King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP)– Climate Resilience Fellowships 2026

If you are a mid-career professional working on climate adaptation in one of the Commonwealth’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this is your chance. The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, has launched the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) – Climate Resilience Fellowships for 2026. These fellowships are designed to support public sector officials, civil society stakeholders, and private sector professionals in CW SIDS to build practical and immediate-impact skills in climate adaptation. Applications open 17 October 2025. Below is everything you need to know.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (see list below)

• Host Institution / Organisation: The programme is delivered by the ACU in partnership with expert facilitators and mentors; hybrid delivery with both virtual and in-person components.

• Level / Type: Professional development / fellowship (not a degree). Mid-career climate resilience / adaptation practice.

• Target Group: Mid-career public sector, civil society, and private sector professionals working on climate adaptation in Commonwealth SIDS.

• Focus: Climate adaptation / climate change resilience and broader environmental issues; cross-sectoral adaptation practice.

• Value & Coverage: Fully funded one-year programme; includes online/project-based learning, one-week in-person residential; access to mentorship and a Community of Practice.

• Fellowship Duration: 1-year hybrid fellowship.

• Application Deadline: 7 November 2025.

• Eligible Countries (Commonwealth SIDS):

  • Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles

  • Asia: The Maldives

  • Caribbean & Americas: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, The Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago

  • Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

📚 Fellowship Overview

• One-year hybrid professional development programme: Fellows continue in their employment during the fellowship. The delivery includes online, project-based learning, asynchronous supervised study, cohort events.

• One-week in-person residential: To build networks, collaborate, and develop practical climate adaptation projects.

• Guidance and mentorship: Through expert facilitators and mentors.

• Virtual Community of Practice: For shared problem solving, exchange of knowledge, tools and resources.

• Immediate practical application: The emphasis is on being able to respond to current climate crises — the tools, practices, and projects developed are meant to have near-immediate effect.

🎁 Programme Benefits

• Fully funded fellowship: covers the cost of the hybrid learning, mentorship, in-person residential module.

• Access to expert facilitators and mentors and being part of a cohort/network across SIDS.

• Development of practical skills and tools for adaptation practice, and opportunity to implement or plan projects with near term impact.

• Access to the Community of Practice, enabling collaboration, shared learning, and exchanges.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must meet all (or specified) of the following:

1. Work Experience: Mid-career (5-15 years or equivalent) in direct or related climate adaptation work. Not about the job title so much as the experience in the field.

2. Commitment: Planned long-term progression (10-20 years of increasingly responsible roles) in this field.

3. Employment: Must be employed at an organisation registered in a Commonwealth SIDS, with a contract that lasts at least until February 2027.

4. Citizenship / Refugee Status: Must be citizen or refugee of a Commonwealth SIDS.

5. Home / Residence: Permanent home must be in a Commonwealth SIDS.

✅ Application Procedure

• How to Apply: Applications will be submitted via an application form on the ACU website, once the fellowships open on 17 October 2025.

• Deadline: 7 November 2025.

• Required Documents (likely):

  • Current CV / résumé showing relevant experience

  • Evidence of employment in a CW SIDS registered organization, and contract (valid through Feb 2027)

  • Statement / proposal of how you plan to use this fellowship, what impact you hope to achieve (project ideas)

  • Possibly references or letters of recommendation

  • Proof of citizenship or refugee status (and permanent home) in a Commonwealth SIDS

• Always check the ACU website for Application Guidance / FAQs for full list of required documents and format.

ℹ️ Extra Useful Information

• The KCFP was funded with a founding member partnership: The Khalili Foundation is founding member and funder.

• The programme is part of a three-strand initiative: in addition to the Climate Resilience Fellowships, there are Undergraduate Scholarships and In-country PhD Fellowships under the KCFP umbrella.

• The Undergraduate Scholarships strand is expected to open mid-2026.

🔗 Official Link

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