Advocating for Change for Adolescents (AY) Grants 2026–2027 The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) has opened applications for its Advocating for Change for Adolescents (AY) Grants 2026–2027, offering catalytic funding of up to US$15,000 to national youth-led organizations, coalitions and networks working to advance adolescent health and well-being and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The funding opportunity is designed to strengthen youth-led advocacy, improve accountability for government commitments and increase the visibility of adolescent health and well-being priorities at the national level. Applications are open to eligible organizations in Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, India and Colombia. The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 21 August 2026 at 12:00 CEST. PMNCH Advocating for Change for Adolescents Grants 2026–2027 The new grants form part of PMNCH’s ongoing work to support young people as advocates for stronger policies, programmes and accountability mechanisms around adolescent health and well-being. Since 2017, the Advocating for Change for Adolescents initiative has supported youth-led advocacy on adolescent health and well-being (AHWB) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across multiple countries. The 2026–2027 phase will build on achievements from previous grant cycles while aligning activities with country priorities and the PMNCH Strategy 2026–2030. Successful organizations will implement activities at national level and, where applicable, collaborate with existing Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) structures rather than creating parallel initiatives. What the Youth Grants Will Support The grants are intended to help youth-led and youth-serving organizations strengthen advocacy and coordination around adolescent health priorities. According to PMNCH, the initiative will focus on four major objectives. Strengthening national coordination: Grant recipients will help improve collaboration among organizations and stakeholders working to advance adolescent health and well-being priorities. Building youth advocacy capacity: The programme will support adolescents and young people to develop the skills, knowledge and networks required to become effective advocates for AHWB and SRHR. Improving government accountability: Supported organizations will work to follow up on national government commitments related to adolescent health and well-being. Increasing visibility: The grants will help bring adolescent health issues to the attention of governments, civil society organizations, UN agencies, philanthropic organizations and other national stakeholders. Who Can Apply for the PMNCH AY Grants? The call is open to national youth-led organizations, coalitions and networks based in the eligible countries. Organizations should meet several eligibility requirements. Applicants should be youth-led, with young people approximately 15–29 years old holding meaningful leadership or governance positions. Youth-serving organizations may also apply if they can demonstrate a strong record of engaging young people. Organizations must also be legally registered or formally recognized to operate in the country where the application is submitted. Applicants should have demonstrated experience in, or a credible plan for, advocacy, coalition-building or community engagement related to adolescent health and well-being and/or sexual and reproductive health and rights. Where national CAAP coalitions and coordinating partners already exist, applicants must be willing to collaborate with these structures and avoid duplicating their work. Eligible Countries The 2026–2027 AY Grants are available to organizations in the following countries: Liberia Malawi Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone South Africa Tanzania Zambia India Colombia This geographic scope gives organizations across Africa, Asia and Latin America an opportunity to access funding for locally led adolescent health advocacy. Grant Amount and Duration Each selected organization can receive up to US$15,000. The grant period will run for 12 months, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. Funding will be disbursed in instalments linked to agreed deliverables. Payments will be subject to the grant agreement and the submission of required reports. The relatively flexible catalytic grant model is intended to enable youth-led organizations to strengthen advocacy activities while building longer-term capacity and partnerships. What Organizations Need to Submit Eligible organizations interested in applying must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Applications should include four key components: A proposal using the designated template and outlining planned activities under the relevant Terms of Reference. A budget breakdown using the required budget template and remaining within the US$15,000 grant ceiling. Proof of legal registration or formal recognition of the organization. A brief organizational profile describing the applicant. Applications must be submitted in English. Organizations should carefully follow the application instructions and ensure that all required documents are included before submission. Application Deadline and Submission Details The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 12:00 CEST on 21 August 2026. Applicants must submit their applications by email to Bhavya Nandini at nandinib@who.int. The required email subject line is: “EOI – Advocating for Change for Adolescents – [Organization Name] – [Country]”. Organizations are encouraged to prepare their proposals and supporting documentation ahead of the deadline to avoid incomplete submissions. How Will Applications Be Selected? EOIs will be reviewed by the PMNCH Secretariat. Organizations that are shortlisted may be contacted for a follow-up discussion or asked to provide additional clarification before final decisions are made. Submitting an Expression of Interest does not guarantee funding. PMNCH retains the right to accept or reject applications, request additional information or amend the terms of the call. Why This Opportunity Matters for Youth-Led Organizations The AY Grants provide more than an opportunity to access small-scale funding. For organizations working directly with adolescents and young people, the programme provides a mechanism to strengthen advocacy, build partnerships and contribute to national policy discussions. Youth-led organizations can use the opportunity to connect community-level priorities with national decision-making and help ensure that adolescents have a stronger voice in policies affecting their health, rights and well-being. The programme’s emphasis on collaboration with existing national advocacy structures may also help organizations strengthen coordination and reduce duplication among youth and development actors. How to Apply for the PMNCH AY Grants 2026–2027 Eligible youth-led organizations, coalitions and networks should review the official Terms of Reference and application templates before preparing their Expression of Interest. The application deadline is 21 August 2026 at 12:00 CEST, while the grant period is scheduled to begin on 1 September 2026. Organizations should ensure that their proposal clearly demonstrates their youth engagement, advocacy experience, understanding of national adolescent health priorities and ability to deliver measurable results during the 12-month grant period. For youth-led organizations in the eligible countries, the PMNCH Advocating for Change for Adolescents Grants 2026–2027 represent an opportunity to secure catalytic funding while strengthening national advocacy for adolescent health, well-being and SRHR.. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) shares funding, scholarship, fellowship, internship and job opportunities for informational purposes. GSO is not the organization offering this grant and does not participate in the selection process. Applicants should verify all requirements and submit applications through the official channels provided by PMNCH. JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW