Call for Application: UN Global Compact SDG Innovation Accelerator 2026 for Young Professionals. The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals is a global initiative by the United Nations Global Compact that empowers young employees to design and implement business innovations aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This nine-month intensive program develops future business leaders through hands-on learning, collaboration, and sustainability-focused innovation projects.
Young professionals gain access to mentorship, industry experts, and global peer networks, while companies benefit from practical SDG-based business solutions that enhance performance and impact.
Who can participate
- High-performing professionals at participating companies of the UN Global Compact:
The SDG Innovation Accelerator is offered by the below Country Networks:
- Bangladesh
- Central Asia
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Egypt (Africa Track)
- France
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Global
- Indian Ocean (Africa Track)
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Malaysia & Brunei
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Poland
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- South Africa
- Sweden
- Türkiye
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Participants must be 35 years or younger
- Interested in business-model innovation, sustainability and disruptive technologies
- Ability to dedicate a minimum of four (4) hours a month to the Accelerator Learning Plan and attend at least four (4) 1-day workshops.
Participant Benefits
- Engage in accelerated learning opportunities including online and in-person workshops, case studies, company visits and forum discussions.
- Collaborate with other businesses on innovative projects tailored to your company and industry.
- Build valuable relationships through coaching, mentoring and peer-to-peer networking.
- Gain insights from leading experts in sustainability and innovation from around the world.
- Join a global network of talented young professionals from top companies across every continent.
Company Benefits
- Apply SDG innovation to address real sustainability challenges your company is currently facing.
- Embed the SDGs into your company’s business strategy through collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing.
- Enhance employee engagement and create professional development opportunities.
- Access a network of experts from some of the world’s leading companies.
- Receive global recognition for your company’s participation in the programme.
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Highlights of the Programme
- Young professionals collaborate within teams to identify opportunities and create solutions that not only benefit their respective companies but also contribute to the broader goal of advancing innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The 9-month program encompasses a variety of components such as worldwide webinars, local training workshops, mentoring, live case studies, interactive sessions with both peers and experts, and challenge labs.
- The activities within the program are centered around a “learning by doing” approach, emphasizing practical, action-oriented experiences to address real challenges and capitalize on existing opportunities.
- Innovators are carefully paired with Mentors and Experts who provide guidance and support throughout the process of designing, developing, and testing their solutions.
- The progress of these solutions is closely monitored and tracked throughout their development cycle. This serves as a source of inspiration and as a set of exemplary models for business innovation aimed at achieving the SDGs.
- The program establishes a global network comprising young professionals from Global Compact companies. This network fosters ongoing engagement and promotes the concept of SDG innovation within the business community.
How to Apply
To apply, visit the wbesite for UN Global Compact SDG Innovation Accelerator 2026 for Young Professionals
Faq
Q: What is the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals?
A: The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals is an accelerator programme designed to engage young professionals working in companies that participate in the United Nations Global Compact. The programme aims to equip them with skills to advance sustainability efforts, drive innovation and deliver tangible sustainability solutions for your company.
Q: What does the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals involve?
A: In the programme, young professional participants (“Innovators”) explore new innovations and learn from leading experts and sustainability leaders about how to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the development of breakthrough ideas, products and business models. Using the tools and training from the programme, the Innovators work in teams to identify an SDG-related challenge that is relevant to their company and, over the course of the programme, develop a solution to address that challenge. Please refer to the programme brochure.
Q: How is the learning journey structured?
A: Each team of young Innovators will, over the course of 9 months, work on a challenge specific to their company with the goal of designing more sustainable business models, initiatives and products that will advance the company’s sustainability efforts while driving innovation and delivering tangible solutions with potential market value. The programme takes participants through a design thinking approach to innovation by focusing on the SDGs. Participants run through each phase of the programme, provided with resources, tools and methodologies that will guide them through the process of identifying a challenge, designing and testing solutions and validating these solutions for business value as well as SDG impact. The programme contributes to corporate behavior change by exposing participants to various business models and digital transformation tools that can be adopted by their companies.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are the benefits of participation for young professionals?
A: The programme offers young professionals the opportunity to connect with other business units and collaborate on innovative projects relative to their company and industry. Young professionals will have access to a unique learning experience through a comprehensive curriculum with a blend of learning opportunities, including on-demand and in-person workshops, case studies, convening opportunities and forum discussions. Young professionals will also have the chance to build working relationships and learn from some of the brightest minds working on sustainability and innovation from around the world.
Q: What are the benefits of participation for companies?
A: The programme offers companies the opportunity to engage their top talent at the junior and middle manager level and develop a new generation of employees that think between the intersection of corporate sustainability and innovation.
Companies also benefit from the development of real business solutions that have the potential to provide value for both the company and society.
Q: How can my company ensure the protection of our intellectual property if we take part in the programme?
A: While the programme is designed to facilitate cross-pollination of knowledge, new skills and ideas across project teams, we recognize the importance for companies to safeguard proprietary information and ideas. As part of the application process, we require the Innovators and Mentors to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to cover any intellectual property being used or discussed as part of the programme.
Q: How will the company information from the application forms be used?
A: Protecting your privacy is a top priority. The company data entered into the application forms is strictly confidential and the results will never be linked back to an individual company nor will company information be divulged to the public. Data will be solely used in its aggregate form to better understand programme trends and to communicate programme outcomes and impact.
Q: Can young professionals from subsidiaries of UN Global Compact participating companies take part in the programme?
A: As long as the parent company is a UN Global Compact participating company and the subsidiary is based in a country whose Global Compact Country Network is taking part, their young professionals are eligible to participate.
Q: Where does the programme take place?
A: The programme is currently being run by Global Compact Country Networks in over 20 countries. For a full list of Country Networks, please visit the programme web page.
Q: What is the commitment my company has to make to take part in the programme?
A: As a participating company, you commit to:
Selecting 2 – 4 Innovators to take part in the programme for the full duration of 9-months;
Allowing Innovators the time needed for full participation in the programme
Identifying a Champion who will support the Innovator team internally within the company
Q: What is the time commitment for Innovators?
A: Innovators are expected to dedicate a minimum of five (4) hours a month to the Accelerator Learning Plan and attend at least four (4) in-person or virtual 1-day workshops.
Q: What is the difference between Innovators, Champions, and Mentors?
A: Innovators are the young professionals that form teams to take part in the programme to develop viable SDG business solutions for their companies. Champions are senior-level executives within the same company as Innovators that ensure the teams have high-level support in their company and the SDG business solutions are aligned with the company’s strategic goals and objectives. Only companies in participating Networks can select Innovators for the programme.
Each Innovator team must have a designated Champion throughout the programme. Mentors are individuals outside of the Innovators’ company with knowledge of technical and relevant subjects in the programme, such as sustainability, innovation, product design and breakthrough technologies. Mentors are matched to Innovator teams to shepherd the team throughout the programme and provide guidance in their training and project development.
Q: Is there an extra cost for my company to participate?
A: As the programme is run in several different countries, your participating Country Network may require some fees such as fees related to sending additional young professionals to take part in the programme as well as programme activity costs, such as travel and incidentals, which are not covered through the programme. Please refer to your participating Global Compact Country Network for more details.
Q: Why is the programme only for young professionals?
A: The UN Global Compact SDG Innovation Accelerator 2026 programme is designed to target employees that do not yet have senior management responsibilities and therefore have more time to dedicate to a 9-month development programme. There is also a critical opportunity to mobilize young people working in established companies to innovate from within and accelerate the transition towards business models that align with the SDGs
B. ELIGIBILITY
Q: Why do you categorize young professionals as 35 and under?
A: There is no set definition for the age of a young professional. Young professionals can be categorized as working individuals anywhere between the ages of 21 to 40. The age of 35 was selected as the upper age limit for the programme given that many demographic and population statistical organizations recognize young adulthood at being between the ages of 18 and 34.
Q: Is any company participating in the UN Global Compact eligible to take part in the programme?
A: All companies participating in the UN Global Compact are eligible to take part in the programme as long as they are based in a country whose Global Compact Country Network is participating.
Q: How many young professionals can represent my company in the programme?
A: Companies can be represented by a minimum of four (4) teams. Teams can be formed by up to four (4) young professionals. However, it’s important to note that this requirement may not be applicable to all countries, so it’s recommended to check with your Country Network for specific details and variations that may exist within your network.
Q: What are the eligibility criteria for the SDG Innovation Accelerator for young professionals?
A: While there are no set requirements, the programme is designed to target employees aged 35 and under who have a passion for sustainability, creativity, and demonstrate strong teamwork skills. Employees from business innovation, Research and Development, marketing, logistics, procurement, customer experience/service and sustainability units are encouraged to participate.
Q: Does the Global Compact have to approve the Innovator candidates from my company
before they are selected?
A: No, we encourage individuals who best fit the Innovator profile to nominate themselves. When forming the teams, we ask you to ensure diversity among the candidate pool in terms of business unit and background. Guidance is provided as to desired qualifications for Innovators.
Q: What kind of companies are encouraged to apply?
A: Because this is an innovation-focused program, we will favor companies that are involving departments such as Innovation, Research & Development, and Engineering. To encourage knowledge sharing, we want innovators that are not involved in sustainability-related aspects of the company. In fact, the programme is an opportunity to teach departments traditionally separate from sustainability about the SDGs.
C. APPLICATION
Q: How do I apply?
A: Companies or young professionals interested in joining the programme can apply on the programme web page or connect directly to their participating Global Compact Country Network. Due to demand and limited spots in the programme, Country Networks will need to confirm company participation before approved companies are able to put forward programme participants.
Q: My company is not able to take part in the programme this year but would like to participate next year.
Can we sign up now for the next round?
A: Programme applications are managed by Global Compact Country Networks which have the right to determine how and when to waitlist companies for future rounds of the programme.
Q: When does the programme start?
A: February 2026 is when the on-boarding period for Innovators starts, where they are given time to better understand concepts on SDGs and breakthrough innovation before they start the learning journey. The programme will run until September 2026.
Q: What is the duration of the programme?
A: The programme will run in annual cycles over the course of 9 months.
