The Southeast Asia Spark Fund Phase One Learning Report captures powerful lessons from Global Fund for Children’s Spark Fund initiative in Southeast Asia, a youth-led participatory grantmaking model that shifts decision-making power and resources directly to young people. Operating in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, this round prioritized climate justice and embraced a trilingual, multicultural approach to ensure authentic participation.

The report documents three interconnected learning journeys: the Youth Panelists who designed and allocated grants; Thai Partner organizations that implemented community-based climate action projects; and Vietnamese Fellows who received flexible, individual fellowships to innovate in restrictive environments. Together, these journeys illustrate how participatory grantmaking cultivates youth leadership, enables flexible and adaptive funding, strengthens grassroots innovation, and catalyzes cross-border networks for collective action.

Beyond Southeast Asia, the report synthesizes findings across all five Spark Fund regions, highlighting the strategic value of participatory philanthropy for funders. Evidence shows that youth consistently make equity-driven, contextually informed decisions, unlock hidden networks of grassroots organizations, and generate lasting impacts through flexible funding and authentic partnerships.

The Southeast Asia Spark Fund Phase One Learning Report offers a blueprint for reimagining philanthropy: one that centers trust, collaboration, and youth agency to achieve more relevant, innovative, and sustainable outcomes.