The Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship 2025

Omran Aburayya
May 7
2 min read

The Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship 2025 is a transformative 24-month program designed to empower 20 young leaders from the Lake Chad Basin—encompassing Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon—to spearhead climate justice initiatives and drive sustainable environmental change in their communities. Spearheaded by the Development of Educational Action Network (DEAN Initiative) and funded by the Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF), this fellowship addresses the pressing environmental and social challenges faced by the region due to climate change.

🌍 Fellowship Overview

The Lake Chad region has experienced a dramatic 90% reduction in the lake's size, leading to desertification, resource scarcity, and the collapse of traditional livelihoods such as agriculture and fishing. These environmental impacts have heightened social tensions, fueled insecurity, and displaced communities, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable. Despite being significantly impacted, youth in the region often lack representation in climate action initiatives due to barriers like limited resources, inadequate skills, and lack of access to advocacy platforms.

🧭 Core Components

The fellowship encompasses several key components to equip fellows with the necessary tools for impactful climate action:

Capacity Building: Workshops on climate justice, storytelling, data visualization, and project management.
Mentorship and Faculty: Pairing with seasoned African climate experts and global facilitators for guidance.
Global Representation: Participation in international and African climate forums.
Community Project Development: Grants to implement localized climate action projects.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Age: Between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application.
Location: Residents of the Lake Chad region (Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon).(Opportunities for Youth)
Commitment to Climate Action: Demonstrated passion or experience in climate justice, advocacy, or environmental sustainability.
Availability: Willingness to commit to the full 24-month fellowship duration and all program activities.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

Skill Development: Practical training in advocacy, storytelling, and project implementation tailored to the Lake Chad context.
Access to Funding Opportunities: Seed funding of $1,500 to each fellow to implement climate justice projects at the grassroots level.
Global Exposure: Opportunities to engage with international climate leaders and attend global conferences.
Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from experienced climate activists and practitioners.
Networking: Connection with a regional and global network of young climate justice advocates.
Community Impact: Support to design and implement solutions tackling GBV, insecurity, and climate challenges in your community.
Policy Advocacy: Platforms to influence local, national, and international climate policies.

📝 Application Process

Application Submission: Complete the online application form, including personal information, a 300-500 word statement of purpose, and a CV highlighting relevant experience.
Initial Screening: Evaluation based on eligibility criteria, relevance of experience, and innovation of proposed solutions.
Interview Round: Virtual interviews to assess communication skills and commitment to climate justice.
Final Selection: Selection of 20 fellows ensuring diversity in gender, experience, and geographic representation.