Open Call: Indigenous Women’s Program Fellowship 2027 – Cohort V

Deadline: 24-Sep-2026

The Indigenous Women’s Program Fellowship, led by Land is Life, supports young Indigenous women leaders in Africa, Asia, and the Americas to develop and implement community-led projects advancing land rights, livelihoods, gender equality, and community well-being. The fellowship combines project funding, a participation stipend, personalized mentorship, technical assistance, leadership development, training, networking, and advocacy support. Fellows spend one year developing their leadership skills and implementing a community project designed to address priorities affecting Indigenous communities.

About the Indigenous Women’s Program

Launched in 2022, the Indigenous Women’s Program was created by and for Indigenous women. The programme seeks to strengthen the ability of Indigenous women and their organizations to assert their rights to land and natural resources, improve livelihoods, and promote the rights and entitlements of their peoples. Through the programme, Indigenous women leaders have gained access to funding, stipends, mentorship, and training. These opportunities have helped fellows increase their participation in international forums and implement community-led initiatives. The fellowship places Indigenous women at the centre of project design, leadership, advocacy, and community action. What Does the Fellowship Support? The fellowship supports innovative community projects addressing issues connected to Indigenous rights, environmental sustainability, livelihoods, and gender equality.

Key themes include:

- Climate change adaptation and mitigation. - Environmental justice. - Biodiversity protection. - Land rights and territorial defense. - Food sovereignty. - Agroecology. - Economic empowerment. - Health and well-being. - Governance rooted in traditional systems. Projects should contribute to stronger communities while advancing recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples’ land and resource rights. Indigenous Women’s Leadership and Gender Equality A central objective of the fellowship is to strengthen the leadership and participation of Indigenous women. Fellows are supported to develop projects that promote: - Gender equality. - Community well-being. - Indigenous women’s leadership. - Recognition of land and resource rights. - Participation in decision-making. - Community-based solutions. The programme recognizes the important role Indigenous women play in protecting territories, strengthening livelihoods, preserving knowledge, and advancing community rights. How Much Financial Support Is Available? Fellows receive financial support for both their participation in the programme and implementation of their community project.

The fellowship provides:

- Up to $3,000 USD in funding and technical support for the community project. - A $3,600 USD stipend for participation. - Personalized mentorship. - Bimonthly training. - Leadership development. - Networking opportunities. - Advocacy support. The combination of project funding and individual support enables fellows to develop practical initiatives while strengthening their leadership and advocacy capacity. Community Project Funding Each fellow can receive up to $3,000 USD for their community project. The funding is intended to help fellows design and implement innovative initiatives addressing issues relevant to Indigenous communities. Projects should demonstrate a clear connection to the fellowship’s themes, such as land rights, environmental justice, food sovereignty, climate action, economic empowerment, or community well-being.

Participation Stipend

Fellows receive a $3,600 USD stipend for participation in the programme. This support accompanies the fellowship’s training, mentoring, peer-learning, and leadership development components throughout the one-year programme. Personalized Mentoring Each fellow receives personalized mentoring from experienced Indigenous women leaders. Mentorship provides an opportunity for fellows to learn from established leaders while developing their own approaches to community leadership, project implementation, advocacy, and participation in decision-making spaces. This peer-led element is an important part of the fellowship’s approach to building Indigenous women’s leadership. Training and Leadership Development Fellows participate in bimonthly trainings throughout the programme. Training and leadership development are designed to strengthen fellows’ ability to: - Develop and implement community projects. - Build leadership skills. - Engage in advocacy. - Participate in decision-making spaces. - Connect with other Indigenous women leaders. - Apply knowledge to community priorities. The programme also incorporates virtual training and peer-learning activities. Networking and Advocacy Support Fellows have opportunities to develop networks with other Indigenous women leaders and participate in broader advocacy efforts. The programme provides advocacy support to help fellows engage in decision-making spaces at various levels. This can help Indigenous women leaders bring community perspectives and priorities into wider discussions concerning land, natural resources, environmental justice, gender equality, and Indigenous rights. One-Year Fellowship Structure The fellowship lasts for one year. During this period, fellows are expected to: - Develop and implement their community project. - Complete the project within 10 months. - Participate actively in virtual training. - Take part in peer-learning activities. - Engage with mentors and the broader fellowship network. The final two months of the fellowship period therefore allow fellows to complete the programme’s broader participation and learning requirements after the community project implementation period. Who Can Apply? The fellowship is specifically designed for young Indigenous women leaders.

Applicants must:

- Be Indigenous women. - Be 18 to 35 years old. - Be from Africa, Asia, or the Americas. - Have not previously