LAND IS LIFE OPEN CALL: INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S PROGRAM FELLOWSHIP 2026

Application Deadline:  November 5, 2025

LOCATION: USA

Land is Life invites Indigenous women leaders who are driving change in their communities to apply. They welcome proposals with clear and achievable goals that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights, gender equality, and community well-being.

ELIGIBILITY:

Designed and led by Indigenous women, the program supports Indigenous women and their organisations in Africa, Asia, and throughout the Americas in effectively asserting their individual and collective rights to access, use, and control land and natural resources; to improve their livelihoods; and to promote and protect their peoples’ entitlements.

Under our Indigenous Women’s Program, the year-long fellowship nurtures the next generation of Indigenous women leaders by supporting those who are taking innovative steps that contribute to gender equality, the well-being of their communities, and the recognition of their land and resource rights.

Indigenous women between 18 and 35 years old

The applicant should not have been a former Land is Life fellow.

Design and implement a community project to be completed within 10 months.

Support their communities in advancing the promotion and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, with particular attention to the rights of Indigenous women and girls.

Actively participate in monthly training sessions and peer-learning activities.

Fill out the application form.

Develop a community project that promotes the rights of Indigenous Peoples, with particular attention to the rights of Indigenous women and girls. The project can address a range of key issues, including capacity building, biodiversity conservation, climate action, participation in decision-making, improved livelihoods, governance, and leadership development.

In case you are unable to complete the form, please apply by video. Here’s how to do it:

Review the questions in the application form and clearly answer each of them in the video.

Record a video of up to 15 minutes in English, French, or Spanish.

Make sure to answer all questions in the application form.

At the end of your video, provide your oral acceptance of the terms and conditions, since we cannot obtain your written signature.

Save your video preferably in mp3/mp4 format and send it to us info@landislife.org

BENEFIT:

Personalized mentoring from Indigenous women leaders with proven experience advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Funding and technical support (up to $3,000 USD) to design and implement a community-level project.

A stipend of $3,600 USD to support your participation throughout the program.

Knowledge sharing through monthly trainings on key topics related to Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Leadership development to strengthen Indigenous women’s voices and decision-making power.

Networking opportunities to build or strengthen alliances with local, regional, and global partners and allies.

Advocacy support to participate in national and international decision-making spaces.

APPLY

ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PHD SCHOLARSHIP

Application Deadline: : 31 January 2026 (Beijing Time)

LOCATION: China

According to an agreement between the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS/UNESCO) for the advancement of science in developing countries, up to 40 students/scholars from developing countries will be sponsored to study in China for doctoral degrees for up to 4 years.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must:

Eligible applicants should NOT hold Chinese citizenship;

Eligible applicants must be nationals of eligible developing countries in the South (Developing Countries in the South | TWAS)

Eligible applicants should be proficient in English or Chinese;

For PhD program applicants: you should be born after 1st January 1991­­ (inclusive);

Eligible applicants should meet the admission criteria for international students of USTC/UCAS;

Eligible applicants should NOT take up other assignments during the period of his/her scholarship.

If the applicant is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at any university/institution in China, s/he will NOT be eligible for the PhD program of this scholarship. Otherwise, s/he will be disqualified from admission and the situation will be reported to the current university/institution

You are NOT allowed to apply for the ANSO Scholarship in both USTC and UCAS simultaneously; otherwise, you will be disqualified from admission.

The 2025/2026 ANSO Scholarship is open for application on 15 October 2025 (The exact dates might be slightly different for USTC and UCAS; please check their websites for details).

Deadline for Applicants and Referees: 31 January 2026 (Beijing Time)

Application Materials

For USTC applicants, please refer to Application Guideline for Graduate Applicants to USTC (here)

For UCAS applicants, please refer to the Call for  Doctoral Programs for International Students (here)

Application Portal

File and submit your application in the USTC/UCAS admission system as requested before the deadline.

When applying:

Firstly, choose “the CAS-ANSO Scholarship” in your application. 

Secondly, if you want to be considered a potential candidate for the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship, check the box as instructed in the application system.

BENEFIT:

PhD program benefits include:

Tuition waiver

Monthly stipend: 6,000 or 7,000 CNY/month (depending on whether the awardee has passed the qualification test arranged by the University), up to 48 months

Health insurance

Application fee waiver

International travel allowance from awardee’s home country to China (one trip per awarded candidate)

One-time visa

APPLY

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