The Advocating for Change Scholarship 2026 is a catalytic grant opportunity from PMNCH inviting national youth-led organizations, coalitions and networks to submit an Expression of Interest. It supports youth-led advocacy on adolescent health and well-being (AHWB) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in multiple countries.
PMNCH has run the Advocating for Change for Adolescents programme since 2017, building a cadre of empowered young advocates and strengthening national accountability for government commitments. This next phase supports country-level implementation of PMNCH adolescent health and well-being activities in line with the PMNCH Strategy 2026–2030 and prior AY Grants phases (2017–2025).
Advocating for Change Benefits
- Up to US $15,000 per organization in catalytic grant funding.
- 12-month grant period from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027.
- Disbursement in instalments tied to agreed deliverables.
- Capacity building for youth-led and youth-serving organizations to advocate for AHWB and SRHR.
- Support for coordination and collaboration between country partners on AHWB priorities.
- Opportunities to enhance accountability for national government commitments on AHWB.
- Raised visibility of AHWB issues among key national stakeholders including government, civil society, UN agencies and philanthropies.
Advocating for Change Eligibility Criteria
- Open to national youth-led organizations, coalitions and networks in CAAP-focused countries: Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and non-CAAP countries India and Colombia.
- Applicant organizations should be youth-led, with young people aged approximately 15–29 holding meaningful leadership or governance roles, or be a youth-serving organization with a strong track record of youth engagement.
- Applicants must be legally registered or otherwise formally recognized to operate in the country of application.
- Applicants should have demonstrated experience in, or a credible plan for, advocacy, coalition-building or community engagement on AHWB and/or SRHR.
- Applicants must be willing to work jointly with, and avoid duplicating, existing national CAAP coalitions and Coordinating Partners where these exist in-country.
How to Apply for Advocating for Change?
- Submit all Expressions of Interest by email to Bhavya Nandini at nandinib@who.int no later than 12:00 CEST on 21 August 2026.
- Use the subject line: “EOI – Advocating for Change for Adolescents – [Organization Name] – [Country]”.
- Include a proposal using the provided template describing key activities under the sub-deliverables outlined in the Terms of Reference.
- Include a budget breakdown using the provided template, within the indicative grant ceiling.
- Include proof of legal registration or formal recognition of the applicant organization.
- Include a brief organisational profile.
- Submit applications in English.
