OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Programme

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has run this training for Indigenous representatives since 1997. Fellows spend four weeks in Geneva learning how the UN human rights system works and how to use its mechanisms to protect their communities' rights, then go home and train others. It runs in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, and all four language groups train together with simultaneous interpretation.

What you get:

• A return flight ticket to Geneva, in economy class
• A daily stipend covering your living expenses for the four weeks
• Basic health insurance for the duration of the training
• Help with housing: OHCHR and the Geneva Welcome Centre arrange accommodation in Geneva at a subsidised rate
• An OHCHR certificate if you complete the full programme
• A network of Indigenous activists, organisations and human rights experts from around the world

What you'll do:

• Train for four weeks in Geneva with fellows from all four language groups, with simultaneous interpretation
• Learn international human rights standards and how UN mechanisms work, with a focus on Indigenous Peoples' rights
• Observe sessions of UN human rights bodies such as the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review and the treaty bodies
• Take part in the annual session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which the training usually coincides with
• Meet the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
• Train other Indigenous people in your community or organisation when you return home

Key dates:

• Applications close 13 September 2026 at 23:59 Geneva time
• Only pre-selected candidates are contacted, and they are then interviewed
• The four-week training in Geneva usually takes place in June or July, alongside the annual session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; 2027 dates are not yet published

More information:

• Apply through OHCHR's online form, available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese; parts I and II must both be completed or the application is not considered
• Upload the recommendation letter from your Indigenous organisation or community directly to the online form
• Passport and visa costs are yours, as there is no visa allowance, though OHCHR says visas for its fellowships are usually free of charge
• OHCHR notes that some past participants have faced intimidation or reprisals for engaging with the UN, and asks candidates to weigh this before accepting
• Questions go to ohchr-fellowship@un.org

• You must be Indigenous; non-Indigenous people are not considered, even if they have close links with Indigenous communities or organisations
• Your Indigenous organisation or community must propose you and support your candidacy, with an official recommendation letter
• Good working knowledge of the language of the group you apply to: English, Spanish, French or Portuguese
• You must agree to train other Indigenous people after you return to your community or organisation
• Formal education is not a requirement
• No upper age limit; OHCHR's FAQ says only candidates over 18 are considered
• Former fellows are not considered
• Parents, children, siblings and spouses of UN staff members are not eligible
• Indigenous women, LGBTQI+ people and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply