The Youth Innovation Fund – Catalyst Youth Project is a small-grant initiative designed to support youth-led and youth-focused organisations working on climate change and development.

This initiative is part of the Youth Leadership Programme under the project “Capacity Strengthening of Multi-Actors to Limit Climate Change Impacts and Enhance Resilience”, implemented by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), and supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka.

Objectives of the Fund

The Fund aims to:

• Support innovative youth-led and youth-focused projects addressing climate change and environmental sustainability.
• Strengthen the capacity of youth organisations to implement impactful initiatives.
• Promote solutions that improve the lives of climate-vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.

Grant Details

• Grant amount: BDT 500,000 per grantee (annual)
• Number of grantees: Up to 5 selected projects

Additional support includes dedicated guidance from ICCCAD to define organisational goals and ensure successful project implementation, as well as opportunities to connect, network, and learn with other grantees through digital platforms and face-to-face sessions.

Priority Thematic Areas

Projects may focus on, but are not limited to:

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Pollution and waste management
• Disaster risk reduction
• Renewable energy
• Loss and damage
• Climate change conflict
• Women and inclusion
• Activism and policy advocacy

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a youth-led or youth-focused organisation with leadership under 30 years old.
• Be registered with the Department of Youth Development, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, or equivalent authority.
• Work in the fields of climate change, adaptation, and mitigation.
• Operate as a non-profit organisation or social enterprise.

The Fund will not support local offices, affiliates, or projects of large NGOs, INGOs, governments, or intergovernmental organisations; projects of government agencies, schools, universities, or for-profit businesses; political campaigns; organisations that discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation; or organisations involved in violent or illegal activities.

Grantee Obligations

Selected grantees must submit progress and financial reports after every grant instalment, submit final narrative and financial reports to ICCCAD upon project completion, and participate in capacity development sessions organised by ICCCAD.

Application Process

• Download the proposal template: https://lnkd.in/gqDwe-Cd
• Download the budget breakdown template: https://lnkd.in/gsW8WBb6 (do not edit the original file; work on the downloaded copy)
• Submit your proposal here: https://lnkd.in/g64RVEZg

Application deadline: 15 September 2025

Further Information

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]