Written by admin• September 17, 2026• 5:39 pm• Opportunities for Women, Trending

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

Application Deadline: September 24, 2026

About the Fellowship

The Indigenous Women’s Program Fellowship supports Indigenous women leaders in Africa, Asia, and the Americas to implement community projects advancing land rights, livelihoods, and gender equality. Launched in 2022 by Land is Life, the Indigenous Women’s Program is designed and led by Indigenous women, supporting Indigenous women and their organizations in effectively asserting their individual and collective rights to access, use, and control land and natural resources; to improve their livelihoods; and to promote and protect their peoples’ entitlements. Beginning in 2023, under the Indigenous Women’s Program, the year-long fellowship nurtures the next generation of Indigenous women leaders by supporting those who are taking innovative steps that contribute to gender equality, the well-being of their communities, and the recognition of their land and resource rights. Through the Fellowship Program, over 15 women have successfully implemented their projects in their communities.

Benefit of the Fellowship

Personalized mentoring from Indigenous women leaders with proven experience advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights
Funding and technical support (up to $3,000 USD) to design and implement a community-level project
A stipend of $3,600 USD to support participation throughout the program
Knowledge sharing through bimonthly trainings on key topics related to Indigenous Peoples’ rights
Leadership development to strengthen Indigenous women’s voices and decision-making power
Networking opportunities to build or strengthen alliances with local, regional, and global partners and allies
Advocacy support to participate in national and international decision-making spaces

Central Themes of the Program

Community project proposals should align with one or more of the following themes:

Climate change and environmental justice: adaptation/mitigation, biodiversity protection, false solutions critique
Land rights and territorial defense: securing territories against extractives, evictions, illegal logging/mining; FPIC protocols
Food sovereignty and livelihoods: agroecology, seed sovereignty, economic alternatives to industrial agribusiness
Health and well-being: access to traditional medicine, mental health support post-disaster, maternal/child health, violence prevention
Economic empowerment and livelihoods strengthening: community enterprises, market access, sustainable income generation, women’s economic leadership
Governance: supporting organization’s internal structures, autonomy models rooted in traditional governance systems

Eligibility Requirements of the Fellowship

Open to Indigenous women who are between 18 and 35 years old
To expand access to advanced learning opportunities, priority will be given to Indigenous women who do not hold a master’s or doctoral degree
Applicants must be able to speak fluently in English, French, or Spanish
The applicant should not have been a former Land is Life fellow
Priority will be given to applicants from countries that have not been previously selected to participate in The Indigenous Women’s Fellowship Program
Countries previously represented: Indonesia, Tanzania, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Kenya, Mali, Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Mexico, Bolivia

Fellowship Commitments

Selected fellows are expected to:

Design and implement a community project to be completed within 10 months
Support their communities in advancing the promotion and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, with particular attention to the rights of Indigenous women and girls
Actively participate in bimonthly virtual training sessions and peer-learning activities

How to Apply

Fill out the application form
Develop a community project that promotes the rights of Indigenous Peoples, with particular attention to the rights of Indigenous women and girls. The applicant’s community project proposal should align with the aforementioned central themes of the Program.
Provide a letter of recommendation from an Indigenous Peoples organization, representative/leader from applicant’s territory, or equivalent official source

For Applicants With Little to No Internet Access

Begin by sending an email to info@landislife.org. Include that you are experiencing difficulties filling out the form and request to receive the application questions via email.
Once questions are received, prepare responses and send a follow-up email to info@landislife.org.
Applications must be submitted before the application deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered

Application Timeline