The Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Fellowship Program 2026 is now open, offering a transformative opportunity for young changemakers worldwide to engage in biodiversity conservation, youth advocacy, storytelling, policy engagement, and community development.
Since its inception in 2022, the GYBN Fellowship Program has served as a powerful platform for youth-led action—supporting young leaders to design and implement impactful projects in their communities while connecting them to global environmental movements such as COP15 and COP16.
This year, multiple fellowship tracks are available, each designed to empower youth with skills, networks, and real-world experience to drive environmental and social change.
About the GYBN Fellowship Program
The GYBN Fellowship Program is a global initiative aimed at:
- Supporting youth-led environmental action
- Strengthening leadership capacity among young people
- Promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainability
- Amplifying youth voices in global policy spaces
Through its previous fellowship cycle (2024–2025), the program:
- Supported 14 GYBN Chapters globally
- Delivered 77+ community-based activities
- Impacted 267+ communities, schools, and institutions
These initiatives included:
- Landscape restoration
- Environmental education programs
- Youth mobilization campaigns
- Indigenous and local community engagement
- Creative activism and storytelling
Available GYBN Fellowships 2026
Applicants can apply to one of the following four fellowship tracks:
1. Youth Communications & Storytelling Fellowship
- Focuses on amplifying youth voices and narratives
- Supports creative storytelling, media, and communication strategies
- Strengthens global youth engagement through impactful content creation
2. Youth Policy Support Fellowship
- Engages fellows in biodiversity policy processes
- Supports youth participation in regional and global advocacy spaces
- Provides hands-on experience in policy coordination and systems change
3. Youth Community Building Fellowship
- Focuses on strengthening grassroots youth networks
- Encourages collaboration across cultures and regions
- Builds solidarity and collective action within the GYBN network
4. Youth Capacity Building Fellowship
- Develops learning spaces for youth leadership
- Encourages peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing
- Focuses on long-term leadership development in biodiversity conservation
Key Benefits of the GYBN Fellowship 2026
Participants in the program will gain:
- Access to a global network of youth leaders
- Opportunities to engage in international environmental platforms (e.g., COP events)
- Hands-on experience in leadership, advocacy, and project implementation
- Capacity-building through mentorship and collaborative learning
- Exposure to global biodiversity and sustainability initiatives
- Opportunity to lead impactful, community-based environmental projects
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the GYBN Fellowship 2026, applicants must:
- Be young individuals passionate about biodiversity and environmental action
- Demonstrate leadership potential and commitment to community impact
- Be actively engaged or interested in environmental, social, or youth-led initiatives
- Be willing to collaborate in a global network
- Have the ability to contribute to one of the fellowship tracks
Application Timeline
- Application Deadline: 7 April 2026
Applicants are encouraged to apply early and ensure all required materials are submitted before the deadline.
Why You Should Apply
The GYBN Fellowship is more than just a program—it is a movement that empowers youth to:
- Lead real environmental change in their communities
- Gain international exposure and recognition
- Build lifelong networks with global changemakers
- Develop critical skills in leadership, policy, communication, and sustainability
This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to transform your passion for biodiversity into meaningful, measurable impact.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should:
- Select their preferred fellowship track
- Prepare all required application materials
- Submit their application through the official platform before the deadline
Click HERE to learn more about the GYBN Youth Fellowships 2026.
