Deadline: January 31, 2026
The UN OHCHR Minorities Fellowship Programme 2026 is now open for applications, offering an exceptional fully funded opportunity for human-rights defenders from minority groups around the world. This flagship programme strengthens participants’ knowledge of the United Nations human-rights system, minority rights instruments and international advocacy processes. Through the UN OHCHR Minorities Fellowship Programme 2026, fellows gain practical exposure to UN mechanisms, build global networks, and develop the skills needed to advance minority-rights work in their communities.
About the Opportunity
The Minorities Fellowship Programme (MFP) is the most comprehensive training initiative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) dedicated to minority issues. It equips human-rights practitioners from national, ethnic, religious, or linguistic minority backgrounds with advanced understanding of the UN system, minority-rights frameworks, and advocacy tools.
Participants engage directly with UN experts, country missions, civil-society partners and other minority-rights defenders. The programme also fosters peer learning and international collaboration, enabling fellows to amplify their work upon returning to their home countries.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Must belong to a national, ethnic, religious, or linguistic minority group. Being part of a minority is mandatory; experience working with minority communities alone does not qualify.
- No formal educational qualifications are required; relevant experience in human-rights or minority-rights work is essential.
- Must demonstrate the capacity and commitment to train others within their organisation or community after the fellowship.
- Must possess a good working knowledge of the programme’s language of instruction (English, Russian or Arabic).
- Must provide an official recommendation letter from a minority-focused organisation or community endorsing the application.
Benefits / Award Details
This is a fully funded fellowship, and selected candidates will receive:
- Return economy-class airfare from their home country to Geneva.
- Basic health insurance for the duration of the fellowship.
- A stipend covering modest accommodation and living expenses while in Geneva.
Application Requirements / Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Fully completed Part I and Part II of the application form (available in English, Russian and Arabic).
- An official recommendation letter from the nominating organisation or community, uploaded through the online form.
Only complete applications with the required documents will be considered.
Timeline / Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 January 2026 at 23:59 (Geneva time)
- Early submission is strongly recommended.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to complete both parts of the online application form and upload all mandatory documents, including the recommendation letter. All submissions must be made through the official application portal. Incomplete applications or those missing supporting documents will not be evaluated.
Selection Process
The selection process is conducted by OHCHR. Applications are assessed based on eligibility, experience in minority-rights or human-rights work, clarity of motivation, and demonstrated capacity to apply the fellowship’s training in local community contexts. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Additional Information / Terms
Applicants must personally belong to a minority group to qualify. The fellowship is designed to promote long-term impact; participants are expected to return to their communities and actively apply the knowledge gained. Due to the high volume of applications, only complete, well-documented submissions are reviewed.
Host Organisation
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Minorities and Indigenous Peoples Section
United Nations – Geneva, Switzerland
Application Links:
👉 Apply Here
👉 Read More About the Programme
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