Empowering Feminist Leaders: Apply for the Funded 2025 Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Fellowship
The Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBS) is excited to announce the third iteration of its Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Fellowship, aimed at fostering a vital exchange of ideas at the 2025 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). This year’s fellowship will bring together feminist leaders from the Global South to engage with critical global discussions and help shape the future of feminist development and foreign policy.
A Call to Feminist Leaders
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the landscape for gender equality is more contested than ever. Anti-rights movements and the rise of authoritarian figures are threatening to roll back hard-won gains in reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equality. In response, the CSW 69th session (taking place in New York from March 10–21, 2025) will focus on these challenges, providing an important platform for feminists from around the world to strategize and work towards new feminist global alliances.
In this context, HBS seeks to support feminist experts from the Global South to participate in the CSW and contribute their insights and expertise to these crucial debates. This year’s fellowship will not only provide access to the UN’s multilateral processes but will also create opportunities for cross-regional and intergenerational exchange on feminist foreign and development policy.
What the Fellowship Offers
The Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Fellowship offers a comprehensive package to its selected fellows. Key benefits include:
- Travel and Accommodation: HBS will cover international flights, transportation, up to six nights of accommodation in New York City, and health/travel insurance.
- Visa Support: The Foundation will assist with the visa application process, including providing an official invitation letter and covering visa fees.
- Conference Registration: Fellows will receive passes to attend the CSW meetings and have access to special events, workshops, and networking opportunities organized by HBS.
- Visibility and Platform: Prior to the CSW, fellows will be promoted on HBS’s social media channels to amplify their work and political messages. Post-event, a profile will be featured on HBS’s website.
Moreover, fellows will engage in learning and networking experiences, gaining access to HBS’s global network and participating in introductory sessions, workshops, and private meetings during the CSW.
What HBS Expects from Fellows
HBS has outlined clear expectations for fellowship recipients:
- Active Participation: Fellows must attend the CSW in March 2025 and engage with various discussions and events. Participants will be expected to share their insights and expertise in public and private workshops, panels, and informal exchanges.
- Thematic Contributions: Fellows are required to prepare a strategic statement detailing their objectives for the CSW. This could include targeted interventions, networking on specific issues, or contributing to debates on advancing feminist foreign policies.
- Social Media Engagement: In the lead-up to, during, and after the CSW, fellows will be expected to share their experiences and insights via social media. These real-time updates will help share key lessons with a wider audience and foster continuous exchange within the fellowship community.
- Building a Feminist Network: This fellowship isn’t just about attending the CSW – it’s about becoming a part of a growing network of feminist leaders committed to advancing a new vision for global diplomacy and development.
Who Can Apply?
HBS is looking for emerging or experienced feminist leaders who are actively working in the fields of foreign and development policy. Ideal candidates should be engaged in feminist activism and policy-making, including but not limited to:
- Civil society activists working on gender equality and women’s rights.
- Elected officials or policy advisors involved in feminist foreign and development policies.
- Academics, researchers, and students focusing on feminist and gender studies with an international perspective.
- Entrepreneurs developing solutions to support gender equality and human rights.
While the fellowship is open to applicants of all ages, a specific number of seats will be reserved for young feminists aged 21-35, especially those who have not yet participated in a CSW. Applicants from Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus Region, and Eastern Europe are particularly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Interested individuals should submit their application via BambooHR by December 2, 2024. The application must include:
- Resume: A standard US-format resume (maximum of 2 pages), including the applicant’s age.
- Challenge/Motivational Statement: A 300-word reflection addressing the biggest challenge currently facing the feminist movement and detailing the steps the applicant is taking to address it. Applicants should also explain how attending the CSW will help them navigate these challenges.
Selected fellows will become part of a growing global community of feminist leaders working to shape the future of gender equality, development, and foreign policy.
About the Heinrich Böll Foundation
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is part of the global green movement and is committed to supporting civil liberties, human rights, and democratic institutions. Based in Washington, DC, the Foundation promotes gender equality, social justice, and environmental sustainability through a variety of programs, including fellowships, public seminars, and publications.
For more information, questions, or inquiries, applicants can reach out to Remo Gassmann at [email protected] or Teresa Eder at [email protected].
This fellowship presents an incredible opportunity for emerging feminist leaders to join a network of passionate activists, policymakers, and academics committed to advancing gender equality on a global scale.
