2013 UN-Habitat Urban Youth Fund.

The UN-HABITAT invites young people based in cities or towns from the developing world to apply for grants of up to USD 25,000.

The UN-Habitat Urban Youth Fund promotes the poverty reduction aims of Millennium Development Goals and the Habitat Agenda for better, more sustainable and equitable towns and cities throughout the developing world. It provides grants of up to $25,000 for new ideas and solutions for job creation, good governance, adequate shelter and secure tenure.

By undertaking research on best practises in youth-led development the fund will also create a greater awareness of the urgency to ensure that youth concerns are integrated into national and local development policies and strategies.

Applicant organizations must be led by young people aged 15-32 years and be based in cities or towns in developing countries to qualify for a grant. Support will be provided primarily for those working to improve slum conditions and to raise opportunities for young people growing up in poverty. Projects encouraging gender equality or involving partnerships with the government or the private sector are particularly encouraged.

The Fund will for the fifth year in a row provide grants to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good urban governance, shelter and secure tenure. Small development initiatives are eligible for grants up to $25,000. These grants aim at promoting youth empowerment as the solution for better urban governance.

Indeed, of the one billion slum dwellers in the world today, it is estimated that more than 70% are under the age of 30. These young people have few resources available to improve their own living. Interestingly though, there are many youth-led initiatives in slums and squatter settlements around the world that require support in their efforts to transform their communities.

This has led UN-Habitat to reconsider the youth as drivers for change. Through this Fund, UN-Habitat embraces the belief that youth are a solution for sustainable urban development.

The application will open from February 15th 2013 to April 15th 2013. More information and details are available at www.unhabitat.org/youthfund.