Are you part of a youth-led organisation working to promote peace, nonviolence, social cohesion and community resilience? Are you looking for opportunities to connect with like-minded organisations, exchange knowledge, strengthen your organisation’s capacity and contribute to the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda?
The United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY Peacebuilders) is inviting eligible youth-led peacebuilding organisations to apply for membership in its global network. The membership opportunity is designed for organisations that are actively working in peacebuilding, committed to nonviolence and willing to contribute meaningfully to a community built around solidarity, collaboration and mutual learning.
Membership in UNOY is not intended to be a passive affiliation where organisations simply receive benefits. Instead, it is designed as an active, members-driven community in which participating organisations contribute their experiences, knowledge, skills and perspectives while learning from other youth-led peacebuilding organisations around the world.
Applications to become a UNOY member organisation are currently open, with a deadline of September 13, 2026.
What Is UNOY Peacebuilders?
The United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY Peacebuilders) is a global network focused on strengthening the role of young people and youth-led organisations in peacebuilding and the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda.
The network brings together youth-led organisations that share a commitment to peace, nonviolence and solidarity. Through collaboration, advocacy, capacity development and peer learning, UNOY seeks to support young people and youth-led organisations working to create peaceful and inclusive communities.
For organisations already working in peacebuilding, becoming a UNOY member can provide access to a broader international community and opportunities to collaborate with organisations facing similar challenges and pursuing related objectives.
Who Should Consider Applying for UNOY Membership?
UNOY membership may be particularly relevant to organisations that can answer yes to questions such as:
- Is your organisation youth-led?
- Does your organisation actively work in peacebuilding?
- Is your organisation committed to peace and nonviolence?
- Are you interested in collaborating with other youth-led organisations?
- Does your organisation want to contribute to a global network?
- Are you willing to participate actively in network activities?
- Do you want to exchange knowledge, experiences and peacebuilding practices with organisations from other regions?
- Are you interested in contributing to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda?
- Does your organisation have the capacity to participate in both compulsory and voluntary UNOY activities?
If these characteristics describe your organisation, UNOY membership could provide an opportunity to become part of a global community of youth-led peacebuilding organisations.
Key Eligibility Requirements for UNOY Member Organisations
Organisations applying for membership must satisfy several important requirements.
1. The Organisation Must Be Youth-Led
A fundamental requirement is that the organisation must be youth-led.
According to UNOY’s membership criteria, two-thirds of the organisation’s leading and paid staff must be below the age of 35.
This youth leadership requirement is central to UNOY’s identity. The organisation recognises young people as important actors in peacebuilding and the peace and security sector, rather than simply as beneficiaries of peacebuilding programmes.
Organisations should therefore be able to demonstrate meaningful youth leadership within their structures.
2. The Organisation Must Work in Peacebuilding
Applicants must be active in the field of peacebuilding and committed to promoting a culture of peace and nonviolence.
This means membership is intended for organisations whose work is meaningfully connected to peacebuilding rather than organisations seeking a general international networking opportunity.
Relevant activities may include initiatives focused on peace, conflict prevention, dialogue, social cohesion, youth participation, nonviolence and related areas.
3. Organisations Must Be Willing to Participate
UNOY membership comes with responsibilities.
Member organisations must be able to dedicate sufficient time to participate in network activities, including both compulsory and non-compulsory activities.
Examples of compulsory participation include:
- Quarterly regional online meetings.
- Completion of an extensive annual impact review survey.
- Participation in strategic planning activities.
UNOY notes that failure to complete the annual impact review survey for two consecutive years can result in disaffiliation.
Therefore, organisations should consider their capacity and willingness to participate before submitting an application.
4. Members Must Be Willing to Learn and Collaborate
UNOY describes itself as a members-driven community based on reciprocity, solidarity and mutual learning.
Successful member organisations are therefore expected to engage with other members, share knowledge and contribute to the network.
Membership should not be viewed simply as a way to obtain opportunities or funding. Organisations are expected to contribute to the community while also benefiting from the experiences and knowledge of other members.
5. Organisations Should Be Active in Their Communities
Applicants should be inspired to take action in their local communities while maintaining a global spirit of solidarity.
This reflects UNOY’s approach of connecting local peacebuilding initiatives with broader regional and international efforts.
Organisations should therefore demonstrate a commitment to practical community engagement and peacebuilding rather than focusing exclusively on organisational networking.
What Are the Benefits of Becoming a UNOY Member?
Joining UNOY can provide eligible youth-led peacebuilding organisations with access to a range of networking, learning, advocacy and capacity-development opportunities.
1. Join a Global Community of Youth-Led Peacebuilding Organisations
One of the major advantages of UNOY membership is becoming part of an international community of organisations working toward peaceful and nonviolent societies.
Members have opportunities to:
- Exchange experiences.
- Share peacebuilding knowledge.
- Learn from organisations in other regions.
- Develop professional and organisational relationships.
- Participate in mutual learning activities.
- Support other youth-led peacebuilding organisations.
The network is built around the idea that organisations can become stronger by learning from each other and sharing their experiences.
2. Contribute to Regional Strategies and Joint Action
Member organisations can contribute to the development of regional strategies, shared visions and plans for joint action.
These efforts are focused on strengthening recognition of the fundamental role young people play in peacebuilding and advancing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
This can give youth-led organisations a platform to contribute to discussions and collective initiatives beyond their individual projects.
3. Access Fundraising Alerts and Collaboration Opportunities
UNOY membership may also help organisations identify potential funding opportunities.
Members receive a monthly fundraising alert, which can help them stay informed about relevant funding opportunities.
In addition, member organisations can collaborate with other UNOY members when applying jointly for projects.
This collaborative approach can potentially allow organisations to combine complementary expertise, geographical reach and experience when developing project proposals.
However, organisations should understand that UNOY itself is not a donor or funding agency.
4. Participate in Regional Advocacy Groups
Members can participate in regional advocacy initiatives and thematic learning groups.
UNOY provides opportunities through regional advocacy teams, including:
- African Youth Advocacy Team
- Asian Youth Advocacy Team
- Americas Youth Advocacy Team
These structures can provide members with opportunities to engage in regional advocacy and contribute to discussions around youth peacebuilding and the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
5. Strengthen Organisational Capacity
UNOY membership can support organisational learning and capacity development.
Members can participate in:
- Global activities.
- Regional activities.
- Training programmes.
- Workshops.
- Peer-learning sessions.
- Other learning opportunities organised by the network.
Members may also gain access to resources such as:
- Toolkits.
- Reports.
- Manuals.
- Other materials produced by UNOY’s International Secretariat and member organisations.
These resources can help youth-led organisations strengthen their approaches to peacebuilding and organisational development.
6. Increase International Visibility
Membership can provide organisations with an opportunity to increase the visibility of their peacebuilding work.
Members may benefit from international exposure through:
- UNOY social media platforms.
- Participation in international events.
- Inclusion in UNOY publications.
- Referencing UNOY membership on their organisational website.
- Opportunities to represent UNOY in relevant international spaces.
For smaller youth-led organisations, this exposure can help communicate their work to a broader international audience.
7. Develop Leadership Experience
UNOY membership can also create opportunities for organisations and their representatives to take on leadership roles within the network.
Members can apply for positions such as:
- Regional Coordinator.
- International Steering Group Representative.
These roles can provide experience in leadership, coordination, strategic planning, advocacy and international network management.
UNOY Membership Is Based on Mutual Contribution
An important point for prospective applicants is that UNOY membership is not structured as a one-way benefits programme.
The network emphasises reciprocity, solidarity and mutual learning.
This means organisations are expected to contribute to the network by sharing:
- Peacebuilding experiences.
- Organisational knowledge.
- Skills.
- Lessons learned.
- Community perspectives.
- Updates about their work.
- Ideas for collective action.
Organisations that consistently remain passive without contributing may ultimately be disaffiliated.
Therefore, organisations should apply because they genuinely want to participate in a global youth peacebuilding community, not simply because they want access to opportunities.
What UNOY Peacebuilders Is Not
Prospective applicants should also understand what UNOY membership does not represent.
UNOY Is Not the United Nations
Despite the name of the organisation and its work on international peace and security issues, UNOY is not the United Nations.
It is an independent network of youth-led peacebuilding organisations.
UNOY Is Not a Funding or Donor Agency
UNOY does not operate as a conventional donor organisation.
Its focus is on:
- Mutual learning.
- Capacity development.
- Collective advocacy.
- Peer support.
- Networking and collaboration.
Organisations should therefore not apply with the expectation that UNOY membership automatically provides direct funding.
UNOY Does Not Review Members’ External Funding Applications
UNOY also clarifies that it is not a network that reviews members’ applications for external funding.
Because the International Secretariat has limited fundraising capacity, its fundraising efforts focus on securing global grants that can benefit the membership as a whole rather than individual organisations alone.
However, members may increase their opportunities to collaborate on funding proposals and receive fundraising alerts.
Why Youth-Led Peacebuilding Organisations Should Consider Applying
Young people are increasingly recognised as important actors in preventing conflict, building social cohesion and promoting peaceful communities.
For organisations led by young people, joining a global network can provide an opportunity to connect local experiences with regional and international peacebuilding efforts.
UNOY membership can be particularly valuable for organisations that want to:
- Strengthen their peacebuilding capacity.
- Connect with organisations working in other regions.
- Exchange knowledge and practical experiences.
- Participate in regional advocacy.
- Contribute to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
- Find potential partners for collaborative projects.
- Access learning resources and training.
- Increase their international visibility.
- Participate in strategic planning.
- Develop future youth leaders within the organisation.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for UNOY membership is:
September 13, 2026
Interested organisations should complete and submit their membership application before the stated deadline.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the last day to begin the process, particularly because organisational membership applications may require information about the organisation’s leadership structure, peacebuilding activities and capacity to participate in network activities.
How to Apply for UNOY Membership
Applications to become a UNOY member organisation are currently open.
Interested organisations should use the official UNOY membership application process to register their interest and submit their application.
The organisation should ensure that it meets the youth-led and peacebuilding requirements before applying and should be prepared to demonstrate its willingness to participate actively in UNOY activities.
For additional information or questions regarding membership, organisations can contact:
Email: network@unoy.org
Application Preparation Tips
Review Your Leadership Structure
Because UNOY requires two-thirds of leading and paid staff to be below 35, organisations should review their leadership and staffing structure before applying.
Clearly Explain Your Peacebuilding Work
Applicants should clearly communicate what their organisation does, which communities it serves and how its work contributes to peacebuilding and a culture of nonviolence.
Demonstrate Youth Leadership
Do not simply describe the organisation as “youth-led.” Where appropriate, explain how young people participate in leadership, decision-making and implementation.
Demonstrate Community Engagement
Highlight practical initiatives and activities that demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to working with communities.
Show Willingness to Contribute
Because UNOY is a members-driven network, applicants should demonstrate that they are interested in sharing knowledge, collaborating with other members and participating in network activities.
Think Beyond Funding
Applicants should understand that UNOY membership is about networking, learning, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity, rather than simply obtaining funding.
This distinction is important when explaining why your organisation wants to join the network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UNOY membership?
UNOY membership allows eligible youth-led peacebuilding organisations to become part of a global network focused on peacebuilding, nonviolence, solidarity, mutual learning and the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
Is UNOY a United Nations organisation?
No. UNOY is not the United Nations. It is a global network of youth-led peacebuilding organisations.
Does UNOY provide direct funding to member organisations?
UNOY is not a funding or donor agency. However, members receive monthly fundraising alerts and can potentially collaborate with other members on joint project applications.
What organisations can become UNOY members?
Organisations must be youth-led, active in peacebuilding, committed to peace and nonviolence, willing to participate in network activities and interested in learning, collaborating and sharing with other members.
How young must the organisation’s leadership be?
Two-thirds of the organisation’s leading and paid staff must be below 35 years of age.
Do members have responsibilities?
Yes. Members are expected to actively participate in network activities, contribute to mutual learning, complete the annual impact review survey and participate in strategic planning and other relevant activities.
Can an organisation join simply to access funding opportunities?
UNOY is not designed as a passive funding-access network. Members are expected to actively contribute to the community through collaboration, knowledge sharing and participation.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is September 13, 2026.
How can applicants get more information?
Visit HERE to learn more about the UNOY Peacebuilders Membership 2026.
Conclusion
The UNOY Peacebuilders Membership 2026 provides an opportunity for eligible youth-led peacebuilding organisations to become part of an international community committed to peace, nonviolence, solidarity and youth participation in peace and security.
Membership goes beyond simply adding an organisation to an international network. It is designed around active participation, mutual learning, collaboration, capacity development and collective advocacy. Member organisations can contribute to regional strategies, participate in advocacy teams, access learning resources, receive fundraising alerts, develop partnerships and increase the visibility of their peacebuilding work.
At the same time, prospective applicants should understand that UNOY is not a donor agency or a funding programme. Organisations joining the network are expected to contribute meaningfully, share their experiences and participate in network activities.
For youth-led organisations actively working in peacebuilding and interested in connecting their local efforts to a wider global movement, UNOY membership can provide a valuable platform for collaboration, learning, advocacy and leadership.
Applications are open, and the deadline is September 13, 2026.
For more global membership opportunities visit OFY HERE
