Colorful icons of people holding hands in a circle, surrounded by a blue laurel wreath, symbolizing unity and teamwork.

Youth Leadership & Innovation Award on Migration

Group photo of diverse participants at the 14th Forum Mondial sur la Migration et le Développement, taken in Geneva from January 23-25, 2024, in front of a large screen displaying the event title and logos.

A global competition designed to empower and support young leaders who are actively driving innovative solutions to migration challenges.

A colorful banner with logos of European Union, European Parliament, and other organizations, featuring various flags and symbols.

  • Visibility

    Showcasing the potential of youth-led solutions

  • Innovation Acceleration

    Strengthen the capacities of young leaders to lead successful initiatives

  • Network Creation

    Building a global network of young entrepreneurs and changemakers, fostering collaboration and shared learning

Objectives of YLIA

  • Provide seed funding to escalate youth innovative initiatives working on climate mobility, diaspora contributions, and access to services.

  • Strengthen the capacities of young leaders, including young migrants, refugees and members of host communities.

  • Elevate the voices of young leaders in global scenarios such as the Global Migration Forum on Development (GFMD).

  • Serves as a starting point for future partnerships between young leaders and key GFMD stakeholders.

A woman in a blue shirt speaking at a podium during the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
A woman with blond hair and glasses taking a photo with her phone at an event, seated next to other attendees at a conference table.
A man in a suit and tie speaking at a podium during the 14th Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva, January 2024.
A woman in a red blazer speaking at a podium during the 14th Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva, January 23-25, 2024, with a large blue backdrop displaying the event details in French.
A woman in a blue polo shirt holding a microphone and a small award, standing in front of a colorful backdrop with green and blue lines.
A man speaking into a microphone while holding a mobile phone, against a plain blue background.
A man with short blonde hair and a dark suit sitting at a conference, looking upwards with a serious expression, and clapping his hands. A woman with blonde hair and glasses sitting next to him also clapping. Conference microphones and water bottles
Group of diverse young people on stage at the 14th Forum Mondial sur la Migration et le Développement, Geneva, January 2024, for an award ceremony.
Group of nine diverse people posing on a stage at the XIV GFMD Summit, with a backdrop of a world map and logos of sponsors and organizers.
A diverse group of people attending a formal conference, sitting at a table with microphones, clapping and looking attentively. The setting appears professional, with nameplates and badges visible.
A conference hall filled with attendees sitting at desks, facing a stage with a large screen displaying '2nd Place' at the Global Forum on Migration and Development, with several panelists on stage and a few attendees taking photos.
Group of six diverse people, including women and men, standing on stage at the Global Forum on Migration and Development, holding awards and smiling for the camera. 
PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Empowering Young Leaders in Migration Innovation

  • 3rd Youth Leadership and Innovation Award

    @ XV GFMD Summit

  • 2nd Youth Leadership and Innovation Award

    @ XIV GFMD Summit

  • 1st Youth Leadership and Innovation Award

    @ XIII GFMD Summit

Previous Editions Finalists

  • A young woman in a black turtleneck and red blazer with black details looking to the side outdoors.

    Mamadou Adama Barry

    Yes- Secours et Vie (SeVie)

    GUINEA

  • A woman speaking at a podium during a conference, with a blue backdrop and text about the Global Forum on Migration and Development held in Geneva from January 23-25, 2024.

    Jîn Dawod

    Peace Therapist

    SYRIA

  • A young man in a red suit and a striped tie standing in front of a backdrop with text.

    Joseph MANIRAKIZA

    Bridging Borders Kigali

    RWANDA

  • A young woman with braided hair, glasses, and a white shirt with a black collar, smiling in front of a blue background with white and yellow text.

    Norah Kimathi

    Zerobionic

    KENYA

  • A young woman with curly brown hair smiling, wearing a white off-shoulder dress and a blue lanyard with a badge, standing in front of a white wall with a colorful logo or emblem partially visible at the top.

    Zulfiya Urunova

    Take Care Mom

    TAJIKSTAN

  • A man with dark skin and short curly hair, wearing a light blue collared shirt, looking directly at the camera against a light blue background.

    Mamush Yishak Wana

    Job4Laborers

    ETHIOPIA

  • A woman with long brown hair wearing a burgundy sleeveless top and several bracelets on her left wrist, smiling against a plain light gray background.

    Layla Elgharbawi Mendoza

    Defending Civic Space - Fundación Trascendentes

    ECUADOR

  • Text on a yellow background that reads, 'This could be you,' with the words 'be you' in white on a black background.

What Previous Participants Are Saying

“The YLIA is a strategic opportunity for young innovators to showcase their potential and the work they are doing at grassroots level.

It really strengthens the bottom-up approach”

Careen Joel Mwakitalu

No Taka Tanzania
1st place -Climate Mobility Category

A woman speaking at a podium during the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva, January 23-25, 2024, wearing a blue polo shirt with logos and a serious expression.

“Thanks to the financial support we will receive, we will be able to invest more in girls' and migrants’ access to education in Ecuador”

WENDDY VERA GARGIA

Education in Emergencies
3rd place - Health and Safety: Migrants’ Access to Basic Services

A woman with glasses, wearing a checkered blazer and colorful necklace, is speaking at a podium during a conference.

“As an entrepreneur, this prize is a good encouragement to continue to develop our projects and build healthy communities,”

A woman speaking at a podium during a conference about migration and development in Geneva, January 23-25, 2024. 
Jîn Dawod

Peace Therapist
2nd place -Social, Economic, and Cultural Contributions Of Diaspora category

Impact to Date

  • 3

    Award Editions

  • 600+

    Participants

  • 18

    Finalists

  • 9

    Winners

The YLIA journey
  • Graphic representing a project workflow with a starting point indicated by a right arrow inside a circle, followed by connected circles illustrating steps in a process.

    Call for application and selection of 6 finalists

  • Outline of a person pointing at a presentation board with a light bulb icon, symbolizing an idea or innovation.

    Pitch preparation

  • Colorful logo with stylized human figures in green, red, yellow, purple, orange, and blue, surrounded by a blue laurel wreath.

    Youth Leadership and Innovation Award Pitch competition at the GFMD

  • Icon of a person wearing a graduation cap with a light bulb, a graduation cap, and a book around them, symbolizing education and ideas.

    Masterclasses

  • A gear with a flow chart and upward arrow indicating growth and progress.

    Opportunities to scale

Collaborate with us on the next edition

  • Mentorship

  • Capacity Building

  • Seed Funding

Latest report

Keep an eye on the upcoming applications of YLIA

Join us to advance migration solutions with training, mentorship, and seed funding. The 4th edition launches soon.

Collaborate with us