The United Nations High Commission for Refugee invites the 2020 UNHCR Fellowship Program 2020 for students of African descent. The fellowship is an intensive learning opportunity for African students to engage and participate in interactive activities in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

Purpose 

Moreover, the program aims to strengthen participants’ skills to contribute to the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of people of African descent in their respective countries. he program will equip participants with the tools necessary to enhance the development of legislation, policies, and programs. In addition to that, the program will train them to strengthen the collaboration of civil society with governments and to undertake local awareness-raising activities.

Benefits

The Fellowship program provides the participants with the opportunity to:

• Learn about and deepen their understanding of the 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.
• Strengthen skills in developing project proposals, delivering presentations as well as submitting information to human rights mechanisms.
• Gain first-hand exposure to human rights mechanisms and also meet with a wide range of actors.

Eligibilities

In order to be eligible for this United Nations Human Rights Fellowship Program, candidates must be an individual of African descent living in the Diaspora. In addition to that, the must have the following qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of work experience related to the rights of People of African Descent.
• Candidates must have sufficient command in either French or English to be able to participate fully in the program.
• Candidate has to submit a letter from an organization working on issues related to People of African Descent or minority rights certifying their status.
• Candidates must be available to attend the full duration of the program. Furthermore, the selected fellows will be expected to participate in different activities and to strictly follow the program.

Application Process

In order to apply, applicants must submit the following documents in one single e-mail to [email protected]:

• Curriculum Vitae
• A completed, signed and scanned Application Form in one single document.
• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words) in which the candidate will explain his/her motivation for applying, and how he/she will use the knowledge gained from the fellowship to promote the interests and rights of people of African descent.
• An Official Letter from the nominating organization or community certifying the status. In addition to that, a copy of the applicant’s passport.
• Please note that submissions with more than five attachments will not be accepted.

OHCHR – Fellows partnership: Call for application