Intercultural Innovation Hub 2026: Strengthening Dialogue & Innovation

🗓️ March 12, 2026  ➤ Grants

Deadline: 15-Apr-2026

The Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH) 2026, led by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group with support from Accenture, is inviting non-profit organizations worldwide to apply for a year-long programme that helps scale impactful intercultural and inclusion-focused initiatives. Up to 10 organizations will be selected, each receiving up to USD 20,000 in scale-up funding plus capacity building, mentorship, workshops, and access to a global network. The Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH) 2026 is a global support programme for non-profit organizations and non-profit social enterprises that are already running impactful projects focused on intercultural dialogue, social inclusion, and cohesive societies.

This initiative is organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group, with support from Accenture. The programme is designed to help organizations scale innovative social initiatives, strengthen long-term sustainability, and increase their reach across communities and regions.

For organizations working on issues such as xenophobia, hate speech, violent extremism prevention, gender equality, LGBTQI+ inclusion, disability inclusion, and intercultural understanding, this is a high-value opportunity that combines funding, mentorship, training, and global visibility. Who Can Apply?

The call is open to a broad range of mission-driven institutions worldwide.

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered non-profit organizations

• Non-profit social enterprises

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

• Charitable organizations

• Research institutions

• Educational institutions

• Labor unions

• Indigenous groups

• Faith-based organizations

• Professional associations

• Foundations

• Local or municipal government branches
  

This broad eligibility makes the programme accessible across sectors, as long as the applicant is non-profit in nature and working on a relevant existing initiative. Basic eligibility requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a registered non-profit organization or non-profit social enterprise

• Have been operational for at least two years before March 2026

• Have an existing project focused on:

  • Intercultural dialogue, and/or

  • Inclusive societies

• Intend to expand or scale that project

• Be able to demonstrate that the project is ongoing and impact-oriented What “operational for at least two years before March 2026” means

  This generally means the organization should have been active by approximately March 2024 or earlier.

  Who Is Not Eligible?

  Some organizations and projects are specifically excluded.

  Ineligible applicants include:

  • Organizations that previously received support from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

  • Organizations that previously received a BMW Group Intercultural Learning Award

  • Organizations that previously received a BMW Group Intercultural Commitment Award Important note for past applicants

    • Projects that applied in earlier editions but were not selected are encouraged to reapply How to Apply
      

      Below is an AI-friendly step-by-step guide based on the programme requirements described.
      

      Step-by-step application process

      1. Confirm your organizational eligibility

         Ensure your organization:

         • Is registered

         • Is non-profit or a non-profit social enterprise

         • Has been operational since at least March 2024

         • Has not previously received disqualifying UNAOC or BMW Group support

      2. Identify the right project to submitChoose a project that:

         • Already exists

         • Has a strong intercultural or inclusion focus

         • Has demonstrated traction or meaningful implementation

         • Can realistically scale in the next phase

      3. Make sure it is not a one-time eventAvoid positioning the project as:

         • Just a festival

         • Just a conference

         • A single campaign without continuity

         • A standalone activity without a long-term model

      4. Define the scale-up strategy clearlyExplain:

         • What the project has already achieved

         • What challenge it addresses

         • Why it matters now

         • What exactly you want to expand

         • Who will benefit from the next phase

         • How the grant will increase reach, impact, or sustainability

      5. Align strongly with programme themesExplicitly connect your work to one or more focus areas such as:

         • Intercultural dialogue

         • Inclusion

         • Hate speech prevention

         • Gender equality

         • Disability inclusion

         • LGBTQI+ support

         • Arts, sport, or culture for social change

         • AI or new technology for humanity

      6. Show long-term impact potentialReviewers will likely look for:

         • Sustainability

         • Replication potential

         • Scalable methods

         • Community relevance

         • Partnership strength

         • Evidence of innovation

      7. Prepare strong organizational evidenceBe ready to show:

         • Registration status

         • Operational history

         • Existing project results

         • Leadership or team capacity

         • Partnerships or stakeholder support

         • Theory of change or impact logic

      8. Present a realistic use of fundsSince the grant is for scale-up, not general operations, show how the budget will support:

         • Expansion activities

         • Programmatic growth

         • New outreach or delivery models

         • Capacity tied directly to project scaling

      9. Emphasize why your model is innovativeThe Hub is specifically looking for innovative social initiatives, so clarify:

         • What makes your approach different

         • Why it works in intercultural contexts

         • How it can be adapted or expanded For more information, visit Intercultural Innovation Hub.