Pankaj Award 2026: Global Youth Peacebuilding Fund for Leaders Ending Conflict

The Pankaj Award to End Conflict 2026 is a global youth peacebuilding funding opportunity supporting young leaders who are actively working to prevent, reduce, or resolve conflict in their communities and countries. Launched by Regent Global in partnership with One Young World, this initiative provides a total fund of $250,000 to accelerate the impact of emerging peacebuilders aged 18–35 who are addressing the root causes of violence, division, and inequality.

This opportunity is designed for young leaders who are building non-profits, social enterprises, or purpose-driven initiatives focused on dialogue, reconciliation, human rights, and sustainable peace. It combines significant financial support with global visibility and access to one of the world’s leading youth leadership networks.

About the Program

The Pankaj Award to End Conflict was founded by Professor Selva Pankaj and Dr Tharshiny Pankaj, who arrived in the United Kingdom as refugees fleeing the Sri Lankan Civil War. Their lived experience of conflict and displacement deeply shaped their commitment to education, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment.

Through Regent Global, they have developed a 25-year legacy of supporting educational innovation. The award represents a continuation of this mission, created to identify and uplift young leaders who are actively working to rebuild trust, reduce violence, and strengthen unity across divided communities.

In partnership with One Young World, the award forms part of a broader global movement to support youth leadership in addressing systemic challenges. The program will select ten finalists from around the world, each demonstrating measurable impact in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Conflict continues to affect millions of people globally, often disproportionately impacting marginalised communities, youth, and vulnerable populations. While traditional peacebuilding efforts have played an important role, there is increasing recognition that young leaders are essential in addressing the root causes of violence through innovation, community engagement, and lived experience.

The Pankaj Award is significant because it shifts resources directly to those already working on the ground to prevent conflict. It recognises that peacebuilding is not only about post-conflict recovery, but also about prevention, education, and long-term structural change.

By investing in young leaders, the award strengthens initiatives that promote dialogue, challenge inequality, empower marginalised groups, and build systems that reduce the likelihood of future conflict. It also provides access to a global platform where ideas, partnerships, and strategies can be shared across regions.

What Participants Will Gain

Selected finalists of the Pankaj Award will receive a comprehensive package of funding, leadership development, and global exposure designed to scale their impact.

Key benefits include:

• Funding between $10,000 and $100,000 for selected finalists to scale peacebuilding initiatives
• A fully-funded place at the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa
• Access to a global network of over 20,000 One Young World Ambassadors across 190+ countries
• Opportunities for collaboration with international peacebuilders and changemakers
• Long-term visibility and recognition for conflict prevention work

In addition, one winner will be selected to receive the top award of $100,000 to further expand their initiative and deepen their impact.

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to young leaders who meet the following criteria:

Applicants must:

• Be aged between 18 and 35 years old
• Be leading a registered non-profit organisation, social enterprise, or purpose-driven company
• Hold decision-making authority within their organisation
• Be actively working on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, or reconciliation initiatives

Eligible applicants are typically individuals working on issues such as community dialogue, violence prevention, human rights protection, education for peace, and empowerment of marginalised groups.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications open on 11 April 2026 and close on 15 June 2026. Applicants are required to submit details of their organisation and demonstrate evidence of impact in preventing or resolving conflict.

The selection process includes review by an independent expert panel, which will assess candidates based on their track record of impact, ability to scale their initiatives, collaboration with affected communities, and long-term sustainability of their solutions.

Finalists will be announced following the review period and will participate in the One Young World Summit in November 2026, where the final award recipient will be selected.

To learn more and apply, visit the offical One Young World website.

Explore More Opportunities for Youth

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