Written by If you’re part of a youth-led organisation passionate about restoring degraded environments from farmland, forests, grasslands, to urban green spaces, coasts, and wetlands then the UN Decade Youth Task Force Microgrant 2026 offers you a chance to turn vision into action. The call supports young environmental stewards globally, offering seed funding to implement community-driven ecological restoration projects.
With 10 microgrants of up to USD 1,000 each available, this is both a small-scale funding boost and a chance for young changemakers to contribute meaningfully to ecosystem recovery.
What the Microgrant Supports (Focus Areas & Goals)
The program funds youth-led initiatives targeting restoration, conservation, or protection of ecosystems under the remit of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Eligible ecosystem categories include:
- Farmlands & Agricultural Landscapes
- Forests and Woodlands
- Freshwater and Wetlands
- Grasslands, Savannahs, Shrublands
- Mountains & Highland Ecosystems
- Coastal Zones, Oceans & Marine Areas
- Peatlands
- Urban or peri-urban green / natural spaces
Projects should aim to deliver measurable ecological or social-environmental benefits, such as: reforestation or tree planting, soil restoration, biodiversity enhancement, water-quality improvement, or community-based conservation and climate resilience.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility Requirements)
- Youth-led organisations (not individuals) with legal registration.
- Leadership team / project leads must be under 35 years old.
- Projects must target one or more of the defined ecosystem categories.
- Applicants must submit a complete project proposal with: summary, methodology/plan, timeline, sustainability plan, environmental-impact indicators, detailed budget, and proof of registration.
- Budget request per project is up to USD 1,000.
What is not eligible:
The grant will not fund conferences, workshops, salaries/honoraria, tuition, or equipment not directly tied to restoration activities.
Key Dates & Grant Period
- ✅ Application Deadline: 31 December 2025 (by 23:59 UTC)
- 📅 Grant Period: Implementation of funded projects expected between February and July 2026.
- 📣 Number of Grants: 10 microgrants (total funding envelope approx. US$10,000)
- 🌍 Geographic Distribution: 80% of grants reserved for projects in the Global South; 20% for the Global North.
How to Apply — Step-By-Step Guide
- Visit the official call page on the UN Decade website.
- Fill in the online application form — providing organisation details, project plan, ecosystem targeted, proposed activities and outcomes.
- Attach required documents: legal registration certificate, team profile (leaders under 35), project proposal with SMART objectives, implementation timeline, budget, environmental/social impact plan.
- Ensure your plan follows nature-based, evidence-driven restoration methods using native species and includes community/youth engagement components.
- Submit before 31 December 2025, 23:59 UTC. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified.
- Shortlisted applicants will be notified ~mid-January 2026. Implementation of projects then begins between Feb–July 2026.
Why It’s a Great Opportunity for Youth-Led Organisations
- It offers accessible start-up funding — USD 1,000 may be small, but it’s enough to pilot restoration, plant trees, mobilise communities, or restore degraded land/forests.
- It encourages youth leadership and community engagement, meaning young people not just established NGOs, can lead meaningful environmental change.
- It supports diverse ecosystems, giving flexibility whether you’re working in urban greening, coastal protection, freshwater restoration, forest/woodland recovery, or farmland regeneration.
- It promotes scalable and replicable restoration models, ideal for demonstration projects that can later attract more funding or scale-up locally or regionally.
- The initiative aligns with global climate and sustainability goals (through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration), giving legitimacy and visibility to your project.