OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Programme 2027 Opens Applications for Indigenous Human Rights Leaders

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has opened applications for the Indigenous Fellowship Programme 2027, a fully funded international training programme that equips Indigenous leaders with practical knowledge of the United Nations human rights system and mechanisms dedicated to Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Launched in 1997 during the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, the programme aims to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous communities by enabling participants to advocate more effectively for the promotion and protection of their rights at local, national and international levels.

About the Fellowship

The OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Programme provides selected participants with intensive training on:

The United Nations human rights system
International human rights mechanisms
Indigenous Peoples’ rights
UN procedures and institutions
Human rights advocacy and protection

Participants are expected to return to their communities and share the knowledge gained through the programme.

Programme Location and Duration

The fellowship takes place over four weeks in Geneva, Switzerland, with participants from the English, French, Spanish and Portuguese language programmes attending together through simultaneous interpretation.

The programme is usually scheduled to coincide with the annual session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), allowing fellows to participate directly in international discussions.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows receive comprehensive financial support, including:

Return international airfare
Living expenses during the programme
Basic health insurance throughout the training period

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be an Indigenous person.
Be supported and nominated by their Indigenous organization and/or community.
Have a good working knowledge of the language in which they wish to participate (English, Spanish, French or Portuguese).
Commit to training and sharing knowledge with other Indigenous people after completing the fellowship.

OHCHR strongly encourages applications from:

Indigenous women
LGBTQI+ Indigenous persons
Indigenous persons with disabilities

Age and formal educational qualifications are not barriers to participation.

Application Process

Applicants should:

Complete both sections of the online application form.
Obtain an official recommendation letter from their Indigenous organization or community.
Upload all required documents before the application deadline.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by:

6 September 2026 (23:59 Geneva Time)

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well before the deadline.

Selection Process

Applications undergo a competitive selection process that considers:

Regional representation
Gender balance
Diversity of Indigenous communities
Human rights situations across regions

A pre-selection committee composed of former Indigenous Fellows reviews applications, and shortlisted candidates are interviewed before the final selection is made by an OHCHR advisory group.

Due to the high number of applications, only pre-selected candidates are contacted.

Why Apply?

The OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Programme offers participants the opportunity to:

Gain in-depth knowledge of UN human rights mechanisms.
Strengthen advocacy skills for Indigenous rights.
Build international professional networks.
Engage directly with global human rights experts.
Support and empower Indigenous communities through knowledge sharing.

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