Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent

Deadline: June 30, 2025

Description of the Opportunity

The call for the 2025 Fellowship programme for people of African descent application is now open. The Fellowship programme is an intensive human rights training for people of African descent from the diaspora who are engaged in promoting the rights of people of African descent.

It occurs annually at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. The Fellowship programme provides participants with the opportunity to learn about and deepen their understanding of international human rights law and the UN human rights system, the international framework to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and intersecting issues, with a focus on people of African descent.

Participants will gain first-hand exposure to international human rights mechanisms and OHCHR. They will engage with the international human rights mechanisms and OHCHR and strengthen skills in developing project proposals and delivering presentations. The Fellowship Programme was initiated by the OHCHR Anti-Racial Discrimination Section in 2011. It was further supported by the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/69/16 on the Programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

Benefits

• Each fellow is entitled to a return ticket (economy class) from the country of residence to Geneva; basic health insurance; and a stipend to cover modest accommodation and other living expenses for the duration of the Programme.

Eligibility

• The candidate must be an individual of African descent living in the Diaspora (Open to all black Caribbean youth).
• The candidate must have a minimum of 4 years of work experience related to the rights of People of African Descent.
• The candidate should submit an official letter from an organization working on issues related to people of African descent or minority rights – on official letterhead – certifying the candidate’s role within the organization.
• The candidates must be available to attend the full duration of the programme. The selected fellows will be expected to participate in different activities and to strictly follow the programme.
• In addition, fellows are expected to dedicate a few hours to pre-online courses and preparatory assignments in the preceding two weeks.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted in English.

Applicants are requested to submit the following documents in one single e-mail to ohchr-africandescentfellowship@un.org:

• A Curriculum Vitae
• A completed, signed and scanned Application Form in one single document.
• A personal statement (maximum 500 words) in which the candidate will explain their motivation for applying, and how they will use the knowledge gained from the fellowship to promote the interests and rights of people of African descent.
• An official letter from an organisation working on issues related to people of African descent or minority rights – on official letterhead – certifying the candidate’s role within the organization
• A copy of the applicant’s passport.
• Please note that submissions with more than five attachments will not be accepted.

Important: Please mention in the subject header of your e-mail: “Application for the 2025 Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent.”

Name the attached document as follows:

LAST NAME First name – Type of document
Example: SMITH Jacqueline – Application form.doc
SMITH Jacqueline – A Personal Statement.doc
SMITH Jacqueline – Official letter from nominating organisation .pdf
SMITH Jacqueline – Passport.pdf

For more information, please visit Fellowship programme for people of African descent