20 Grants, Scholarships and Global Opportunities Open Now March 2026

With deadlines approaching fast, here are 20 Grants, Scholarships and Global Opportunities Currently Open March 26, 2026, perfect for students, journalists, youth leaders, and entrepreneurs. This list covers diverse areas like journalism, environment, health, women’s empowerment, and youth leadership. It improves on others by skipping duplicates, adding eligibility summaries, and sharing application tips.

#	Opportunity Name	Funding Amount	Deadline	Category	Quick Eligibility Note
1	Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026	Prizes	April 30, 2026	Writing/Youth	School-aged writers globally
2	Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Dominican Republic 2026	Up to $50,000 CAD	April 13, 2026	Development	Local partners in Dominican Republic
3	Code for Africa AI Sandbox Seed Grant 2026	Up to $3,000	March 30, 2026	AI/Human Rights	CSOs in Sahel, West/East Africa
4	SOAS Teaching Scholarships 2026/2027	Full scholarships	March 21, 2026	Education	Black British or Africa/Asia/Middle East students
5	Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment 2026	$100,000	March 20, 2026	Women’s Empowerment	Leaders with impact on women/girls
6	EJN Biodiversity Media Grants 2026	Up to 12,000 EUR	March 28, 2026	Environment/Journalism	Media orgs in low/middle-income countries
7	UNESCO MGIEP/APCEIU 12th Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED 2026	Fully funded	March 26, 2026	Youth Leadership	Youth via GCED Network
8	Roche Scholarship to Attend the One Young World Summit 2026	Fully-funded to Cape Town	May 6, 2026	Health/Environment	Young leaders in health/climate
9	Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship to Attend One Young World Summit 2026	Fully-funded to Cape Town	May 6, 2026	Social Equity/Climate	Vulnerable youth leaders
10	Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest 2026	$1,000 prize	June 8, 2026	Environment/Art	Youth globally
11	Cornell Public Health Fellowships 2026	Fellowships	March 23, 2026	Public Health	Public health candidates
12	IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2026	Funded	April 19, 2026	Journalism	Women/nonbinary journalists
13	EJN Biodiversity Media Grants 2026	10,000-12,000 EUR	March 28, 2026	Environment/Journalism	Media orgs in low/middle-income countries
14	Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program 2026	Enterprise support	March 20, 2026	Entrepreneurship	Alumni/start-ups in Africa
15	John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellowship 2026	Competitive salary	April 15, 2026	Policy/Astronomy	Postdoctoral researchers
16	INMA Africa Elevate Scholarship 2026	Scholarship	April 17, 2026	Journalism/Business	Aspiring journalists in Africa
17	UNU-IIGH Global Health PhD Fellowship Programme 2026	Fellowship	Unspecified	Global Health	PhD candidates
18	Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest 2026	$1,000 prize	June 8, 2026	Environment/Art	Youth globally
19	ROGEAP Regional Solar Business Plan Competition 2026	$10,000 prize	March 21, 2026	Energy/Entrepreneurship	Solar entrepreneurs in Africa
20	Hauwa Ojeifo Scholarship to Attend One Young World Summit 2026	Fully-funded to Cape Town	March 27, 2026	Women’s Leadership	Emerging changemakers

Dive into each one below for full details and apply now.

Key Takeaways

• Dozens of opportunities in writing, journalism, environment, health, and leadership are open right now with deadlines in late March and April 2026.
• Eligibility often targets specific groups like youth, women leaders, African organizations, or journalists from certain regions.
• Funding ranges from prizes and small grants up to $100,000 or fully funded trips to events like the One Young World Summit.
• Follow application tips like highlighting impact, personal stories, or AI tools to stand out and improve success.

1. Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026

The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, run by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883.

• Funding: Prizes for winners.
• Eligibility: Open to school-aged writers globally.
• Deadline: April 30, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Submit original stories. Check word limits on site.

2. Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Dominican Republic 2026 (up to $50,000 CAD)

This program supports small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries. It aligns with Canada’s priorities and features designs by local partners.

• Funding: Up to $50,000 CAD.
• Eligibility: Local partners in Dominican Republic. Projects approved by Canadian embassy.
• Deadline: April 13, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Emphasize local design and bilateral relations.

3. Code for Africa AI Sandbox Seed Grant 2026 (up to $3,000)

This grant empowers Human Rights Defending organizations in Africa. It uses AI tools through Digitalise Youth and Code for Africa.

• Funding: Up to $3,000.
• Eligibility: CSOs in Sahel, West/East Africa.
• Deadline: March 30, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Highlight AI tools for HRD work.

4. SOAS Teaching Scholarships 2026/2027

These full-time MPhil/PhD scholarships go to eligible Black British students. They also support students based in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

• Funding: Full scholarships.
• Eligibility: Black British or from specified regions.
• Deadline: March 21, 2026 (note: may have passed. Check for extensions).
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Verify current status.

5. Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment 2026 ($100,000 award)

The award recognizes leadership, innovation, and measurable impact. It improves lives of women and girls.

• Funding: $100,000.
• Eligibility: Leaders with measurable impact.
• Deadline: March 20, 2026 (check extensions).
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Showcase quantifiable results.

6. EJN Biodiversity Media Grants 2026 (up to 12,000 EUR)

Internews’ Earth Journalism Network offers grants to media organizations. They target low- and middle-income countries to strengthen biodiversity reporting.

• Funding: Up to 12,000 EUR.
• Eligibility: 3-4 media orgs in target countries.
• Deadline: March 28, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Propose projects with mentor support.

7. UNESCO MGIEP/APCEIU 12th Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED 2026 (Funded)

APCEIU and UNESCO MGIEP host this funded workshop. The theme is “Translating Peace into Action: Leveraging Media and the Arts for Youth Advocacy.”

• Funding: Fully funded.
• Eligibility: Youth via GCED Youth Network.
• Deadline: March 26, 2026 (today. Apply immediately).
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Focus on media/arts for peace.

8. Roche Scholarship to Attend the One Young World Summit 2026 (Fully-funded to Cape Town)

Roche links climate change to human health. It seeks sustainable healthcare innovations for the One Young World Summit.

• Funding: Fully-funded to Cape Town.
• Eligibility: Young leaders in health/environment.
• Deadline: May 6, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Tie to Net Zero goals.

9. Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship to Attend One Young World Summit 2026 (Fully-funded to Cape Town)

The foundation focuses on prevention. Its pillars include climate adaptation, mental well-being, social equity, and crises.

• Funding: Fully-funded.
• Eligibility: Vulnerable youth leaders.
• Deadline: May 6, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Align with prevention focus.

10. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest 2026 (Win $1,000 prize)

The 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest is “Your Story, Our Ocean.” It explores personal ocean connections for coastal or landlocked youth.

• Funding: $1,000 prize.
• Eligibility: Open to youth (coastal/landlocked).
• Deadline: June 8, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Share personal connections.

11. Cornell Public Health Fellowships 2026

These fellowships prepare the next generation of public health leaders. They tackle challenges and rebuild systems.

• Funding: Fellowships (details on site).
• Eligibility: Public health candidates.
• Deadline: March 23, 2026 (check status).
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Address system rebuilding.

12. IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2026 (Funded)

This six-month program transforms women and nonbinary journalists. It focuses on human rights and social justice.

• Funding: Funded.
• Eligibility: Global journalists.
• Deadline: April 19, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Focus on social justice.

13. EJN Biodiversity Media Grants 2026 (up to 12,000 EUR)

These grants boost biodiversity stories and journalist skills. They include mentor support for media organizations.

• Funding: 10,000-12,000 EUR.
• Eligibility: Media orgs in low/middle-income countries.
• Deadline: March 28, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Build journalist skills.

14. Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program 2026

FAST empowers entrepreneurs with training and networks. Partners include CCHub and Africa Leadership Academy.

• Funding: Enterprise support.
• Eligibility: Alumni/start-ups (Africa focus).
• Deadline: March 20, 2026 (verify).
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Leverage partners like CCHub.

15. John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellowship 2026

This full-time one-year postdoctoral position is renewable. It honors astronomy advocate Dr. John Bahcall.

• Funding: Competitive salary.
• Eligibility: Astronomy advocates/researchers.
• Deadline: April 15, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.

16. INMA Africa Elevate Scholarship 2026

This scholarship blends journalism passion with business skills. It targets those lacking training for news media careers.

• Funding: Scholarship.
• Eligibility: Aspiring journalists lacking training.
• Deadline: April 17, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Show societal impact.

17. UNU-IIGH Global Health PhD Fellowship Programme 2026

This program enriches PhD training through UN global health policy. It offers direct engagement.

• Funding: Fellowship.
• Eligibility: PhD candidates.
• Deadline: Unspecified (research current date).
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Engage policy processes.

18. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest 2026 (Win $1,000 prize)

This contest highlights how the ocean sustains and inspires life. It welcomes stories from anywhere.

• Funding: $1,000.
• Eligibility: Youth globally.
• Deadline: June 8, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Personal stories stand out.

19. ROGEAP Regional Solar Business Plan Competition 2026 ($10,000 prize)

This competition seeks off-grid solar solutions. It targets West, Sahel, and Central Africa.

• Funding: $10,000.
• Eligibility: Entrepreneurs/start-ups/companies.
• Deadline: March 21, 2026 (check).
• Apply: Official website.

20. Hauwa Ojeifo Scholarship to Attend One Young World Summit 2026 (Fully-funded to Cape Town, SA)

This scholarship equips changemakers for women and girls’ challenges. It provides tools and a global platform.

• Funding: Fully-funded.
• Eligibility: Emerging changemakers.
• Deadline: March 27, 2026.
• Apply: Official website.
• Tips: Address interconnected issues.

This list of 20 grants, scholarships, and opportunities covers key areas like journalism, environment, health, and leadership, with many deadlines approaching fast on March 26, 2026. Check eligibility notes and tips for each to boost your chances. Apply today to seize these timely chances for growth and impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fields do these opportunities cover?

They span journalism, environment, health, women’s empowerment, youth leadership, writing, and entrepreneurship.

Are there opportunities for youth and students?

Yes, options like the Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition and Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest are open to school-aged youth worldwide.

Many deadlines are soon—should I apply now?

Absolutely, several close by March 28, 2026, so check official sites today and verify any extensions.

How can I strengthen my application?

Use tips like showing measurable impact, personal stories, or ties to themes such as peace or climate for better results.