Open call for young leaders: ODIHR Regional Youth Forum

The ODIHR Regional Youth Forum will bring together young leaders and activists from the Eastern Partnership countries with decisionmakers, political representatives, civil society and experts to explore how young people can play a stronger role in political and democratic processes.

Applicants are invited to bring forward concrete youth-led initiatives, ideas or proposals that they would like to develop further. A selected number of these initiatives will be supported through a structured preparation process with ODIHR experts and peers, helping participants refine their ideas, strengthen their advocacy approach and prepare them for public presentation at the ODIHR Regional Youth Forum. 

Through interactive and experiential formats, participants will exchange experiences, develop practical ideas and engage in dialogue on youth participation, public decision-making and policy advocacy.

Selected youth-led initiatives will be further refined through multiple online sessions and a half-day in-person workshop in Chisinau, with expert and peer support. The initiatives will then be presented and discussed directly with decisionmakers during the Forum.

As part of your application, you will be asked to propose an initial youth-led policy initiative addressing one of the following thematic clusters:

1. Youth participation in political decision-making: strengthening youth representation and participation in policymaking and public decision-making.
2. Youth engagement with political institutions: building stronger dialogue and co-operation between young people and parliaments, local authorities, political parties or other public institutions.
3. Inclusive political participation: promoting the participation of women, rural youth, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in democratic and political processes.

The initiative does not need to be fully developed. We are looking for ideas with genuine potential rather than polished proposals. The preparation programme will provide the space, expertise and peer support needed to develop your idea further. Applicants may submit an initiative that is at the idea or early development stage. They should demonstrate an understanding of the issue they want to address, why it matters, and what change they would like to achieve.

Selected participants are expected to join the full programme to ensure your youth-led initiative is ready to make an impact at the Forum and give participants tangible ideas to refine youth-led initiatives ideas forward:

• Three online experiential sessions allowing you to work with experts and fellow selected leaders on the design of your contributions to the Regional Youth Forum. Planned for the first two weeks of November, these sessions will help you test and refine your idea, strengthen your advocacy strategy and prepare your policy messages at the Forum in engaging and interactive ways. 
• A half-day in-person workshop in Chisinau will take place on 23 November, immediately before the Regional Youth Forum kicks off, to ensure you feel confident to deliver your presentations. The workshop will help prepare you to present experientially, lead a dry-run presentation, and receive personalized coaching and feedback.
• The Regional Youth Forum, held from 23 to 25 November 2026 in Chisinau in which you will engage in a variety of different sessions on youth political. participation, as well as present your own initiatives to key decisionmakers and refine your ideas through interactive sessions and peer exchange.
• An in-person or online debrief discussion held right after the Forum to reflect on the event outcomes, collect feedback, discuss follow-up recommendations, outline next steps and provide additional guidance to the further development of youth-led initiatives.

The call is open to young leaders ages 18-35 from the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) who are engaged in political parties, youth organizations, civil society, community initiatives or other forms of civic and democratic engagement. Applicants should demonstrate relevant experience or involvement in civic, community, political or democratic activities. This may include, for example, participation in youth or civil society organizations, community initiatives, advocacy, volunteering, political party activities, elections or other forms of civic engagement.

The Forum's working language will be English, as will the online experiential sessions and preparation process, therefore fluency in English is expected.

Applications, in English, should be submitted electronically by Friday, 2 October 2026, 23:59 CEST. Applications should also include:

• CV
• Cover letter explaining your motivation to participate
• Concept note of up to 500 words describing your initial youth-led policy initiative
• One recommendation letter

The cost of participation is fully covered by the organizers, including travel and accommodation.