Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work 2026

The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work recognize and celebrate young people aged 15–29 from Commonwealth countries who are leading impactful, sustainable development initiatives in their communities. Managed by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, these awards aim to spotlight youth-driven contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What’s Offered

• Regional Recognition: Four finalists from each Commonwealth region (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and Pacific) will receive:

  • A £1,000 grant

  • A trophy

  • A certificate

• Regional Winners: The top finalist from each region will receive an additional £2,000, totaling £3,000, along with a trophy and certificate.

• Pan-Commonwealth Winner: One regional winner will be named the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year and will receive an additional £2,000, totaling £5,000, along with a trophy and certificate.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Nominees must be aged 15–29 years on 31 December 2025.

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth member country.

• Experience: Must have been engaged in development work for at least 12 months, either in a professional or voluntary capacity.

• Location: Development work must be taking place in a Commonwealth member country.

• Nomination: Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone who can accurately describe their development work.

Process & Structure

• Nomination: Nominations can be submitted through the official awards platform.

• Selection: Entries will be evaluated based on:

  • Level of impact

  • Innovation and fresh approaches to problem-solving

  • Quality of achievement

  • Quality of evidence provided

  • Sustainability of the initiative

• Announcement: Winners will be officially announced during Commonwealth Week in March 2026.

Deadline

• Application Deadline: 17 October 2025 at 23:59 GMT (UK Time)