The Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award was established by Cisco and Global Citizen to recognise and lift up a young person positively impacting the world, demonstrate the impact that young people are having on achieving the United Nation’s Global Goals, and accelerate global problem solving.
The Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award recognizes a young individual whose work significantly contributes toward ending extreme poverty. The winner, selected through a rigorous application process, will receive a $250,000 prize, paid directly to the organization they work with, to further support their initiatives and enhance their impact.
How Is the Winner Selected?
While the prize money is paid to the organization, applicants must apply as individuals. The 2025 Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award winner will be someone who has demonstrated measurable impact from their work over the last three to five years and who has advanced one or more of the UN’s Global Goals.
Applicants are judged holistically by their application materials and supporting documents against five equally weighted criteria-
Impact: Proven track record of measurable impact at scale over the last 3-5 years, advancing one or more of the Global Goals.
Vision: Compelling vision and concrete plans for extending this work over the next 3-5 years, including how the prize will advance these efforts.
Catalyst: Inspires other young people to make an impact toward achieving one or more of the Global Goals.
Global Citizenship: Embodies the values and spirit of a Global Citizen and global problem solver.
Technical Innovation: Use technology or internet-based communications to improve efficiency, expand reach, and magnify impact.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for the Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award, applicants must meet the following requirements-
Age- Between 18 and 30 at the time of application.
Organization- Actively involved with an organization or initiative using technology to address poverty and social inequality issues.
Purpose- Proven commitment to positively impacting economic development, health, education, or other efforts aligned with the UN Global Goals.