Deadline: 30-Apr-23

Applications are now open for the OHCHR Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent, an intensive human rights training for people of African descent, from the diaspora, who are engaged in promoting the rights of people of African descent.

In 2023, former PAD fellows are encouraged to join OHCHR’s year-long Human Rights 75 initiative to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the partnership scheme. It takes place once a year at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

Purpose of the Programme

• The aim is to strengthen participants’ skills to contribute to the promotion and protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of people of African descent in their respective countries. The participants are equipped with the tools necessary to enhance the development of legislation, policies and programmes; to strengthen collaboration of civil society with governments; and to undertake local awareness-raising activities.

Opportunities

The Fellowship programme provides the participants with the opportunity to:

• Learn about and deepen their understanding of the international human rights law and the UN human rights system, the international framework to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and intersecting issues with a focus on people of African descent;
• Strengthen skills in developing project proposals, delivering presentations and submitting information to human rights mechanisms;
• Gain first-hand exposure to human rights mechanisms;
• Meet with a wide-range of actors.

Benefits

• OHCHR/ARDS will provide financial and substantive support to the implementation of the event or initiative.
• Financial support is directly managed by OHCHR. It ranges from USD 1,000 to USA 3,000 on average, depending on needs and availability of funds, and it may cover the following expenses:
  • room rental
  • interpretation service
  • communication-related costs (such as website development, SM content, leaflets)
  • printing
  • travel of speakers, etc.
• The substantive support is tailored to the specific needs of the event/initiative. It may include substantive advice, support for the invitation of speakers, advertising on UN’s social media, among others.
• The organization represented by the former PAD fellows is fully responsible for the successful implementation of the event/initiative.

Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must be an individual of African descent living in the Diaspora.
  • The candidate must have a minimum of 4 years of work experience related to the rights of People of African Descent.
  • The candidate has to submit a letter from an organization working on issues related to people of African Descent or minority rights certifying their status.
  • The candidates must be available to attend the full duration of the programme. The selected fellows will be expected to participate in different activities and to strictly follow the programme.

Details

• In 2023, the Fellowship will be held from 13 November to 1st December in Geneva, Switzerland.
• In addition, fellows are expected to dedicate a few hours to pre-online courses and preparatory assignments in the preceding two weeks.

Selection Process

• The selection of the fellows will reflect gender and regional balance. The human rights situation of people of African descent in the respective countries will also be taken into consideration.
• Please note, that because of the volume of messages, applications will not be acknowledged. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

For more information, visit OHCHR.