The Youth Empowerment Fund
Launched in October 2023 and implemented through the Big Six youth organisations, the €10 million pilot initiative provides youth-friendly funding for projets that contribute to the sustainable development of local communities.
The partnership marked the first anniversary of the Youth Action Plan for EU External Action, the EU’s policy framework for a strategic partnership with young people to build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.
As a flagship initiative of the Youth Action Plan, and designed by, with and for young people, the Youth Empowerment Fund provides and facilitates access to vital resources for young people to contribute to the sustainable development of their local communities and societies in EU partner countries across the world to reach the objectives of Agenda 2030, in line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The Fund was launched in Nairobi, Kenya in the presence of the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, Carlos Sanvee, the Chair of the GYM, and young leaders worldwide.
This partnership is dedicated to dismantling barriers to funding and providing crucial opportunities for mentoring, coaching, and capacity building.
We aim to ensure that marginalized and underrepresented communities have equitable access to resources.
Moreover, we are committed to engaging, empowering, and mobilizing young people to address the most pressing global challenges, ranging from climate change and gender equality to education and employment access issues.
Together, young people are forging their impactful local solutions to these monumental challenges.
Learn more about the EU Youth Action Plan here.
“Together with the Big Six, we will facilitate access for young people to the tools they need to initiate change and mobilise their peers. Our micro-grants will support youth-led projects, contribute to sustainable development and build recognition for young people as change-makers.”
Jutta Urpilainen
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships at the 4 October 2023 launch in Nairobi, Kenya.
How does it work?
The Youth Empowerment Fund provides direct financial support to youth-led initiatives focusing on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level.
The Youth Empowerment Fund, a partnership between the European Union and the Global Youth Mobilization, an initiative of the Big Six Youth Organisations, aims to:
• break down barriers to funding; provide opportunities for mentoring, coaching and capacity strengthening;
• unlock opportunities for marginalised and under-represented communities;
• engage, empower and mobilise young people to create local solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, from climate change and gender equality to access to education and employment.
Young people lead on all aspects of the Youth Empowerment Fund, from selecting grant beneficiaries, to sitting on the board of the initiative, supporting mentoring and capacity strengthening programmes, and participating in the design, leadership and implementation of projects in their communities.
Designed with young people for young people
Providing funding and capacity-building
Empowering young people to take action
Combining resources for bigger impact
How does the EU support young people?
Contact us
For further information about the Global Youth Mobilization, please contact:
EU-YEF@globalyouthmobilization.org