The Indigenous Fellowship Programme offers Indigenous persons the opportunity to gain knowledge about the UN system and mechanisms dealing with human rights issues in general and Indigenous issues in particular. This training programme is available in 5 languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian and Portuguese.
Application Deadline
- September 6th, 2026
Tell Me About The Fellowship
The Indigenous Fellowship Programme (IFP), launched in 1997 by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), provides indigenous persons with the opportunity to gain knowledge about the UN system and mechanisms dealing with human rights and indigenous issues. Fellows are trained in Geneva and return equipped to support their communities in protecting and promoting their rights.
Which Fields are Eligible
Training covers:
- Human Rights Mechanisms
- Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
- UN System & Diplomacy
- Intercultural Dialogue
Type
- Fellowship | Training & Capacity Building | Geneva, Switzerland
Who Can Apply
Applicants must:
- Be indigenous persons (non‑indigenous applicants are not considered).
- Be proposed and supported by their indigenous organisation/community.
- Commit to training other indigenous persons after returning.
- Have good working knowledge of one of the programme languages (English, Spanish, French, Russian, Portuguese).
- Age and formal education are not limitations.
How Are Fellows Selected
- Selection ensures gender, regional, and community balance.
- Pre‑selection of 15–20 candidates per language group by former fellows.
- Interviews conducted (with embassies/high commissions and partner universities for some language groups).
- Final selection reviewed by OHCHR advisory group.
Which Countries are Eligible
- Global (open to indigenous persons worldwide).
Where Will the Fellowship Be Taken
- Geneva, Switzerland (OHCHR, coinciding with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).
How Many Fellows
- Selected annually across five language groups.
What is the Benefit of the Fellowship
- Return flight ticket.
- Living expenses during training.
- Basic health insurance.
- Access to UN human rights mechanisms and networks.
How Long Will the Fellowship Last
- Four weeks (June/July annually).
Required Documents
- Completed application form (Parts I & II, signed).
- Official recommendation letter from nominating indigenous organisation/community.
How to Apply
- Complete both parts of the application form.
- Obtain an official recommendation letter.
- Submit by post to:
- Mr. Morse Caoagas Flores, Coordinator, Indigenous Fellowship Programme, OHCHR, 48 Avenue Giuseppe‑Motta, Office 2‑05, CH‑1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
- Or send a scanned application to: [email protected].
🌐 Visit the application webpage for details
