EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant for Safe and Responsible AI

Deadline: 27-Feb-2026

The EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant provides €500,000 in funding to support NGOs and research organizations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in promoting safe, responsible, and developmentally appropriate AI for young people. Grants focus on youth safety, AI literacy, harm prevention, and research to produce practical tools, evidence, and policy guidance for youth protection.

Overview of the Grant

The EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant is designed to ensure artificial intelligence benefits young people while minimizing risks to their safety, wellbeing, and development. The program supports:

• Practical interventions such as youth protection programs, AI literacy training, and tools to address AI-related risks

• Rigorous research on AI’s impact on children, adolescents, and their educational or social development

• Evaluation of safeguards for youth in real-world AI applications

The initiative encourages collaboration between youth-focused organizations, research institutions, and AI developers to create evidence-based approaches for safe AI use among minors.

Focus Areas

Projects may address one or more of the following areas:

• Youth Safety and Protection: Programs to prevent harm and support wellbeing in AI-related environments

• AI Literacy: Initiatives for young people, parents, and educators to understand AI and its potential impacts

• Practical Tools and Interventions: Toolkits, policy briefs, guidelines, or tested approaches for youth safety in AI contexts

• Research and Evaluation: Studies on AI in youth development, education, child safety, and adolescent wellbeing

• Evidence-Based Outputs: Clear, usable materials to guide organizations, policymakers, and practitioners

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• NGOs and non-profit organizations working directly with children, youth, families, or educators

• Research institutions studying AI, youth development, safety, or wellbeing

• Coalitions or partnerships combining practical interventions and research

• Must be legally registered and operational in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa (EMEA)

• Must actively engage in youth safety, adolescent wellbeing, or AI impacts on minors

Grant Funding Details

• Total Program Budget: €500,000

• Individual Grant Awards: €25,000 – €100,000, depending on project scope and scale

• Duration: Multi-year support may be considered for larger or collaborative projects

• Eligible Costs: Direct and indirect costs are allowed if reasonable and consistent with institutional policies

How to Apply / How It Works

1. Identify Project Scope: Focus on youth safety, wellbeing, AI literacy, or research-based interventions

2. Develop Project Plan: Include objectives, methodology, outputs, timeline, and expected impact

3. Assemble Eligible Team: NGOs, research institutions, or partnerships across EMEA countries

4. Prepare Application Materials: Project proposal, budget, organizational background, and expected deliverables

5. Submit Application: Online or via specified grant portal (check funder guidelines)

6. Assessment: Applications are reviewed based on relevance, feasibility, youth impact, and potential for evidence-based outputs

7. Award & Implementation: Successful projects receive funding to execute interventions, produce outputs, and disseminate findings

Why This Grant Matters

• Supports safe and responsible AI adoption for youth

• Strengthens youth-focused evidence and interventions for wellbeing and protection

• Encourages collaboration between practitioners, researchers, and AI developers

• Produces usable outputs such as reports, toolkits, or tested approaches for organizations

• Promotes equitable access to safe AI learning and digital development opportunities

Common Tips

• Ensure the project clearly targets youth safety, wellbeing, or AI literacy

• Collaborate across organizations, researchers, or AI developers to enhance impact

• Demonstrate the potential for practical, scalable outputs

• Align project budget and activities with organizational policies and institutional standards

• Include evaluation plans to measure youth outcomes and safeguard effectiveness

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply?
NGOs, research institutions, or coalitions legally registered in EMEA countries, actively working in youth safety, wellbeing, or AI impacts on minors.

2. What is the grant range?
Individual grants range from €25,000 to €100,000, with multi-year support possible for larger initiatives.

3. What types of projects are eligible?
Projects focused on AI literacy, youth protection, harm-prevention, research, or evaluation producing practical outputs such as reports, toolkits, or policy briefs.

4. Can collaborative partnerships apply?
Yes, partnerships between youth organizations, research institutions, and AI developers are encouraged.

5. Are indirect costs allowed?
Yes, both direct and indirect costs are eligible if reasonable and aligned with institutional policies.

6. Is the grant limited to specific countries?
Yes, applicants must be legally registered in an EMEA country.

7. What outputs are expected from funded projects?
Practical, evidence-based outputs, including reports, policy briefs, toolkits, or tested approaches for safe and responsible AI use by youth.

Conclusion

The EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant empowers organizations and researchers to ensure AI is safe, responsible, and beneficial for children and adolescents. By funding practical interventions, research, and evidence-driven advocacy, the program strengthens youth safety, wellbeing, and development in AI-rich environments across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

For more information, visit OpenAI.