Site icon fundsforNGOs

Open Call: Youth on the Move Professional Development Programme (United States)

fundsforngos
Five young friends with arms around each other pose for a sunny outdoor photo, smiling at the camera.

#image_title

Deadline: 11-Jun-2026

The UNICEF Youth on the Move Programme 2026 is a global initiative designed to expand professional development, mentorship, inclusion, and leadership opportunities for migrant and displaced youth within the United Nations system. Building on the success of previous fellowship cohorts, the program empowers young people with lived experience of migration and displacement to contribute to policy discussions, strengthen professional skills, access career pathways, and participate in decision-making processes related to migration and displacement.

Overview

The Youth on the Move Programme is a professional development and youth empowerment initiative led by UNICEF in partnership with United Nations Volunteers.

The program aims to remove barriers that often prevent migrant and displaced youth from accessing internships, fellowships, mentorship opportunities, and professional networks. By creating structured pathways into international development and humanitarian work, the initiative ensures that young people with lived migration experiences are actively involved in shaping policies and programs that affect their communities.

The program forms part of UNICEF’s broader commitment to equity, inclusion, participation, and non-discrimination under its global strategic framework.

Program Details

Key Focus Areas

The program supports engagement and capacity building in:

Background of the Programme

UNICEF recognizes that migrant and displaced youth often face significant challenges when pursuing education, employment, and professional opportunities.

Common barriers include:

To address these challenges, UNICEF launched the Youth on the Move Fellowship Pilot Programme in 2022 with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands through the PROSPECTS Partnership.

The pilot operated between October 2022 and June 2024 and demonstrated the value of creating dedicated opportunities for young people with lived experiences of migration and displacement.

Following the success of the pilot phase, UNICEF and UNV launched the institutionalized Youth on the Move Programme in August 2024, creating a scalable and sustainable model within the United Nations system.

What is the Youth on the Move Programme?

The programme is designed to empower migrant and displaced youth through professional growth, leadership development, and meaningful participation.

The initiative seeks to:

The program values lived experience as a form of expertise and recognizes the important contributions young people can make to migration and displacement policies.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

Professional Development Opportunities

Participants receive access to a range of learning and career development activities.

These include:

Mentorship Programmes

Participants are matched with experienced professionals who provide career guidance, coaching, and support.

Skills Development Training

Training sessions focus on:

Capacity-Building Activities

Participants strengthen technical and professional skills relevant to careers in:

Career Pathway Support

The program helps participants understand career opportunities within international institutions and related sectors.

Participation in Migration and Displacement Policy Processes

A central objective of the initiative is ensuring that migrant and displaced youth have meaningful opportunities to engage in policy discussions.

Participants may contribute to:

The program promotes youth participation not only as beneficiaries but also as active contributors to policy development.

Alumni Network

The initiative includes the development of a Youth on the Move Alumni Network.

The network aims to:

The Alumni Network creates a sustainable community of young leaders working on migration and displacement issues worldwide.

Open-Access Learning Resources

The programme will produce learning materials that remain available beyond individual cohort participation.

Resources may include:

These resources are intended to benefit a wider community of youth on the move globally.

Expected Activities

Planned activities include:

Expected Outcomes

The programme seeks to achieve several long-term outcomes.

These include:

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is designed primarily for:

Specific eligibility requirements may be outlined during the application process and cohort recruitment stage.

How the Programme Works

Step 1: Expression of Interest

Eligible candidates submit an expression of interest or application during the recruitment period.

Step 2: Selection Process

Applications are reviewed based on program criteria, experience, motivation, and alignment with program objectives.

Step 3: Onboarding

Selected participants join the new cohort and receive orientation and introductory training.

Step 4: Mentorship and Capacity Building

Participants engage in mentorship relationships and professional development activities.

Step 5: Policy Engagement and Networking

Youth participate in discussions, forums, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Step 6: Alumni Network Participation

Graduates remain connected through the Youth on the Move Alumni Network.

Why This Programme Matters

Migrant and displaced youth are often excluded from opportunities that shape policies affecting their lives.

This initiative helps:

The programme demonstrates how youth engagement can strengthen both institutional effectiveness and policy outcomes.

Benefits for Participants

Participants may gain:

Tips for a Strong Application

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Youth on the Move Programme?

It is a UNICEF and UNV initiative that supports migrant and displaced youth through mentorship, professional development, networking, and policy engagement opportunities.

Who leads the programme?

The programme is led by UNICEF in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme.

Who is the target audience?

The initiative primarily supports migrant, refugee, and displaced youth, as well as young people with lived experiences related to migration and displacement.

What benefits do participants receive?

Participants gain access to mentorship, professional development, networking opportunities, skills training, policy engagement activities, and alumni support.

Will participants engage in policymaking discussions?

Yes. The program encourages participation in migration and displacement policy processes, consultations, and global decision-making forums.

What is the Alumni Network?

The Alumni Network is a long-term platform that supports networking, peer learning, advocacy, and continued engagement after program completion.

Why was the programme created?

The programme was established to address barriers that often prevent migrant and displaced youth from accessing professional opportunities and to ensure their perspectives are represented in policy and program development.

Conclusion

The UNICEF-UNV Youth on the Move Programme 2026 represents an important step toward creating more inclusive pathways for migrant and displaced youth within international development and humanitarian systems. Through mentorship, skills development, policy engagement, and professional networking, the initiative empowers young people to become active contributors to migration and displacement solutions while strengthening their career prospects and leadership potential. By centering lived experience and meaningful participation, the program helps build a more inclusive and representative future for global migration governance and youth engagement.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.

Exit mobile version