowship is unpaid. Fellows will benefit from global visibility and exposure. Young candidates (18-30 years) working towards achieving any of the Sustainable Development Goals and representing any city or country in the world are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until 21 December 2025. Link to Local Pathways
biodiversity
Yale University — Young Global Scholars Program
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) offers two-week academic summer programs for high school students from all around the world. The program offers four interdisciplinary sessions on campus at Yale (USA), including sessions on Innovations in Science & Technology and Solving Global Challenges. YYGS offers the opportunity for students to apply for need-based financial aid. Furthermore, YYGS will waive the application fee if it constitutes a significant financial burden for the student’s family. The application deadline is 07 January 2026. About Yale Young Global Scholars
Global Biodiversity Information Facility — Capacity Enhancement Support Program 2026
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) welcomes proposals for funding under the 2022 Capacity Enhancement Support Program, which seeks to enhance the long-term capacity of GBIF participants through collaborative projects. The program provides co-funding to current GBIF participants. The maximum funding request is €20 thousand per project. Concept notes must be submitted by 19 January 2026. Capacity Enhancement Support Program
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund — Biodiversity Conservation in the Caribbean Islands
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) makes small grants in support of biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean “Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot.” Grants support community-based sustainable small-scale fisheries, protection and conservation of endangered marine species, marine protected areas management, and activities that promote improved marine and coastal ecosystems. Grants are up to US$50 thousand. Eligibility for grants extends to NGOs, community groups, private enterprises, universities, and other civil society applicants. The deadline for letters of inquiry is 23 January 2026. Details here
European Commission — Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships
The European Commission, through the Euraxess initiative, offers the Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships to support researchers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. ZUKOnnect aims to extend research networks and environments through on-campus research stays at thirteen departments of the University of Konstanz. Subject areas include ecology, limnology, ecotoxicology, botany, amongst many others. The fellowship offers a stipend of €1,300/month for doctoral students and €2,000/month for postdoctoral researchers, as well as travel expenses and access to resources and events. The deadline for applications is 01 February 2026. Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships
Action for Nature — International Young Eco-Hero Awards 2026
This program honors the work of young people between the ages of 8 and 16 who have completed successful projects in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research, and protection of the natural world. The selected individuals are awarded a cash prize (US$500) and certificate, as well as public recognition. The annual competition is open internationally. The application deadline is 28 February 2026. Become an Eco-Hero
IUCN — European Rapid-Response Fund for Invasive Alien Species
The IUCN Save Our Species (SOS) invites applications to the European Invasive Alien Species Rapid‑Response Fund. The fund offers quick-release grants ranging from €10 thousand to €50 thousand for projects up to 12 months, to help conservation actors swiftly respond to recent incursions of invasive alien species in Europe before they become established. The fund supports organisations operating within the EU (including the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira). The call remains open until 10 February 2027. More information
Earth Journalism Network — Virtual Media Workshop: Strengthen Reporting on Environmental Threats and Solutions in the Western Balkans
Earth Journalism Network (EJN) hosts a two-day virtual media workshop (January 2026) for journalists in the Western Balkans interested in reporting on environmental threats and solutions. Applicants can be from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. EJN will award 10-12 grants to journalists to support in-depth reporting on the different threats to biodiversity and innovative and scalable solutions to protect and conserve ecosystems. The application deadline is 26 November 2025. Virtual Media Workshop
University of Turku — Postdoctoral Fellowship
The University of Turku offers up to 10 three-year research positions in Finland, open to researchers from any discipline within the university’s five faculties (including Biodiversity and Sustainability). Candidates must have a PhD completed within the last eight years and meet the MSCA mobility rule (not having lived in Finland for more than 12 of the past 36 months). Fellows receive full salary funding to carry out their own research project. Applicants must apply online by 09 January 2026. TIES2 Postdoctoral Fellowship
German Government — International Climate Initiative Small Grants
Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) supports projects on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity projects that have climate relevance. The focus of the IKI Small Grants scheme is to provide support to the implementation of projects addressing the global loss of biodiversity in connection with climate change. IKI Small Grants selects project proposals and provides funding between €60 thousand and €200 thousand. Not-for-profit organizations and for-profit non-government organizations, if they pursue strictly non-profit objectives, are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026. IKI Small Grants