The Southern Africa Embrace Foundation (SAEF) is recruiting delegates to join its team at the 71st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71), taking place at UN Headquarters in New York from 8 to 19 March 2027. CSW is the world’s largest yearly UN gathering on gender equality and the rights of women and girls. Applications close on 31 December 2026.
Before you get excited, read this: the delegation is self-funded. You pay your own flights, hotel and meals, and selected delegates make a non-refundable CAD $100 donation to SAEF. What SAEF gives you is the official UN accreditation badge, which lets you attend the conference as part of an accredited NGO’s delegation.
Key Details
- Organiser: Southern Africa Embrace Foundation (SAEF), a Toronto-registered charity founded in 2010 that reports UN ECOSOC special consultative status
- Event: CSW71, United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA
- Dates: 8–19 March 2027; delegates must be available 8–12 March
- Cost: self-funded + CAD $100 donation if selected (about US$72)
- Ages: the form accepts adults of all ages (18–35, 36–50 and 51+)
- Deadline: 31 December 2026
What You Get
- a UN CSW accreditation badge for the two-week session through SAEF’s ECOSOC status
- a UN Women visa support letter, generated in the UN’s INDIGO system after SAEF approves your registration
- access to official sessions and the many side events run by governments, UN agencies and civil society
- a delegation meet-up (breakfast, lunch or dinner) during CSW, paid for from the donations
- networking with gender-equality advocates from around the world
What It Will Cost You
- Flights to and from New York
- Accommodation — New York hotels are expensive in March; budget carefully
- Meals, local transport and visa fees
- CAD $100 donation, paid only after selection and before INDIGO registration. It is not refunded, even if your visa is refused.
Good to know: the UN itself charges no fee to attend CSW. The CAD $100 is SAEF’s own condition for joining its delegation, and SAEF says so openly. Never pay anyone who claims the UN charges an attendance fee.
Visa: Read This Carefully
Because of US visa restrictions introduced in January 2026, SAEF will give priority to applicants who:
- already hold a valid US visa
- live in regions with fewer travel restrictions
- are citizens of visa-exempt countries
Needing a visa does not disqualify you, but it lowers your chances. The UN Women support letter does not guarantee a visa, and SAEF will not write extra visa letters. Many African applicants face long US visa waits, so check appointment times at your nearest US embassy before you apply and before you pay anything.
Eligibility
- adults interested in gender equality, women’s rights, women’s empowerment or youth development
- able to pay all travel and living costs and the CAD $100 donation
- available for mandatory delegation meetings from 8 to 12 March 2027
- willing to write a 500-word report on your experience by 10 April 2027
- comfortable appearing in SAEF social media content, photos, videos and interviews
No specific nationality, degree or job is required.
How to Apply
- Open the official SAEF CSW71 delegate application form (Google Form).
- Fill in your contact details, age range, US visa status, LinkedIn profile and social media handles.
- Write up to 300 words on your background and why you want to join the delegation.
- Confirm you agree to the mandatory meetings, the 500-word report and the CAD $100 donation.
- Submit before 31 December 2026.
Is It Worth It?
If you already have a US visa (or don’t need one) and can afford New York, CSW is an excellent place to learn, network and raise your profile in gender advocacy. If you would need a new visa and a loan to cover the trip, think carefully — the costs are high and the visa risk is yours. Ask your employer, NGO or a local women’s fund whether they can sponsor your trip before you apply.
More Opportunities for Women and Young Leaders
- Project Kuongoza for Women and Girls 2026/27: Free STEM Mentorship and Fellowship
- Her Startup 2026: Training and Up to $5,000 for African Women Founders
- Catalyst Academy Youth Social Innovation Learning Programme 2026
Deadline: 31 December 2026. Self-funded; CAD $100 donation if selected.
