Youth Scholarships - Combined United Nations Chemicals and Waste Study Programme, Basel Convention OEWG-15, and 62nd Human Rights Council participation | Geneva 23 June - 17 July 2026

The Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform (CWYP), in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is pleased to offer up to 5 fully-funded scholarships for youth, students, recent graduates and early-career professionals (up to age 35) to participate in the United Nations Chemicals and Waste Management Study Programme to be hosted from 13-17 July 2026 in Geneva.
Participation in the Study Programme will be complemented by additional opportunities coordinated by CWYP to engage in multilateral policymaking processes in the weeks leading up to the programme, which are planned to include the Basel Convention 15th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG-15) and the 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) from 23 June - 10 July.
Participants will gain firsthand experience contributing youth priorities within live negotiations, followed by structured, small-group learning and professional development through the Study Programme, including a look "behind the scenes" at chemicals and waste processes in the UN system in Geneva, interactive training sessions with experts, and guidance into career pathways in the UN and international environmental governance.

Eligibility

Scholarships are open to youth meeting the following criteria, without exceptions:

1. Are between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of application;
2. Are from a developing country, Least Developed Country (LDC), Small Island Developing State (SIDS), or are a representative of Indigenous Peoples;
3. Are available to travel and be present in Geneva from 23 June through 17 July, and are committed to participating in the full duration of the programme; and
4. Have submitted this completed application form by the deadline (27 April 2026).

Applications will be evaluated by the Selection Team for sincere, detailed responses to the written prompts that demonstrate:

1. Clear motivation for participating in the programme and how it aligns with current work, interests, and future career aspirations in chemicals and waste management, environmental health or related fields; and
2. Commitment to sharing knowledge learned and contributing to follow-up activities within their communities, organizations or networks.

NOTE: Copy-pasted AI / ChatGPT / LLM responses are not permitted. They may be used as a tool to help organize your thoughts or for editing your own writing, but not to generate responses for you. Sincere, personalized applications generally stand out and receive greater support from the Selection Team, even if they aren't grammatically "perfect." Share with us what specifically excites you about participating, discuss a project you are working on, tell us a story. We want to learn about you, in your own voice.

Expected Travel support Coverage

The following is an overview of travel arrangements and financial support to be provided to youth selected for the scholarships. More detailed logistics will be shared with successful applicants.

Fully-Funded Travel Grants [Open to youth from Global South countries and Indigenous Peoples]

1. Economy-class, round-trip flight tickets booked by the Organizing Team
2. Hotel accommodation arranged by the Organizing Team
3. Coverage of Study Programme fees.
4. Reimbursement of meals, visa fees and transportation costs against receipts and as approved by Organizing Team.

NOTE: Confirmation of visas and registration to attend the Study Programme are at the discretion of the host (and any transit) country and UNITAR, respectively. CWYP is not responsible for visas or registrations not being approved. Filling this form does not guarantee admission to the Study Programme or associated events.

About the UNITAR Study Programme

UNITAR has been a global leader in capacity building since 1963, providing over 500,000 learning initiatives annually. Through its Division for Planet, UNITAR's Chemicals and Waste Management Programme supports countries in the implementation of international agreements related to chemicals and waste, including the: Basel Convention (transboundary movement of hazardous waste), Rotterdam Convention (prior informed consent for trade in hazardous chemicals), Stockholm Convention (eliminating persistent organic pollutants POPs), Minamata Convention (mercury) and Global Framework on Chemicals. As of 2026, UNITAR also serves as the host of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) Secretariat.
The July edition of the Study Programme will feature:

1. Expert lectures and technical workshops on the UN's work on a range of thematic areas related to chemicals and waste management (including transboundary hazardous waste movements, persistent organic pollutants, mercury phase-out and artisanal small-scale gold mining, chemical safety and public health, chemicals in products, occupational exposure, extended producer responsibility, chemical accidents and public access to information, etc.)
2. Site visits to Geneva-based institutions including the International Environment House (headquarters for Secretariats of the chemicals Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Global Framework on Chemicals), Palais des Nations, World Health Organization (WHO), and International Labor Organization (ILO).
3. Career sessions providing insights on the UN internship and entry-level recruitment process, CV and motivation letter guidance, and interview preparation.

Participants completing the programme will receive a UNITAR Certificate of Completion.
For those requiring support on their visa applications, kindly note UNITAR can provide assistance by providing an official letter of invitation upon confirmation of registration in this programme.

About the Basel Convention OEWG

Adopted in 1989, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal laid the groundwork to regulate the global trade of waste. Before the Basel Convention, origin countries (often in the Global North that generate large quantities of waste) frequently shipped poorly characterized, hazardous or unknown materials to recipient countries (often in the Global South and with less regulatory and infrastructural capacity to manage the wastes). This resulted in significant environmental harm, human health risks and inequitable burdens on vulnerable communities.
The Convention establishes legally-binding controls on the movement of hazardous waste across borders through the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, requiring exporters to obtain written agreement from importing and transit states before shipping the waste. It further advances environmentally sound management and reduction of waste within and between countries, supported by a network of 14 Basel Convention Regional Centres (BCRCs) for training and technology transfer. The OEWG brings together Parties and observers every other year to review implementation of the Convention's work plan and consider policy, scientific, and legal issues ahead of the next Conference of the Parties (COP).
As the youth constituency coordinating youth engagement to the Basel Convention and its sister conventions, the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform will contribute collective youth policy recommendations to OEWG-15. Youth delegates can be expected to deliver spoken and written interventions during the negotiations, meet with country Party delegations to discuss youth priorities, and contribute to our ongoing advocacy toward the establishment of a Youth Engagement Action Plan under the BRS Conventions.

About the Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an intergovernmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets three times annually at the United Nations Office at Geneva (Palais des Nations), with the 62nd session convening in June-July.
Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform delegates will particularly focus on the environmental dimensions of the HRC, including participation in the Geneva Toxic-Free Talks, engagement with the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights (including outgoing and incoming mandate holders), attendance and interventions in relevant plenary sessions and interactive dialogues, participation in side events on environmental health and pollution, engagement with Member State delegations and civil society organizations, and contributing youth perspectives to ongoing discussions on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Support with the selection

If you are not applying for the Study Programme and would like to join the Selection Team to evaluate and select youth candidates to receive the scholarships, please email chemicals.admin@unmgcy.org with subject line "Selection Team Volunteer - CW Study Programme," and include your name, date of birth and contact information in the body of the email.

Privacy Note

The personal information you provide in this form will only be accessed by the Organizing Team for the purpose of facilitating participation in this programme. Your information will not be shared outside of the Organizing Team and will not be retained beyond the programme dates.
For travel grant applications, all submissions are anonymized before being shared with the independent Selection Team.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

GOOD LUCK