Attend Ideas Lab 2026: Fully Funded Young Climate Leaders Fellowship for Global South Youth (Travel, Accommodation, Visa Covered)

If you are a young person from the Global South who breathes climate action and wants to see how big public-policy events are built — this is the invitation you did not know to wait for. The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung EU | Global Dialogue, is recruiting Young Climate Leaders to join the Ideas Lab flagship event in Brussels on 2–3 March 2026. Selected participants will have travel, accommodation, meals and visa costs covered — you’ll only need to bring energy, a clear voice, and a passport that is ready for travel.

Ideas Lab is not a typical conference attendance ticket. It’s a place to watch European-level policymaking at close range, to speak with researchers, parliamentarians, commissioners and civil society leaders, and to practice translating your ideas into policy conversations. For many alumni, it becomes a springboard: new contacts, sharper messaging, and an inside view on how large-scale events put ideas into motion.

This call is targeted at people aged 20–35 from countries listed in the application form (broadly those in the Global South). If you have been leading or supporting climate projects, campaigning, researching, running green enterprises, or mobilizing communities — and you can travel to Brussels between 1 and 4 March 2026 — this opportunity is worth your attention. Note: past participants are not eligible to apply again.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

This fellowship-style invitation is best understood as a fully supported learning and networking placement inside one of Brussels’s most established policy events. Ideas Lab draws policy makers, business leaders, academics, ambassadors, and civil society to debate pressing issues. For attendees, that means panels, breakout workshops, networking receptions and behind-the-scenes exposure to how programming and agenda-setting happens at the European level.

Funding covers the practical barriers that often prevent talent from the Global South from attending: airfare, hotel, meals and the visa itself. That removes the money problem; the hard work is in making your participation count. Expect a schedule that mixes plenary sessions with intimate roundtables where you’ll be able to ask questions, pitch ideas and test messaging. You may be invited to participate in preparatory sessions or to meet with program staff to discuss your interests before arriving.

Beyond the event sessions, Ideas Lab is social capital. You’ll meet peers from across continents, potential collaborators, and policy actors who can open doors to future funding or partnerships. For campaigners and practitioners, the benefit is twofold: sharpen your policy language (how to speak to regulators and funders) and return home with contacts and a plan to scale or adapt your work. Put simply: the fellowship puts you where major conversations start, and equips you to carry them home in a way that matters.

Who Should Apply

This is for doers, not theorists. You should think about applying if you are actively engaged in climate action — broadly defined — and you want to deepen your understanding of policy processes and expand your network.

Examples of ideal applicants:

• A 29-year-old community organizer in Accra running a coastal resilience pilot and needing better policy contacts to scale local results.
• A 24-year-old researcher in São Paulo studying urban heat islands who wants to translate technical findings into policy recommendations.
• A 33-year-old founder of a climate tech startup in Nairobi seeking connections with European research institutions and potential partners.
• A campaigner working on climate justice in South Asia aiming to amplify community perspectives in international policy forums.

Eligibility specifics matter: applicants must be aged 20–35, hold the nationality of a country listed in the application form (the list is part of the form itself), demonstrate good English, and be available to travel to Brussels between 1 and 4 March 2026. If you’ve already participated in Ideas Lab in the past, this call is not open to you. If your work is purely academic with no engagement beyond theory, you can still apply — but you should show how attending will change what you do and who you reach.

Eligibility and Practical Considerations

Beyond the basic age and nationality rules, think hard about your travel readiness. Do you have a passport valid for at least six months from March 2026? Is your work situation flexible enough to allow travel? Do you need employer permission or a letter of leave? These practicalities can make or break your application even if your project is stellar.

If you plan to apply from a place where visa processing is slow, flag this in your planning. CEPS will cover visa costs, but you remain responsible for submitting documents and attending consular appointments when requested. Also check whether your country’s citizens need a Schengen visa for Belgium — likely yes — and prepare accordingly.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

This is where many applicants fall short: they submit admirable passion but thin specifics. Reviewers want evidence that you will both benefit from Ideas Lab and contribute meaningfully to the conversation. Here are concrete strategies that help applications rise to the top.

1. Tell a compact, evidence-backed story. Start with a one-paragraph snapshot: what you do, the scale (numbers) and the impact. Replace vague sentences like “I care about climate” with “I run a reforestation project that planted 12,000 trees across three communities, reducing erosion and improving livelihoods for 450 households.” Numbers and outcomes matter.

2. Make a clear case for why Ideas Lab is the next logical step. Spell out two specific goals you will accomplish by attending (e.g., “establish two institutional partnerships in the EU to pilot my flood-mapping tool” or “learn how to frame local climate data for EU funding proposals”). Avoid generic statements such as “I want to learn more.”

3. Show leadership and initiative. Reviewers like applicants who have started something and pushed it forward — even modest projects count, if they show you can deliver. If you led community training, coordinated volunteers, or secured small grants, say so and describe your role.

4. Explain how you will share the experience after returning home. Ideas Lab is an investment in multiplier effects. Plan a concrete follow-up: a workshop for local NGOs, a policy brief sent to government contacts, a webinar for students. Commit to one measurable activity.

5. Proofread and polish. Sloppy grammar or rambling responses signal low preparation. Short, punchy sentences that answer the question directly do better than long paragraphs that wander.

6. Prepare supporting documents early. If the form allows uploads or links, have a two-page CV, brief project summary (one page), and any media (photos, short videos, reports) ready. These make your claims verifiable.

7. Be realistic about availability and visa realities. If you cannot secure leave or your passport is expiring within six months of travel, address this in the form or resolve it before applying.

8. Use a reviewer’s hat. After drafting, hand your application to someone unfamiliar with your work. If they can explain your project back to you in two minutes, you’re in good shape.

These strategies aren’t theatrical tricks; they are ways to make the selection panel’s job easier. Panels read dozens of applications — be the one that’s simple to understand and hard to forget.

Application Timeline (Realistic and Practical)

Working backward from the deadline will save you from last-minute disaster.

• Now to early November 2025: Sketch your story. Draft a one-page project summary, update a two-page CV, and confirm your passport validity. If you need employer permission or a letter from your organization, ask now.
• Mid-November to late November 2025: Draft full application answers. Get two independent reviewers: one in your field and one outside it. Incorporate feedback.
• Early December 2025: Finalize attachments, confirm any documentary requirements (copy of passport, institutional letter if needed). Convert files to the requested formats and double-check file sizes.
• December 10, 2025 (deadline): Submit through the official form before 23:59 CET. Aim to submit at least 48 hours earlier to avoid technical problems.
• January 16, 2026: You should receive notification. If shortlisted, prepare to respond quickly to logistical requests (flight itineraries, passport copies).
• March 1–4, 2026: Travel window — be ready for intensive sessions and networking.

If you’re in a country with slow visa processing, begin visa prep as soon as you receive selection confirmation to avoid delays.

Required Materials — What to Prepare and How to Present It

The official call requires applicants to complete the online form. While the form fields are authoritative, here’s a practical list of commonly requested materials and how to make each work for you:

• Application form responses: answer each question directly. Use short paragraphs and bullet points only where clarity benefits the reader.
• Two-page CV or résumé: focus on climate-related experience, leadership roles, publications, and relevant training. Keep it concise and chronological.
• Personal statement / motivation: 300–500 words that explain who you are, what you do, and what you will achieve by attending Ideas Lab. Be specific about follow-up actions.
• Project summary (1 page): if you lead an initiative, include objectives, scale, outcomes to date, and a clear “ask” of what you need next.
• Passport copy and travel details (if requested upon selection): ensure your passport is valid for travel and scans are clear.
• Letters of support (if the form requests or allows them): get short, targeted letters from supervisors or partners that confirm your role and capacity to travel.
• Evidence of outputs (optional): short reports, photos, or links to coverage that demonstrate your impact.

If the form doesn’t explicitly require some of these attachments, have them ready in case the organisers ask after selection. Preparing these items early means you won’t be scrambling later.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Selection committees are balancing many goals: geographic diversity, gender balance, thematic variety, and the potential for impact. Here’s what pushes an application from “good” to “memorable”:

• Clear, documented impact. The strongest candidates show what they have achieved and how that achievement affected people or policy. Specific project metrics, testimonies, or short media links are convincing.
• Thoughtful follow-up plan. Commit to an actionable post-event activity — a policy brief, local workshop, media piece — and describe how you will implement it. Selection panels reward applicants who multiply the value of attendance.
• Demonstrated leadership, not just participation. Being the founder, coordinator, or lead researcher on a successful initiative signals you can channel Ideas Lab contacts into real outcomes.
• Communication skill. If your application reads clearly and persuasively, reviewers infer you will be able to represent your community in panels and conversations.
• Regional or thematic representation. If your country or topic (for example climate adaptation in small island states) is underrepresented, that can strengthen your profile.
• Readiness to travel and engage. Applicants who show they can obtain leave, hold a valid passport, and manage visa logistics are more attractive.

Above all, selection favors applicants who show they will use this experience to return value to communities and networks, not just personal resume padding.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (And How to Fix Them)

Even strong applicants stumble on avoidable errors. Here are pitfalls and practical fixes.

1. Vague applications. Mistake: “I care about climate and want to learn.” Fix: Use specific goals and outcomes: what you will learn and what you’ll do afterwards.

2. Missing logistics. Mistake: Ignoring passport expiry or employer leave. Fix: Check passport validity now and secure written leave if required.

3. Overlong, unfocused statements. Mistake: Long paragraphs with irrelevant background. Fix: Keep every sentence purposeful. Use one paragraph for activity, one for impact, one for objectives at Ideas Lab.

4. Failing to quantify impact. Mistake: Describing projects without numbers. Fix: Add metrics (people reached, hectares restored, % reduction in emissions, funds raised).

5. Submitting at the last minute. Mistake: Waiting until the final hour and encountering upload errors. Fix: Submit 48–72 hours early.

6. Not planning post-event follow-up. Mistake: Thinking attendance is enough. Fix: Outline one concrete knowledge-sharing activity you will do after returning home.

7. Ignoring language clarity. Mistake: Sloppy grammar or untranslated technical jargon. Fix: Ask a trusted, English-fluent peer to edit.

Avoiding these common errors can raise your chance of selection significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who exactly is eligible to apply? A: Applicants must be aged 20–35 and hold nationality of a country listed in the application form (targeting Global South countries). Good command of English and availability to travel 1–4 March 2026 are required. Past participants are not eligible.

Q: Are travel and accommodation fully covered? A: Yes. CEPS will cover travel, hotel, meals and visa costs for selected participants. There is no additional stipend; the travel support covers participation expenses only.

Q: Can I bring a partner or family member? A: No. The programme funds the participant’s travel and attendance only.

Q: Do I need to prepare a long policy paper? A: No. The application focuses on your experience, motivation and how you will use Ideas Lab. Keep submissions concise and targeted.

Q: What if my passport is expiring soon? A: Check passport validity now. Many Schengen visas require a minimum validity beyond the travel dates. If selected, you’ll need to ensure your passport meets visa requirements.

Q: Will CEPS help with visa processing? A: CEPS covers visa costs and typically provides an invitation letter and logistical support. However, applicants are responsible for submitting visa applications and attending consular appointments on time.

Q: Can organisations nominate candidates? A: The call is for individual applicants via the online form. Organisations can encourage staff or young leaders to apply but nominations must be completed by the applicant.

Q: If I’m not selected, can I apply next year? A: Yes, provided you still meet the age and nationality criteria and have not previously participated.

How to Apply / Get Started

Ready to act? Here is a step-by-step checklist to get you on the road:

1. Read the full call carefully and confirm your eligibility.
2. Update a concise two-page CV and prepare a one-page project summary that includes outcomes and scale.
3. Draft a compelling motivation statement (300–500 words) with two concrete objectives for attending Ideas Lab and one concrete follow-up action you will deliver afterward.
4. Ensure your passport is valid for travel and you can secure leave for travel dates 1–4 March 2026.
5. Complete the online application form before 10 December 2025, 23:59 CET. Only applications submitted via this form will be accepted.

Ready to apply? Visit the official application form here: https://forms.office.com/e/h2W4xA2ZWP

If you have questions about the process or the programme, contact Laura Nicolás at [email protected]. Expect to hear about selection decisions by 16 January 2026.

Good luck — if you’re serious about translating local climate action into conversations that can change policy, Ideas Lab is a rare, well-supported place to be seen, heard and connected.