(Commonwealth)_ The Commonwealth Youth Programme officially opened the application window for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, whose objective is to identify and recognize outstanding development work of young people aged between 15 and 29 from the Commonwealth. The awards seek to recognize the achievement of young people who are conducting outstanding and sustainable development work at their local community level.
Among the premier awards, this year also introduces the inaugural Patsy Robertson Award for Communications Skills Excellence in Facilitating Community Development and Peace. With the assistance of the Commonwealth Association, this award aims to acknowledge young leaders utilizing the power of communication in fostering community cohesion and peace as well as reinforcing the values of the Commonwealth. The program is also a demonstration of growing enthusiasm regarding the youth as drivers of social transformation and communications’ crucial contribution to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Commonwealth Youth Awards serve various significant purposes. Firstly, to place in the spotlight the role of young people in the SDGs by keeping in it world-class efforts towards a secure, more equitable, and prosperous world. The awards search for young people whose efforts are propelling the 2030 Agenda and who have made tangible efforts toward sustainable development in their communities. It also aims to advance youth development by providing a platform that supports investment in activity-oriented youth movements, enabling these young people to take on the responsibility of driving society forward.
The awards also aim to bring to light talent and creativity among youths in the Commonwealth. By showcasing the success stories of winners, the initiative places the passion and creativity of youths in perspective and calls on others to get involved in development work. The awards are also looking to highlight excellence by sparking best practice in standards of service and leadership, recognizing achievement at national, regional, international, and local levels. The young Patsy Robertson award specifically focuses on the contributions of youth in communications and media, highlighting how journalism, blogging, and other media forms contribute to achieving development goals and fostering democratic, inclusive societies.
The selection criteria for the awards emphasize genuine involvement in development work. The nominees must have engaged in the development work for 12 months on a professional or voluntary basis and they must have worked in a member state of the Commonwealth. The nominees must be between 15 and 29 years of age as of 31st December 2025. The nomination can be submitted by the nominee themselves or by an individual who is familiar with the nominee’s work and achievements.
For the Patsy Robertson Award, there are additional requirements. Applicants should be emerging journalists, writers, broadcasters, bloggers, podcasters, or other types of communicators. They should submit samples of their work and professional contacts, describing how their communications advance the SDGs, in this case, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
The entries will be tested on reach of impact, innovation, achievement quality, evidence quality, and sustainability. Four finalists per Commonwealth region will select the regional winners, and exceptional entries will be given the Regional Winner Award. The finest regional winner will be awarded the Pan-Commonwealth Award and announced as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2026.
Regional finalists will be awarded a £1,000 prize, trophy, and certificate. The regional winners will be given an additional £2,000 to make £3,000, a trophy, and a certificate. The Pan-Commonwealth winner will be given an additional £2,000 to make £5,000, a trophy, and a certificate. The inaugural winner of the Patsy Robertson Award will be awarded a grand prize of £1,000, a trophy, and a certificate for outstanding communications for peace and development at the community level.
Recipients of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards will be announced during Commonwealth Week, March 2026. The Commonwealth reaffirms year after year its appreciation for the development potential of youth through these awards, calling upon young leaders to come up with inspiring, inclusive, and sustainable initiatives that push forward developmental aspirations across the globe.
