IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant, UNESCO, Paris, France. Deadline: 30 June 2026.
Since 2017, the International Youth Forum (IYF) on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads has mobilized over 800 participants from 146 countries to foster intercultural dialogue and heritage conservation. To transition from dialogue to tangible impact, the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia is launching the IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant. This initiative aims to bridge the last three editions of the forum (2023–2025) and provide seed funding to transform youth-led ideas into sustainable, real-world practices.
Objectives
- Bridge the Implementation Gap: Providing resources to turn IYF ideas into operational projects.
- Foster South-South Cooperation: Requiring cross-country collaboration that mirrors the spirit of the Silk Roads
- Advance Culture as an SDG: Positioning heritage as a driver for sustainable economic growth.
Thematic Areas
Proposals must address at least one of the following themes:
- Inclusive Heritage and Social Cohesion: Using cultural heritage for peacebuilding and social integration.
- Digital Frontiers and Heritage Entrepreneurship: Intersecting technology and business for heritage protection.
- Innovative Heritage Protection: Feasible operation models to solve local heritage challenges.
- Expanded Network Impact: Strengthening connections through joint youth proposals.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 