Young Naturalist Award 2026
Science + Environment = Innovation. A school competition created to help Primary and Secondary students apply knowledge, demonstrate talent and develop solutions through science, technology, robotics, arts, language, mathematics and sustainability.
Different talents, one platform for young people to demonstrate what they can do.
Each category uses age-appropriate rules and its own judging criteria. Primary and Secondary participants compete within separate divisions.
Science, Technology & Robotics
Scientific investigation, technology, engineering, robotics, prototypes and practical innovation.
Arts & Language
Creative writing, storytelling, communication, visual expression, performance and language.
Mathematics
Accuracy, reasoning, analytical thinking, problem-solving and real-world mathematical application.
Sustainability
Climate, biodiversity, water, waste, circular economy, energy, agriculture and community solutions.
From school registration to national recognition.
Register
School submits its institutional application.
Verify
MDF confirms school eligibility and admission.
Enter
Approved schools register students and teams.
Compete
Entries respond to category-specific challenges.
Qualify
Published criteria and judges identify finalists.
Recognize
National finals conclude with awards and school recognition.
One framework for schools, participants and judges.
The Young Naturalist Award 2026 Guidebook defines eligibility, category rules, submission requirements, academic integrity, responsible AI use, judging criteria, qualification, safeguarding, awards, appeals and SDG/ESG evidence. The competition workspace will use the same framework so schools can prepare against the criteria used for assessment.
Know the rules
Understand eligibility, divisions, categories, timelines and submission requirements before entering.
Prepare with confidence
Schools and students can work from published category criteria rather than hidden judging expectations.
Protect integrity
Safeguarding, originality, AI disclosure, conflicts and evidence requirements apply consistently throughout the competition.
Learning that connects knowledge with opportunity.
Applied Learning
Students demonstrate knowledge through investigation, reasoning, creativity, design and communication.
Future-ready Skills
Problem-solving, teamwork, presentation, technology, mathematics and sustainability are brought into practical competition.
SDG & ESG Evidence
Relevant projects can be mapped to SDG targets and verified evidence, while the competition documents appropriate environmental, social and governance outcomes.
Recognition
Students, teams, teachers and schools can progress from participation to finalist, category and overall recognition.
Primary and Secondary Schools can participate without a competition entry fee.
Schools will register institutionally, appoint a Teacher/School Competition Coordinator and select the categories in which they intend to participate. The dedicated competition registration workflow will connect approved schools with participant, submission and judging records.
Help keep the competition free for schools.
MDF is mobilizing TZS 50 million for competition operations, logistics, judging, national finals, safeguarding, documentation and awards. Partnership recognition increases with contribution, while judging and award decisions remain independent.
Supporting Partner
Partner acknowledgement and documented contribution.
Innovation Partner
Enhanced competition recognition and impact reporting.
Category Partner
Approved association with a competition category and enhanced visibility.
Strategic / Title Pathway
Strategic recognition, with negotiated title rights available from TZS 20M.
Register for Young Naturalist Award 2026
Competition entry is free and connects to the school's existing MDF institutional account. One school account creates one competition record, preventing duplicate institutions.
Continue with your institutional account
Sign in with the verified School / Education Centre account already held in MDF records. Your competition registration will remain connected to the same institution.
- No duplicate school record
- Competition progress in one workspace
- Access to Competitions & Awards
Create your MDF institutional account
Register the institution first, verify the official email and create a secure password. You can then return here and enter the competition free of charge.
- Free YES participation pathway
- School activities and competition interests
- Secure institutional workspace
Fund opportunity. Follow every allocation. Report only verified impact.
Your partnership helps MDF keep competition entry free for eligible schools while supporting a transparent pathway from contribution to activity, evidence and reporting.
Choose how your organization would like to participate
Every level receives recognition appropriate to the partnership and access to evidence-based reporting. Title Partnership begins at TZS 20 million and remains subject to a separate agreement.
Supporting Partner
TZS 1,000,000Entry-level corporate participation that helps keep school entry free.
- Partner acknowledgement
- Impact Wallet record
- Verified contribution reporting
Innovation Partner
TZS 2,500,000Support student innovation, learning and competition delivery.
- Enhanced partner recognition
- Impact Wallet tracking
- Evidence-based ESG/SDG reporting
Category Partner
TZS 5,000,000Support an approved competition category with enhanced category visibility.
- Category-level recognition
- Approved category visibility
- Impact Wallet & evidence reporting
Strategic Partner
TZS 10,000,000Major programme partnership supporting competition delivery and national finals.
- Strategic event visibility
- Enhanced institutional recognition
- Verified allocation & impact reporting
Title Partner
TZS 20,000,000+Highest partnership pathway with negotiated title recognition and major event visibility.
- Negotiated title rights
- Major event and campaign visibility
- Executive impact reporting & recognition
Complete your partnership details
Your selections establish partnership preferences. They do not create automatic ESG or SDG claims.
The Young Naturalist Award is designed around student safeguarding, academic integrity, responsible use of AI, published judging criteria, conflict-of-interest controls and evidence-based SDG/ESG reporting. Corporate support does not provide control over qualification, scoring or winners.