Iris Prize 2026 for Youth-Led Nature Projects
Iris Prize 2026 for Youth-Led Nature Projects
Applications are now open for the Iris Prize 2026, a global award supporting young environmental leaders working to protect and restore nature in their communities. Africa tech innovation.
Organised by The Iris Project, the prize recognises youth-led initiatives. These address environmental challenges through innovative and community-driven solutions.
In addition to financial support, winners receive mentorship, leadership development opportunities, and access to a global network of young environmental advocates.
The programme is designed to empower young people. They are leading local efforts in conservation, climate action, and ecosystem restoration. This is particularly important in regions where environmental challenges directly affect livelihoods and communities.
Why this matters
Young people are increasingly at the forefront of environmental protection and climate action. However, many youth-led initiatives struggle to secure funding, mentorship, and global visibility needed to expand their impact.Seed funding opportunities
The Iris Prize aims to bridge this gap by providing funding and support to promising youth-led environmental projects.
By investing in grassroots initiatives, the programme helps young leaders scale their ideas and strengthen community engagement. Additionally, it helps them contribute to long-term environmental sustainability.
Focus Areas
The prize supports youth-led projects focused on protecting and restoring nature.
Eligible initiatives may include community-based environmental conservation, climate action projects, ecosystem restoration efforts, and other locally driven solutions. These should be aimed at safeguarding natural ecosystems.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be leading projects or organisations where the majority of leadership consists of young people aged between 14 and 24.
The young leader must maintain autonomy and decision-making authority over the project.
Projects may operate independently or be associated with larger organisations, charities, or NGOs. However, the youth leader must retain full control over the project’s direction and activities.
For applicants who are minors in their country, a local organisation or NGO must serve as a fiscal sponsor. This sponsor will manage the financial grant and provide administrative support.
The programme prioritises youth-led initiatives that are locally driven and designed to address environmental challenges. Additionally, these challenges should be identified by the communities themselves.
While applications are welcome from around the world, projects in the Global South are particularly encouraged. This is due to the significant potential for impact.
Prize Categories and Funding
The programme offers three funding categories to support projects at different stages of development:
Seed Prize – $5,000
Awarded to a young individual or team with a new or early-stage idea focused on protecting or restoring nature in their local community.
Eligible applicants must be between 14 and 24 years old.
Stem Prize – $10,000
Awarded to an existing but small-scale environmental project that has been recently established.
Eligible applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old.
Iris Prize – $15,000
Awarded to an established project with strong potential to grow, replicate, and scale its impact.
Projects should demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion and show clear environmental impact.
Benefits
In addition to funding of up to $15,000, selected participants will gain mentorship, leadership training, and capacity-building support. This support is designed to help strengthen their initiatives.
Winners also join a global network of young environmental leaders working to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
