Generation Climate Europe (GCE) is looking to fund one registered youth organisation with €32,000 to coordinate the efforts of young people and youth organisations around Europe ahead of COP32 in Addis Ababa in November 2027. The project runs from 1 January to 30 November 2027 and has two connected parts: a European youth conference and ongoing coordination in the run-up to COP32. Only registered youth organisations in the 27 EU Member States can apply, and proposals are due by 29 November 2026, 23:59 CET. This is not an Erasmus+ or ESC programme. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full call for proposals, and every detail is set out below.
Not an Erasmus+ or ESC Programme
The Youth Climate Changemakers Fund is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). It is a grant for organisations, not for individual participants. It is funded through Funding Fairer Futures, an EU-funded programme run by Generation Climate Europe, and there is no participation or application fee. The grant covers 90% of the project budget, and the selected organisation must provide the remaining 10% itself.
What Is the Youth Climate Changemakers Fund?
GCE will fund one youth organisation to bring young people together around climate justice and a just transition before COP32. The period between COP31 and COP32 is when momentum is either built or lost. Young people across Europe are already active on climate, but they often work in separate networks with little shared strategy and few chances to meet decision makers together. The call funds a coordinated, sustained effort rather than a one-off event.
Key facts:
💶 €32,000 for one project
🗓️ 1 January to 30 November 2027
🎤 A European youth conference plus ongoing coordination in the run-up to COP32
🧲 A focus on reaching young people and groups outside the usual climate networks
📣 Shared priorities and messages for COP32 and EU decision making
🌳 A priority on long-term impact and legacy
🎓 Access to financial support, training and networking opportunities
The Two Parts of the Project
The funded project must have two connected parts:
🏛️ A European youth conference or gathering during the grant period. It brings together young people, youth groups and organisations to share knowledge, agree common priorities and build relationships. It must be accessible to people underrepresented in the climate movement and reach beyond the usual climate networks.
🔗 Ongoing coordination of European youth in the run-up to COP32. This includes regular contact between participants, shared messaging and positions, and preparation for engaging with COP32 and the decision makers around it.
What Supported Projects Should Aim To Do
🤝 Coordinate and strengthen cooperation between youth organisations, grassroots groups and networks across Europe on climate justice and a just transition
📣 Develop shared priorities and messages that young people can carry into COP32 and into national and European decision making
🗣️ Create meaningful opportunities for young people to engage directly with decision makers before and after COP32
🌱 Reach and involve underrepresented young people and groups, including organisations new to climate work
🏘️ Connect to the intersection of housing and energy, the focus of the shared Funding Fairer Futures campaign
🏗️ Leave behind stronger networks, skills and organisational capacity that last beyond COP32
The Role of Generation Climate Europe
The selected organisation works with GCE throughout the project. Together they will:
🧭 Work on the political direction of the conference, including which issues, moments and decision makers to focus on between COP31 and COP32
📝 Develop shared priorities and messages on climate justice and a just transition with young people from across Europe
🎪 Shape the conference programme and themes
🌐 Connect the project with the wider youth climate movement
🇪🇺 Engage with partners in the EU context, such as the Youth Delegate to COP of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Youth Policy Dialogue on COP led by the European Commission (DG CLIMA)
📱 Share visibility and dissemination through the GCE social media accounts and website
🏠 Where relevant, link the project to the Funding Fairer Futures campaign on housing and energy
🎓 Give access to training and organisational development support available to all Funding Fairer Futures grantees
GCE contributes and advises in these areas, but the selected organisation keeps final responsibility for the project's content, delivery and budget.
What GCE Is Looking For
The call seeks an organisation that:
🧑🤝🧑 Is youth-led and has a strong track record of working with young people on climate or social justice
🌐 Is experienced in engaging with and attending COP
🕸️ Has experience coordinating networks, coalitions or campaigns across several European countries
🏟️ Can organise and deliver a European-scale conference or gathering, including making it accessible for young people
🔓 Has existing links to young people and groups outside the usual climate networks
🏛️ Can engage with decision makers at national, European or international level
🤝 Is committed to working collaboratively and openly with GCE, other organisations and the young people involved
📑 Has the financial and administrative capacity to manage EU funding, including reporting and audit requirements
♻️ Wants to build lasting capacity and can explain how its work will continue after COP32
What the Fund Offers
💶 Financial support: a budget of €32,000 for the project
🗓️ Project duration: projects are expected to start on 1 January 2027 and must end by 30 November 2027
📋 Project management and organisational development training: tailored support on topics such as project management, HR, finance, fundraising and inclusive leadership
📢 Campaign and advocacy training: advocacy, campaign strategy and policy development
🎙️ Communication and mobilisation training: media engagement and communications strategising
🧮 Fundraising support: training and support on fundraising strategies, how to access institutional funding and alternative funding such as crowdfunding and income generation
🤝 Networking opportunities: activities and events that bring together all projects supported by Funding Fairer Futures
🌟 Visibility and recognition: being part of one of the EU's largest programmes supporting citizen engagement and climate action, within a network of hundreds of organisations and individuals mobilising locally, nationally and internationally
What GCE Expects From Grantees
🤝 Meaningful engagement: grantees engage with the project and other grantees and contribute to the collective campaigning of Funding Fairer Futures
💶 Co-financing: GCE, via Funding Fairer Futures, covers 90% of the total budget, and grantees provide the remaining 10%
📊 Appropriate reporting and communications: because the grant comes from the EU, grantees must comply with EU reporting requirements, with clear and regular contact with GCE. GCE offers support and training for reporting, and may ask for input in consultations on the campaigns or feedback on the training received
🏷️ Visibility of funding: materials must carry the logos of the project and funder, and GCE provides this information to successful applicants
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, you must meet all of the following conditions:
📈 Capacity: demonstrate the organisational and financial capacity to manage and deliver grants of a similar size
🏢 Legal entity: be registered as a legal entity, usually with a national government and a registration number
🚫 Not-for-profit: the organisation cannot be profit-making, whatever its structure
🧑🎓 Youth-led: day-to-day management is carried out by people under 30, or the governing body is made up of a majority of people under 30
🏛️ NGO status: be designated as an NGO in the country where it is registered
🇪🇺 EU-27 registration: be registered in one of the EU-27 countries
📍 Project location: the project must take place in one or more EU Member States
🚧 No DEAR funding: the organisation cannot already have received, or expect to receive, support from another fund financed by the EU's DEAR programme (any programme funded by EuropeAid/173998/DH/ACT/Multi), and cannot be a lead, co-applicant, affiliated entity, associate or contractor in a DEAR-funded project
📅 No 2022 DEAR application: the organisation cannot have taken part in an application to deliver the EU's DEAR 2022 programme (EuropeAid/173998/DH/ACT/Multi in 2022-2023)
✅ Compliance: be able to meet the financial, administrative, operational and due diligence requirements of EU funding. GCE assesses this during the application process and supports those who need it
🎯 Aligned activities: the project must align with the call and consist of activities such as awareness raising, public engagement, mobilisation campaigns, advocacy and capacity building and training
What the Fund Does Not Cover
This is a short list of costs that are not eligible, and it is not exhaustive:
🖥️ New equipment
🏗️ Building or capital projects
💹 Activities that generate a profit
🔗 Co-financing of another EU-funded project
🌍 Activities or projects outside the European Union (attendance at COP can exceptionally be accepted)
📆 Operational grants: this is a project grant, although some operational costs are eligible when directly attributable to the project
🗳️ Political campaigns or political parties
🎗️ Fundraising activities
📌 Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
How Proposals Are Evaluated
A team of experts decides the eligibility and suitability of each application, with a focus on the quality of the proposal, its impact and the likelihood of success. They also consider the overall makeup of the group of organisations funded, to make sure it is representative and inclusive. Proposals are scored on:
🎯 Relevance: 30% of the points
🌟 Potential impact: 20%
🧩 Coherence of project design: 20%
🏅 Capacity and credibility: 15%
💎 Added value of the funding: 15%
Preliminary results are communicated to applicants by email. GCE will shortlist a selection of applicants and assess their capacity and organisation.
How to Apply
Proposals must be submitted in English by 29 November 2026, 23:59 CET. Applicants complete four documents:
📝 The Application Form
✍️ The Declaration of Honour
🚫 The Declaration on Exclusion Criteria
📋 The Consultation Survey
The official page says to submit through the online form, while the call for proposals says applications should be sent by email to the Funding Fairer Futures address. Both are official, and both are listed in the Links section below. For questions about the grant, your eligibility or the process, contact the GCE team before 17 November 2026.
Find more opportunities like this one in the Others category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the Youth Climate Changemakers Fund give?
The fund gives €32,000 for one project, which runs from 1 January to 30 November 2027. GCE covers 90% of the total budget, and the grantee covers the remaining 10%.
Who can apply?
Registered youth organisations in the 27 EU Member States. The organisation must be a not-for-profit, youth-led NGO and a registered legal entity, and the project must take place in one or more EU Member States.
Is this an Erasmus+ or ESC programme?
No. It is a grant for organisations run by Generation Climate Europe through the EU-funded Funding Fairer Futures programme. It is not an Erasmus+ or ESC activity.
Can individual young people apply?
No. The call is for registered youth organisations, not individuals.
What does the funded project have to include?
A European youth conference or gathering and ongoing coordination of European youth in the run-up to COP32 in Addis Ababa in November 2027.
Is there an application fee?
The call mentions no application fee. The grantee must provide 10% co-financing of the project costs.
What is the deadline, and how do I submit?
Proposals are due by 29 November 2026, 23:59 CET, in English. The official page lists an online form, and the call for proposals lists an email address. Both are given below.
Who can I ask questions to?
Write to josh.cope@gceurope.org before 17 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 29 November 2026
Links
🔗 Online form: https://forms.monday.com/forms/a1e9930d88c934cb7bd65a56527bedd8?r=euc1
📄 Official page: https://gceurope.org/funding-fairer-futures/youth-climate-changemakers-fund-for-youth-organisations/
📑 Call for proposals (PDF): https://gceurope.org/wp-content/uploads/CfP-Youth-Organistions-COP32.pdf
📧 Applications by email: fundingfairerfutures@gceurope.org
💬 Questions: josh.cope@gceurope.org
