Deadline: April 12, 2026
Applications are open for the OPEC Fund Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2026. The Annual Award for Development (AAD) recognizes outstanding contributions to sustainable development. First introduced in 2006, the AAD has evolved in OPEC Fund’s 50th Anniversary year to better reflect today’s development priorities and emerging opportunities.
As part of the OPEC Fund’s Annual Award for Development, the Youth Entrepreneurship Award recognizes entrepreneurs under 30 years of age who are advancing innovative and impactful solutions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in OPEC Fund partner countries or member countries.
Award Categories
- The US$100,000 award aims to spotlight young changemakers whose work demonstrates strong development relevance, innovation and potential for sustainable impact.
Eligibility
- Nominations must be submitted by an individual or institution with direct knowledge of the nominated organization’s work.
- To ensure independence and integrity:
- The nominating party may not be an employee of, or receive remuneration from, the nominated organization.
- Board members may nominate, provided they receive no compensation for their services.
- The nominating party may not be:
- A family member, employee or founder of the nominated organization.
- An employee or board member of the OPEC Fund.
Nominee Eligibility
- Youth Entrepreneurship Award: young entrepreneurs advancing solutions in renewable energy, food security, or climate action from OPEC Fund partner and member countries.
Evaluation Criteria
Eligible nominations will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Strategic alignment: Projects must align with the OPEC Fund’s strategic core objectives, including Driving Climate Innovation and a Just Transition, Promoting Sustainable Development through South–South Cooperation and Building Resilient and Equitable Societies, and contribute to one or more of the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Innovation: The project must introduce new solutions or approaches to development challenges. This includes approaches that may exist elsewhere but that are being applied in a new context or setting.
- Measurable impact: The project must demonstrate significant, evidence-based positive development outcomes or clear potential to achieve such impact. Applicants should provide supporting data and documentation, including baselines, outputs, outcomes and, where possible, independent evaluations or other quantifiable metrics.
- Replicability and scalability: The project should show strong potential to expand in scope or scale, enabling its impact to be replicated within and across regions or countries.
- Sustainability: The project should demonstrate financial, institutional and environmental sustainability, ensuring that development benefits can be maintained over time.
- Equity and inclusion: Priority is given to solutions that promote equity and the inclusion of vulnerable or underserved groups, foster synergies across sectors (such as health and education or agriculture, water and climate resilience), and, where possible, contribute to job creation or youth empowerment.
- Ethical standards and compliance: Applicants must comply with applicable environmental and social safeguards and must have no record of serious violations, including human rights abuses, corruption or related misconduct.
Application
The nomination form, along with a nomination motivation letter (a one-page letter explaining why the nominee stands out in their category and how the award funds will benefit those they serve) should be sent to [email protected]
For more information, visit OPEC Fund Youth Entrepreneurship Award.
