SparkUp Initiative offers a fellowship that helps women-led NGOs and grassroots organizations worldwide build their fundraising and project-development capacities. Participants receive training in crafting effective fundraising strategies, writing grant proposals for international foundations and public institutions, and exploring crowdfunding and digital fundraising. The program is open to women-led organizations from developing countries in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. The next application deadline is 20 December 2025. Link
Category: Cross-Cutting Subjects
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) recruits participants for its 2026 cohort of the Local Pathways Fellows. The 10-months fellowship program provides young leaders with a platform, capacity building, training opportunities and contacts of leading development experts and practitioners. The Local Pathways Fellowship is unpaid. Fellows will benefit from global visibility and exposure. Young candidates (18-30 years) working towards achieving any of the Sustainable Development Goals and representing any city or country in the world are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until 21 December 2025. Link to Local Pathways
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) offers two-week academic summer programs for high school students from all around the world. The program offers four interdisciplinary sessions on campus at Yale (USA), including sessions on Innovations in Science & Technology and Solving Global Challenges. YYGS offers the opportunity for students to apply for need-based financial aid. Furthermore, YYGS will waive the application fee if it constitutes a significant financial burden for the student’s family. The application deadline is 07 January 2026. About Yale Young Global Scholars
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) supports the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. The scholarships fund cultural and academic exchanges and are awarded across many subjects, including climate resilience and life sciences. Eligibility extends to citizens of (or with refugee status in) a Commonwealth country other than the country hosting the award. Scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses (stipend) for the duration of the award, return economy flight, one-off arrival allowance, and research support grant (on request). The application deadline is 14 January 2026. Find the available scholarships
The Aspire Leaders Program provides academic and professional development resources to students who are from backgrounds of social and financial adversity. All applicants must be between the ages of 18-26, come from a low-income background and be the first generation to attend university. Through the program, students will gain access to fully-funded HarvardX courses and participate in live seminars with Harvard University. Eligibility extends to students from all around the world as long as they are enrolled in an undergraduate program or have recently graduated (within three years). The application deadline is 21 January 2026. Aspire Leaders Program
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Indigenous Fellowship Training Programme is open for applications. The aim of the program is to give Indigenous persons the opportunity to gain knowledge on the UN system and mechanisms dealing with human rights issues in general and Indigenous issues in particular. (Note: This may include land rights and biodiversity conservation issues). Participants will learn how to more effectively advocate for the rights of their communities and raise their concerns at the international level. Travel, stipend and basic expenses are covered by OHCHR. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2026. OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship
The European Commission, through the Euraxess initiative, offers the Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships to support researchers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. ZUKOnnect aims to extend research networks and environments through on-campus research stays at thirteen departments of the University of Konstanz. Subject areas include ecology, limnology, ecotoxicology, botany, amongst many others. The fellowship offers a stipend of €1,300/month for doctoral students and €2,000/month for postdoctoral researchers, as well as travel expenses and access to resources and events. The deadline for applications is 01 February 2026. Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships
The Aga Khan Foundation supports programs in rural development, broadly defined, in several developing countries. It provides scholarships and loans for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from the developing world, with priority for master’s studies. The Foundation also considers applications for PhD programs in certain circumstances. Applications are invited from the following nationalities: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. Please note that half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, which must be reimbursed. The application deadline is 01 February 2026, but earlier in some countries (please check the dates carefully). About the Fellowships
The Rockefeller Foundation supports African leaders who are creating bold, systemic solutions to critical challenges across the continent. Projects can range from social innovation and policy work to tech-driven and community-based efforts. Key focus areas include renewable energy access, resilient health systems, transformed food systems, and regional economic integration. The pre-application deadline is 01 December 2025. Big Bets Fellowship
With funding from the UK’s Department for International Development, the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are available to citizens of Commonwealth countries for master’s studies at UK universities, usually for one year. The participating academic programs include several subject areas such as environmental science and management, agroforestry, livestock management, remote sensing, disaster management, wetlands science, etc. The CSC lists the participating universities and their eligible courses. Potential applicants must check with the relevant UK university regarding their admission requirements and guidelines for applying. The deadline for scholarship applications is 09 December 2025. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships