The Global Citizen Prize: 2027 Cisco Youth Leadership Award honours three individuals aged 18-35 who have made a meaningful contribution to ending extreme poverty through technology. Each of the three winners receives $250,000: $225,000 in unrestricted funding and $25,000 in Cisco technology products. Applications close on 18 December 2026 at 5 pm ET. At Youth Works Hub, we read the official prize page and FAQ and listed the criteria, steps and conditions below.
Cisco Youth Leadership Award 2027 at a Glance
🏆 Prize: three awards of $250,000 each
💻 Split: $225,000 unrestricted funding plus $25,000 in Cisco technology products
🎂 Age: 18-35 by 31 December 2026
🌐 Where: applications accepted from all over the world, online
🏢 Registered entity: the applicant needs a registered legal entity such as a non-profit, for-profit, B-corp or social enterprise
📅 Finalists: up to ten finalists notified on or around 8 February 2027
What the Prize Recognises
Established by Cisco and Global Citizen, the prize honours young people who are leading the way in creating and implementing solutions for the Global Goals and accelerating global problem solving, specifically by using technology to help end extreme poverty.
🆕 Three winners: this year there are three winners instead of one
🔝 Higher age limit: the upper age limit has been extended from 30 to 35
Judging Criteria
📈 Impact: a demonstrated track record of measurable impact at scale over the last 3-5 years advancing one or more of the Global Goals
🔭 Vision: a compelling vision and concrete plans for extending the work over the next 3-5 years, including how the prize would advance it
✨ Catalyst: inspiring other young people to make an impact on the Global Goals
🌍 Global citizenship: demonstrating the values and embodying the spirit of a Global Citizen and a Global Problem Solver
🛠️ Technology innovation: using technology or other internet-based communications to improve efficiency, reach and magnify impact
A qualifying IT-based solution produces greater impact, at lower cost, higher quality and with stronger outcomes, and enables specific social-outcome metrics to be gathered and reported.
Who Can Apply
🎂 Age: 18 to 35 by 31 December 2026
🧑💼 Any title: you do not have to be the founder or CEO; the organisers look for a transformative leader whose title does not matter, and the application asks for your role
🏛️ Any organisation type: non-profits and other organisations are accepted, as long as you have a registered legal entity
💼 Individuals and funds: the prize goes to three individuals, but the funds are allocated to the organisation each winner works for
📆 Track record: the prize is for people with a demonstrated impact over the last 3-5 years, so someone just starting out may not be a fit
🚫 Sanctioned countries: applications come from all over the world, with the exception of countries and entities subject to sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or other US government entities that may restrict the transfer of prize money
What the Application Requires
The application has four parts:
👤 About You: personal and organisation information, plus a scanned copy of your passport
🎤 Pitch: explain why you deserve the award and provide a 1-2 minute video pitch
✍️ Judging criteria: answer 5 short-answer questions about your work and describe in 250 words or fewer how you meet each criterion
📜 Organisational details: proof of registration such as a certificate of registration, incorporation or tax exemption, plus other supplemental information
Applications are submitted through a new platform, Optible AI, which replaces the Skild platform of previous years. You need a new account even if you applied before, applications from earlier years cannot be viewed there, and your work saves automatically. Once submitted, an application is final and cannot be changed.
Judging Process and Finalist Requirements
Candidates are judged against the criteria by a group of Global Citizen, Cisco and independent experts. Up to ten finalists are selected on or around 8 February 2027, and three winners are chosen from them by a panel of representatives from Global Citizen, Cisco and activists and leaders in international development.
🗂️ Letters of recommendation: finalists submit three letters: from a colleague, from a funder or operational partner, and from a person you have impacted
⏳ Be ready early: the organisers advise having the letters ready when you apply
📥 Supplemental information: it may also be requested from finalists; finalists who cannot provide letters and supplemental information by the deadline may be removed from consideration
Key Dates
🟢 11 November 2026, 10:00 am ET: applications open
🔴 18 December 2026, 5:00 pm ET: applications close
📣 On or around 8 February 2027: up to ten finalists notified
About Global Citizen
Global Citizen is an action platform dedicated to ending extreme poverty. Its community has inspired 43.3 million actions since 2009, which together with high-level advocacy have led to over $49 billion being distributed to partners worldwide, impacting 1.3 billion lives. Cisco and Global Citizen created the award because they believe young people are leading the way on the Global Goals.
If you are building a profile for awards like this, our overview of opportunities for non-EU youth shows where else to look.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Cisco Youth Leadership Award?
Each of the three winners receives $250,000 USD: $225,000 in unrestricted funding and $25,000 in Cisco technology products.
Who is eligible to apply?
Anyone aged 18 to 35 by 31 December 2026 who is doing impactful work and has a registered legal entity such as a non-profit, for-profit, B-corp or social enterprise. Applications from countries and entities under OFAC or other US government sanctions that may restrict the transfer of prize money are not accepted.
When is the deadline?
Applications close on 18 December 2026 at 5:00 pm ET. They opened on 11 November 2026.
Do I have to be the founder or CEO?
No. The organisers care about the impact you have, not your title; the application asks for your role in the organisation.
Is the prize for individuals or organisations?
It is awarded to three individuals, but the funds go to the organisation each winner works for.
What documents do I need?
A scanned passport copy, a 1-2 minute pitch video, short-answer responses, and proof of your organisation's registration. Finalists add three letters of recommendation.
I am just starting out. Can I apply?
The prize is meant for people with a demonstrated impact over the last 3-5 years, so it may not be the right fit for very early-stage work.
Which platform is used?
Optible AI. You need to create a new account, and a submitted application is final.
Find more opportunities like this in the Others section on Youth Works Hub →.
Deadline
⏳ 18 December 2026
Links
🔗 Prize page and application: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/prize/youth-leadership/
🔗 Terms and conditions: https://globalcitizen.org/en/terms/cyla-27
