Apply to Become a part of the NATO Youth Advisory Board

NATO is putting together a team of youth advisors, with the aim of expanding opportunities for the young generations to contribute to NATO’s public diplomacy activities and improve NATO’s effectiveness in engaging with youth audiences in a challenging and contested information environment.

As reflected in NATO’s public opinion research, younger generations across the Alliance are less familiar with NATO’s role and mission, making youth perspectives essential for raising awareness and ensuring NATO stays connected to the priorities and concerns of new generations.

The programme is part of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division’s objective to create long-term mechanisms that enable a continuous and adaptive two-way communication channel between NATO and the young generations. It seeks to harness input from a diverse range of youth perspectives from across NATO member and partner countries, not just those focused on political science and international relations.

As part of this programme, NATO will select 10 outstanding young leaders to join the NATO Youth Advisory Board for a 12 month term. Upon completing the programme, board members will establish the NATO Young Leaders Network, allowing them to maintain an active role in engaging with NATO and advocating for its mission. The structure and goals of this Network will be shaped by the insights and contributions of the Youth Advisory Board alumni.

Focus Areas

• Members of the Board will play a vital role in three key areas:
  • Shaping NATO’s Public Diplomacy initiatives: Help design engaging outreach strategies for major events like the NATO Youth Summit and the NATO Public Forum, building stronger connections between NATO and young audiences.
  • Guiding NATO’s youth engagement strategy: Offer insights and recommendations to enhance NATO’s long-term approach to youth outreach and involvement.
  • Driving impactful youth projects: Develop and lead initiatives that raise awareness of NATO’s mission within youth communities, reaching beyond traditional audiences and addressing the security concerns of future generations.

Program Specifications

• Selected participants will engage in a year long programme built around four key phases. Each phase involves dedicated activities, requiring full commitment and participation. NATO will cover the necessary travel expenses for the scheduled activities, but participants will not be remunerated for their participation in the programme:
  • January 2025 – Prepare and upskill:
    • The programme kicks off with a visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, where board members will receive briefings designed to deepen their understanding of NATO’s mission and provide essential tools for their role. This experience will set the foundation for their contributions throughout the year.
  • February to October 2025 – Empower for impact:
    • During this period, board members will be expected to attend regular online meetings (typically once or twice a month), to brainstorm, develop ideas and collaborate on key initiatives. They will also be invited to travel to select NATO flagship events, with opportunities for some members to speak or contribute to NATO digital products. Key activities include:
      • Shaping the 2025 NATO Youth Summit: From proposing sessions and formats to taking on-stage roles like moderating, board members will have a hands-on role in designing this flagship event.
      • Contributing to the NATO Public Forum: Support the digital outreach for this major conference, which will run alongside the NATO Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands in June 2025.
      • Engaging with NATO stakeholders: Members will connect with key figures across the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and other structures, allowing them to provide insights and deepen their understanding of NATO’s diverse work.
      • Leading community impact initiatives: Members will have the chance to propose impactful individual or group initiatives within their communities, with support and guidance from NATO.
  • October 2025 – Celebrate achievements:
    • At programme completion, board members will be invited to an awards ceremony at NATO Headquarters. Here, they will present their contributions to the programme and pitch their vision and recommendations for NATO to take forward. They will also receive a certificate recognising their achievements.
  • November to December 2025 – Establish the NATO Young Leaders Network:
    • With NATO guidance, the alumni of the board will launch the NATO Young Leaders Network, fostering continued collaboration, growth, and input on NATO’s mission moving forward.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Open to applicants from NATO member and partner countries.
• Age: 18 to 34 years old.
• Public speaking and language skills: Candidates must be comfortable speaking in public, whether on stage, online or in various capacities. Selected individuals will have the opportunity to moderate or contribute to sessions at NATO events. Advanced knowledge of English is required, with French being an asset.
• Leadership experience: Candidates should demonstrate a leadership role within a youth-focused community in one or more fields, including but not limited to: peace and security, military, science and technology, digital communication, social media, countering information threats, climate change, space security, law, women’s empowerment, social activism, art, entertainment, or other related fields.
• Social media and content creation: Applicants should be familiar with social media and basic content production across digital channels, as board members will be encouraged to create content, share insights about their role across digital platforms, advise/give feedback to NATO on digital communication and engage with new communication methods. While a high follower count may be a factor in the selection process, it is not a requirement.
• Prior NATO experience is not required: Prior experience with NATO is not required. Selected candidates will receive briefings on NATO’s agenda and priorities as part of the programme.

Selection Criteria

• NATO will evaluate applicants based on the following key criteria:
  • Motivation for change: Demonstrated passion for leading positive change and creating meaningful impact.
  • Civic engagement: Track record of involvement in initiatives that engage and inspire youth communities.
  • Leadership potential: Evidence of leadership qualities and influence within a youth-focused community.
  • Diversity of gender and nationality: NATO aims to ensure representation across different genders and nationalities.
  • Range of expertise: Candidates will be chosen to represent a wide variety of professional backgrounds and areas of expertise.
  • Communication skills: Strong experience in public speaking, online engagement and effective communication across various platforms.

For more information, visit NATO.