ELIGIBILITY:

The Young Leader must:

Be connected to an organization that is willing and able to provide mentorship and logistical support for the proposed Young Leader’s project

Be between 18 and 30 years old (and ideally under 25)

Be willing to attend AIDS 2026 from 26 to 31 July 2026

Be able and willing to report and communicate with the IAS in English

The host organization must:

Be a registered charitable organization and willing to undergo additional eligibility checks

Be able and willing to provide a point of contact who will actively mentor the selected applicant as a Young Leader

Be able and willing to logistically support its Young Leader in the day-to-day aspects of the implementation of its innovation project

Be able and willing to report and communicate with the IAS in English

Be able and willing to receive, as well as manage, all funds related to the seed grant

Please apply through our application portal. You will need to provide information and contact details for yourself and your host organization. You will also be asked a series of questions to assess motivation, skills and project feasibility, as well as to upload a completed budget template and a letter of support from your host organization.

Only applications made through the online application portal will be considered.

Please see the application guidelines for in-depth information on how to apply.

BENEFIT:

Selected Young Leaders will be awarded:

USD 10,000 seed grant to implement and/or scale up an HIV-related innovative project over a period of six months (April to October 2026)

Capacity building in monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and communications and networking opportunities

Travel to AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Inclusion in the AIDS 2026 Young Leaders Programme