OHCHR Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent 2025 | Fully funded human rights training in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Omran Aburayya
- May 5
- 2 min read
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is now accepting applications for its 2025 Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent, a prestigious, fully funded human rights training held in Geneva, Switzerland.
🌍 About the Fellowship
This intensive three-week program, running from 10 to 28 November 2025, is designed for individuals of African descent living in the diaspora who are actively engaged in promoting the rights of people of African descent. Participants will gain:
In-depth knowledge of international human rights law and the UN human rights system.
Exposure to international human rights mechanisms and OHCHR operations.
Enhanced skills in developing project proposals and delivering impactful presentations.
The program also includes pre-fellowship online courses and assignments in the two weeks leading up to the in-person sessions.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Be individuals of African descent residing in the diaspora.
Have a minimum of four years of work experience related to the rights of people of African descent.
Submit an official letter from an organization working on issues related to people of African descent or minority rights, certifying the candidate’s role within the organization.
Be available to attend the full duration of the program.
Since its inception in 2011, the fellowship has welcomed over 160 participants from more than 50 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows will receive:
A return economy-class ticket from their country of residence to Geneva.
Basic health insurance coverage.
A stipend to cover modest accommodation and other living expenses during the program.
📝 Application Process
To apply, candidates should submit the following documents in one single e-mail to ohchr-africandescentfellowship@un.org:
A Curriculum Vitae.
A completed, signed, and scanned Application Form.
A personal statement (maximum 500 words) explaining their motivation for applying and how they will use the knowledge gained from the fellowship to promote the rights of people of African descent.
An official letter from an organization working on issues related to people of African descent or minority rights, certifying the candidate’s role within the organization.
A copy of the applicant's passport.
ℹ️ Please note that submissions with more than five attachments will not be accepted. The subject header of the e-mail should be: "Application for the 2025 Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent."
⏰ Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted by 30 June 2025.
🔗 OFFICIAL LINK
