UNHCR Innovation Fellowship 2026 (Fully Funded)

The UNHCR Innovation Fellowship is an annual professional learning programme designed to strengthen innovation capabilities within the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its partner organisations. It equips participants with practical methods, tools, and mindsets to tackle real operational challenges facing refugees and displaced communities around the world.

 What Is the Innovation Fellowship?

This Fellowship is a 12-month innovation learning journey that teaches structured approaches to problem solving, ideation, experimentation, and iterative testing, enabling Fellows to apply innovative solutions to real-life humanitarian challenges in their own operations or divisions. Participants become ambassadors for innovation and positive change within UNHCR and the wider humanitarian ecosystem.

 What You’ll Learn

Fellows focus on:

•  Applying innovation methods and tools to real challenges
• Problem framing and solution testing
• Collaboration with colleagues, partners, and displaced people
• Embedding new practices into everyday work
• Supporting organisational change through creative thinking

Innovation in this programme is about mindset and culture, not just technology — high-tech, low-tech, or no-tech solutions are all valid parts of the approach.

 Who Can Apply

The Fellowship is open primarily to:

• UNHCR staff from headquarters or field operations
• Affiliate workforce members working with UNHCR
• Members of select partner organisations such as other UN agencies or invited NGOs

Applicants must have the support of their supervisor and be actively working so they can apply what they learn to their daily work.

 Format & Time Commitment

The programme is delivered fully online and combines:

• Online workshops and webinars
• Peer support sessions and mentoring
• Practical innovation assignments
• Collaboration with global colleagues

Fellows are expected to dedicate roughly 20 % of their working time to innovation work over the fellowship year.

 Why It Matters

The Innovation Fellowship helps humanitarian professionals:

• Build innovation skills that are directly applicable to their work
• Foster a culture of creative problem solving
• Become change agents within their teams and operations
• Tackle systemic challenges in refugee protection, shelter, food security, inclusion, and more

Fellows often use what they learn long after the programme ends, strengthening innovation practices within UNHCR globally.