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

Open call

Registration period: From August 25th to September 24th, 2026

Land is Life invites Indigenous women leaders who are driving change in their communities to apply. The Fellowship is open to Indigenous women from all seven sociocultural regions who speak English, Spanish, and French. We welcome proposals with clear and achievable goals that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights, gender equality, and community well-being.

About Land is Life

Land is Life is a global coalition of Indigenous Peoples working to promote self-determination and collective rights for Indigenous Peoples in all seven sociocultural regions of the world.

About Indigenous Women’s Program

Land is Life launched the Indigenous Women’s Program in 2022. Designed and led by Indigenous women, the program supports Indigenous women and their organisations in Africa, Asia, and throughout the Americas 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. The Program has provided Indigenous women leaders with funding, direct support (including stipends), as well as mentorship and training opportunities. This support has led to many women’s participation in international spaces. The Indigenous Women’s Fellowship Program, further explained below, has provided many Indigenous women leaders with opportunities to directly support their communities via self-led, community-level projects.

Central themes of the Program

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

About the Fellowship 

Beginning in 2023, under our 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. 

• 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 your 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.

What do the fellows commit to? 

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

Who can apply?

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

How to apply?

1. Fill out the application form (HERE)
2. 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.
3. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected].  Please note: Applications must be submitted before the application deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Registration period: Applications open August 25th. Applications close September 24th, 2026, at 11:00 PM EST.

Application assessment: September 30 – Oct 29, 2026

Results: November 9th, via email.

Starting date: January 12, 2027

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