Indigenous Women’s Program Fellowship 2027 – Cohort V

About the opportunity

The Indigenous Women’s Program Fellowship is a year-long initiative designed to nurture the next generation of Indigenous women leaders. It supports those taking innovative steps that contribute to gender equality, the well-being of their communities, and the recognition of their land and resource rights. Fellows are expected to design and implement a community-level project that promotes the rights of Indigenous Peoples, with a particular focus on the rights of Indigenous women and girls. Projects should align with central themes including climate change and environmental justice, land rights and territorial defense, food sovereignty and livelihoods, health and well-being, economic empowerment, and governance.

Funding and benefits

• A stipend of $3,600 USD to support participation throughout the program.
• Funding and technical support of up to $3,000 USD to design and implement a community-level project.
• Personalized mentoring from Indigenous women leaders with proven experience advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
• 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.

Who can apply?

• Indigenous women between 18 and 35 years old.
• Must be able to speak fluently in English, French, or Spanish.
• Must not have been a former Land is Life fellow.
• Priority is given to Indigenous women who do not hold a master’s or doctoral degree.
• Priority is given to applicants from countries that have not been previously selected to participate in the program.

Required documents

• Application form
• Community project proposal
• Letter of recommendation from an Indigenous Peoples organization, territorial representative/leader, or equivalent official source

When to apply

• Registration period: August 25th to September 24th, 2026.
• Application deadline: September 24th, 2026, at 11:00 PM EST.
• Application assessment: September 30 – October 29, 2026.
• Results announced: November 9th, 2026, via email.
• Program starting date: January 12, 2027.

How to apply

• Fill out the application form available online.
• Develop a community project proposal that promotes the rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically focusing on the rights of Indigenous women and girls, aligning with the program's central themes.
• Provide a letter of recommendation from an Indigenous Peoples organization, a representative/leader from the applicant’s territory, or an equivalent official source.
• Applicants with little to no internet access may email [email protected] to request application questions and submit responses via email.