About the opportunity
The 4th Youth Leadership & Innovation Award for Migration (YLIA), themed ‘Innovation amid Adversity,’ is a global competition organized by the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP). Designed to support grassroots youth-led work during times of shrinking development aid, YLIA provides seed funding, mentorship, and international visibility to solutions addressing migration challenges. For its fourth edition, the competition is held entirely online, removing geographical and visa barriers so participants can compete from anywhere in the world across three specific categories: Opportunity, Resilience, and Inclusion.
Funding and benefits
- Seed funding for the three winners to scale and replicate their projects
- One month of online mentorship in storytelling, public speaking, and pitch framing for all six finalists
- A global stage to present live to a high-level jury and feature work across MYCP channels
- Ongoing training, networking, and introductions for winners leading to partnerships, funding, and policy engagement
Who can apply?
- Applicants must be under 31 years of age, applying solo or as a team with one lead applicant and spokesperson
- The project must be youth-led, with young people holding a significant share of its leadership
- The initiative must be an existing solution that has already been implemented or tested with real results
- The solution must be capable of replication or scaling at a regional, national, or international level
- Primary users must be migration actors, including migrants, diaspora, governments, employers, civil society, or host communities
Required documents
- Project details via the online application form
- Supporting documentation as outlined in the Concept Note and FAQs
When to apply
- Applications are open ahead of the deadline on October 10, 2026
- Applications close on October 10, 2026
How to apply
- Review the full Concept Note and FAQs linked via the official platform
- Submit your application through the official online application form provided by MYCP
Additional information
- The competition features three categories: Opportunity (unlocking economic opportunities), Resilience (adapting mobility resilience), and Inclusion (fostering belonging and participation)
- The entire competition, from application to final pitch, is conducted fully online
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- An ideal fit for young innovators, grassroots project leads, and entrepreneurs under 31 who have already tested a migration-focused solution and need seed funding to scale it.
- Well-suited for applicants seeking international visibility and high-level networking opportunities with policy actors and global migration stakeholders.
- Particularly convenient for global participants due to the fully online format, eliminating travel logistics, visa requirements, and relocation hurdles.
What should you think carefully about?
- Projects must already be implemented with demonstrated real results; concept-stage ideas are not eligible.
- Applicants must fit within the under-31 age restriction, and teams must designate a single lead spokesperson.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This award offers an effective stepping stone for young leaders looking to accelerate established grassroots initiatives, gain structured pitch coaching, and access global funding networks without interrupting their current local operations.
Our take
Young innovators under 31 with active, tested projects addressing migration challenges should seriously consider applying, especially given the accessibility of the fully online format.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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