The Aspire Leaders Program provides academic and professional development resources to students who are from backgrounds of social and financial adversity. All applicants must be between the ages of 18-26, come from a low-income background and be the first generation to attend university. Through the program, students will gain access to fully-funded HarvardX courses and participate in live seminars with Harvard University. Eligibility extends to students from all around the world as long as they are enrolled in an undergraduate program or have recently graduated (within three years). The application deadline is 10 July 2026. Aspire Leaders Program
early-career
Social Shifters — Global Innovation Challenge
Social Shifters announces the Global Innovation Challenge to help young leaders and founders solve the social or environmental issues that matter to them. The challenge seeks creative ideas, projects, and business solutions to the problems that matter to local communities and welcomes ideas from anywhere in the world. Participants compete for awards of up to US$15 thousand to deliver activities that improve lives, help communities, and protect the planet. All ideas must be led by young people aged between 18-30 years old. The application deadline is 31 August 2026. Link to Social Shifters
MDPI — Forest Best PhD Thesis Award
The journal Forests invites nominations for its annual award recognizing outstanding research published in the field of forest science. The competition is open to authors of research or review articles published in the journal during the 2025 calendar year. The editorial board selects winners based on the scientific merit and impact of the work. The program offers a prize of CHF 500 and a certificate, along with an opportunity to publish one additional paper free of charge in the journal after peer review. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2026. Best PhD Thesis Award
Africa Centre for Energy Policy — Energy Leaders Innovation Challenge 2026
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) invites applications for the Future Energy Leaders Innovation Challenge. The program is open to young African innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are developing sustainable energy solutions to address energy poverty and climate change across the continent. Selected participants receive technical mentorship, access to industry networks, and a grant of US$5 thousand to pilot or scale their innovations. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old and residents of an African country. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026. Energy Innovation Challenge
Audi Environmental Foundation — One Young World Scholarship
The Audi Environmental Foundation offers scholarships for young leaders dedicated to accelerating social and environmental change. The program is open to individuals aged 18 to 30 from all countries who demonstrate leadership skills and a commitment to creating positive impact through new technologies or innovative solutions. Selected scholars receive full funding to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026, including travel, accommodation, and catering, as well as access to a global network of peers and mentors. Applications must be submitted by 01 June 2026. One Young World Scholarship
MDPI — Forest Young Investigator Award
MDPI, a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals, invites applications and nominations for the Forest 2026 Young Investigator Award. The winner will receive CHF 1000. This prize will be given to one young investigator in recognition of their excellence in the field of sustainability and sustainable development. Candidates must be under 35 years and be nominated by senior researchers. The deadline for nominations is 30 June 2026. Forest Young Investigator Award
UNESCO — Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest
UNESCO invites photographers aged 14 to 25 to participate in the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest. This competition encourages young people to document the shared heritage and cultural interactions along the historic Silk Roads, with the current cycle focusing on the theme “Life on the Silk Roads.” Participation is divided into two categories based on age: 14 to 17 years old and 18 to 25 years old. Three winners from each category will receive professional photography equipment, and approximately 60 selected photographs will be featured in a traveling exhibition and a commemorative photo album. The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2026. Silk Roads Photo Contest
African Plant Nutrition Institute — Phosphorus Fellowship
The African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) accepts applications for the Young African Phosphorus Fellowship. This program aims to support early-career scientists working in African National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems institutions or universities who are conducting innovative research on phosphorus management in African agro-ecosystems. APNI will award up to five fellowships of US$5,000 each. Applicants must be full-time scientists at an African NARES institution or university. The application deadline is 07 July 2026. Phosphorus Fellowship
Global Landscapes Forum — Restoration Stewards
The Restoration Stewards program supports the work of young restoration practitioners and their teams through funding, mentorship, and training to deepen the impact of youth-led restoration projects. Teams receive a grant of €5 thousand to develop their restoration project and raise awareness among their local communities about the importance of ecosystem restoration and healthy landscapes. Projects may focus on preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The application deadline is 31 July 2026. Restoration Stewards Program
Royal Geographical Society — Gilchrist Fieldwork Award
The Royal Geographical Society invites applications for the Gilchrist Fieldwork Award. The aim of the award is to support challenging overseas fieldwork projects carried out by a team of university academics and researchers. The team should comprise up to 10 members, the majority of whom should be British. Previous winning themes include climate change, ecosystem function, climate science, and ocean circulation. The biennial award offers £15 thousand. The deadline for applications is 16 November 2026. More