United Nations OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program (Fully-funded) 2024

The Indigenous Fellowship Programme was launched in 1997 by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the context of the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. The aim of the programme is to give 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. Trained participants are better equipped to assist their organisations and communities in protecting and promoting their rights. This training programme is available in 5 languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian and Portuguese.

• Table of Content
• About United Nations
• United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program
• Aim and Benefits of United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program
• Requirements for United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About United Nations

The English language component of the Indigenous Fellowship Programme (IFP) was established in 1997. It takes place at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland and lasts for 4 weeks, usually coinciding with the annual meeting of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP). The objective of this training programme is to enhance the knowledge of indigenous peoples on existing international human rights instruments and mechanisms, so they can use them to more effectively advocate for the rights of their communities ...... continue reading

United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program

Aim and Benefits of United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program

The selected candidates are entitled to a return flight ticket, living expenses and basic health insurance for the duration of the training.

HOW LONG WILL AWARD LAST?

Fellows from all 5 language components of the programme are trained together with simultaneous interpretation over 4 weeks in Geneva. The date of the training programme usually coincides with the annual session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (June/July each year), allowing the fellows to participate more actively in that Mechanism.

Requirements for United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program Qualification

• The candidate must be indigenous (non-indigenous persons will not be taken into consideration, even if they have close links with indigenous communities and/or organizations).
• Age should not be a limitation to participation in the programme.
• Formal education should not be a limitation to participation in the IFP given the socio-economic barriers confronted by many indigenous peoples that limit access to formal educational institutions.
• Candidates should agree to train other indigenous persons after the return to their respective communities/organizations.
• The candidate should be proposed, and his/her candidacy supported by his/her indigenous organization and/or community. It is desirable that the sponsoring organization has a firm constituency or membership and that it is representative.

1. The candidate should have a good working knowledge of the language in which the programme is imparted.

Interview date, Process and Venue for United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Program

The selection of fellows reflects a gender and regional balance, as well as a balance between communities represented. The general human rights situation in the respective regions/countries is also taken into consideration.

A pre-selection of 15 to 20 candidates per language group is made by previous indigenous fellows. The selection process also entails interviews of pre-selected candidates who applied to either the English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Russian language components of the programme. In the case of the Portuguese, Spanish and Russian language components of the programme, the selection of candidates is also carried out in collaboration with partner universities (University of Brasilia, University of Deusto, and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia) that provide the preparatory training courses to the Programme. The final selection of successful candidates is reviewed by an advisory group composed of OHCHR staff.

In view of the large number of applications, only pre-selected candidates are contacted.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

We strongly encourage you to send your application form well before the deadline. Fellowship applications will only be taken into consideration if they are fully completed. Both parts I and II of the application form must be signed and sent by regular post to the following address:

Mr. Morse Caoagas Flores
Coordinator, Indigenous Fellowship Programme
Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
48, Avenue Giuseppe-Motta, Office 2-05
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

Scanned applications are also accepted and can be sent to the following email: [email protected] and copy: [email protected]

Application forms need to be accompanied by an official recommendation letter from the nominating indigenous organization or community.

For more details, visit UN website