Refugees International Launches 2025 Fellowship Program
Refugees International is seeking applications for its 2025 Refugee Fellows Program, a year-long, remote fellowship designed to support the advocacy work of emerging leaders with lived experience of forced displacement. The program offers a $15,000 grant, mentorship, training, and networking opportunities for fellows working up to seven hours per week.
Program Overview and Goals
Set to begin in August 2025 and run until July 2026, this unique remote fellowship aims to enrich and support the existing advocacy efforts of emerging leaders from forcibly displaced communities worldwide. Fellows will be formally affiliated with Refugees International and collaborate closely with its staff to amplify their advocacy goals and impact. The program is tailored to maximize fellow growth and ensure robust support throughout the year.
Key Support and Opportunities for Fellows
The fellowship provides a comprehensive package designed to enhance advocacy effectiveness:
Financial Grant: A $15,000 grant, disbursed in four quarterly installments, supports fellows' work (up to 7 hours/week).
Technical Training: Skill enhancement in areas such as public speaking, advocacy planning, fundraising, communication strategies, and other themes tailored to fellow needs, delivered by Refugees International staff and experts.
Professional Networking: Facilitated opportunities to connect with key figures in the humanitarian field, fostering professional relationships and collaborations.
Collaborative Advocacy: Partnership opportunities with Refugees International on key advocacy issues through joint publications (reports, op-eds), events, potential research trips, participation in international forums, and media interviews.
Peer Learning: Engagement and learning opportunities with other members of the fellowship cohort.
Well-being Support: Optional access to customized mental health support services upon request, acknowledging the challenges of humanitarian work.
Eligibility Criteria
The fellowship is open to applicants globally, however, priority consideration will be given to:
Emerging leaders who are forcibly displaced individuals (e.g., refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons).
Candidates working in regions, countries, or on themes that align with Refugees International's current advocacy priorities or address critical advocacy gaps.
English language competency is preferred for effective engagement with the program and staff, though competency in other relevant languages is also valued.
Applicants must have reliable computer and internet access for this remote program.
Fellows must possess a bank account capable of receiving grant installments in compliance with U.S. law.
Authenticity is crucial: Applications created using AI tools will be automatically denied.
Fellow Commitments and Expectations
Selected fellows are expected to actively engage with the program:
Time Commitment: Dedicate up to seven trackable hours per week to collaborate with the Refugees International team and prioritize fellowship tasks.
Meetings: Attend regular meetings to stay aligned with program objectives and collaborative efforts.
Publication: Produce at least one piece of written work (e.g., statement, policy brief, op-ed, report) during the fellowship year.
Retreat: Participate in an in-person retreat, contingent on feasibility (details to be confirmed).
Field Research: Plan and potentially conduct a field research trip in collaboration with Refugees International to support mutual advocacy goals (contingent on feasibility).
Events: Participate in one or more relevant regional and/or global events related to forcible displacement (contingent on feasibility).
Performance Reviews: Engage in quarterly performance reviews to ensure alignment with fellowship objectives. Refugees International reserves the right to suspend the fellowship if objectives are not being met.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must complete an online application form and submit the following materials:
Answers to two short-form questions (400 words each).
A current Resume/CV.
Names and contact details of three professional references.
A brief work plan outlining proposed activities for the fellowship year.
Selected candidates will be invited for panel interviews in June or July 2025.
Application Portal: https://rifellowsprogram.smapply.us/prog/2025
About Refugees International
Refugees International is an independent humanitarian organization that advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises worldwide.
Looking Ahead
The Refugee Fellows Program offers a significant opportunity for emerging displaced leaders to enhance their advocacy skills, expand their networks, and amplify their impact on the global stage. By investing in these leaders, Refugees International aims to foster more effective and representative advocacy within the humanitarian sector.