Refugee Leadership Fellowship 2026/27 in USA

Applications are open for the CGRS Refugee Leadership Program Fellowship. The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies offers this unique opportunity. It’s designed for individuals with personal experience of forced displacement. Fellows gain hands-on experience in refugee rights advocacy work. The program also provides professional development and meaningful networking opportunities. Selected fellows will lead a project connected to their own interests.

Program Snapshot

• Host Organization: Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS)
• Location: Remote, nationwide within the United States
• Fellows Selected: Two participants
• Duration: Seven months, October 2026 to mid-June 2027
• Stipend: $6,000, plus a $500 professional development allowance
• Application Deadline: August 30, 2026

Focus Areas

• Refugee and immigrant rights advocacy
• Legal protections for gender-based violence survivors
• Climate-induced displacement issues
• Pro se support for unrepresented asylum seekers

About CGRS

CGRS is based at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The organization defends asylum seekers through litigation, training, and policy advocacy. This fellowship builds on that mission by centering lived experience directly. Fellows contribute their own displacement-related knowledge to CGRS’s broader work. This creates genuine mutual learning between fellows and organizational staff.

What Fellows Will Do

Selected fellows will engage in three core fellowship components. First, they’ll participate actively in CGRS’s collaborative organizational activities. Second, each fellow leads an individual project shaped by their interests. Projects might involve research, storytelling, community engagement, or public education. Third, fellows access structured professional development through workshops and networking events. Throughout the fellowship, CGRS staff provide dedicated mentorship and guidance.

Time Commitment

The time commitment totals roughly twenty hours monthly, or five weekly. Fellows need some flexibility for meetings during West Coast business hours. Outside scheduled meetings, fellows can manage their project work flexibly. This structure suits people balancing other professional or personal responsibilities.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants must currently live in the United States. They must also hold valid authorization to work domestically. Strong English communication skills are necessary throughout the fellowship. CGRS particularly welcomes applicants from underrepresented and marginalized communities.

How to Apply

To apply, candidates should complete CGRS’s official application form. Applications require thoughtful reflection on lived experience and advocacy interests.

#339966;">#339966;" href="https://uclawsf.breezy.hr/p/27b9f02796d7-cgrs-refugee-leadership-program-fellow-paid/apply" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click Here to Apply

Conclusion

This fellowship stands out for genuinely centering displaced individuals as advocacy leaders rather than passive program participants. With paid compensation, mentorship, and real project ownership, it offers meaningful career development alongside advocacy impact. Given the limited two-fellow cohort, applicants should submit thoughtful, well-prepared materials well before the August 30 deadline.

#008000;">READ MORE