Grant Amount: €500–€1000 per project
Region: Council of Europe Member States
Total Grants Available: 5
Research Period: February – March 2026
Application Deadline: 25 January 2026
Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) has launched a new funding call for youth-led climate organisations interested in conducting participatory, community-based research with marginalised youth in collaboration with social justice partners. This initiative is part of Bridging Movements, a multi-phase project aimed at strengthening collaboration between the climate movement and the social justice sector.
The goal of this call is to shift youth climate organisations away from assumed solutions toward deeper community listening, co-creation, and understanding. The funded research will lay the groundwork for future community-based climate and social justice projects that organisations can later submit for implementation funding in summer 2026.
What Is Participatory Community-Based Research?
This approach emphasises research with communities, not for them. Marginalised youth—BIPOC, Roma, LGBTQIA+ youth, those with disabilities, migrants, rural youth, low-income youth, and others—should be involved from the outset.
They may help define research questions, select methods (interviews, focus groups, workshops, mapping, creative approaches), and interpret findings.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants must be:
- Youth-led environmental organisations based in a Council of Europe country
- Working (or planning to work) with a social justice partner (organisation, consultant, or community leader)
- Conducting research focused on marginalised youth
- Experienced in youth engagement
- Interested in building long-term, community-rooted climate initiatives
Priority will be given to organisations:
- From less-resourced contexts
- Facing migration-related or systemic inclusion challenges
- That participated in the partnership-building workshop
- Only one application is allowed per organisation.
Funding & Timeline
- Grant amount: €500–€1000 per project
- Total grants: 5
- Research period: February – March 2026
- All activities must be completed by 31 March 2026
Supported Activities
- Community consultations
- Listening sessions
- Focus groups
- Interviews
- Mapping and exploration exercises
- Small-scale research events
Not Supported
- Research involving minors (under 18)
- Organisational development
- Capacity-building activities
- Research not involving community engagement
- Academic-only projects
Project Aim Areas
Proposed research should address at least one of the following:
- Identify marginalised youth groups your organisation aims to engage
- Map community strengths, resources, and existing initiatives
- Identify barriers, unmet needs, and structural inequalities
- Gather insights that inform more just, inclusive climate action
Post-Research Support
Selected organisations will receive:
- One-on-one support throughout the research process
- Research guidelines and tools from YEE
- Participation in a Cross-Regional Consultation to share findings
- Publication, translation, and dissemination of research outcomes
- Access to the Community of Practice (CoP) and training sessions
- Eligibility to apply for implementation grants up to €5000 (summer 2026)
How to Apply
Submit your application by 25 January 2026.
Late applications will not be considered.
Successful applicants will be notified by 2 February 2026.
For more information: Click Here
