The Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBS) Washington, DC office is accepting applications for the Feminist Futures Fellowship. The fellowship takes feminist experts from the Global Majority to the 71st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71) in New York, 8–19 March 2027. HBS covers international flights, up to 7 nights in a New York hotel, and health and travel insurance, and arranges conference registration and access.
For 2027, HBS is looking for candidates based in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. It reserves some places for young feminists aged 21–35 who have never attended a CSW before.
Deadline: 2 November 2026. That’s only a few days away, so start your application now.
At a Glance
| Organiser | Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC office |
| Event | UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71), New York, 8–19 March 2027 |
| Trip length | About 7 days during the conference (exact dates set later) |
| Covered | International flights, airport transfers, up to 7 nights’ accommodation, health and travel insurance, CSW registration |
| Who can apply | Feminist experts based in Africa, Latin America, Asia or the Middle East |
| Reserved places | Young feminists aged 21–35 who haven’t attended a CSW before |
| Deadline | 2 November 2026 |
About the Fellowship
This is the fifth round of HBS’s CSW fellowship. CSW71’s priority theme is “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The fellowship aims to connect underrepresented voices with decision-makers, give emerging and experienced feminist leaders a learning and networking experience, encourage debate across generations and regions, and help fellows identify issues that need more advocacy.
Benefits
- International flights, plus transport to and from the airport
- Up to 7 nights’ accommodation in New York City
- Health and travel insurance
- CSW registration, accreditation and access, arranged by HBS
- Visibility: HBS promotes fellows on social media before the CSW and publishes a profile of each fellow on its website
- Network and skills: access to HBS’s global network, introductory and strategy workshops before the CSW, and networking events and meetings during it
Note: the official call doesn’t mention a daily allowance or visa fees. Plan for meals and other personal costs in New York, and check with HBS if you need help with the US visa.
What Fellows Are Expected to Do
- Travel to New York for about 7 days during the conference.
- Write a short statement of your goals for the CSW before you go.
- Share your insights in public and private events, workshops and meetings, and attend the meetings HBS organises.
- Post on social media before, during and after the CSW about your experience.
- You may be invited to write a short article or blog post afterwards.
Eligibility
- A feminist expert or activist based in Africa, Latin America, Asia or the Middle East.
- Professional-level English.
- Available to travel to the US for a 7-day period in March 2027.
- Some places are reserved for young feminists aged 21–35 with no previous CSW experience. More experienced applicants are also welcome.
- HBS partner organisations are encouraged to apply and should mention their connection to HBS.
How to Apply
- Prepare a US-style CV: no photo, no marital or family status, maximum 2 pages. Include your age, because some places are reserved for applicants aged 21–35.
- Write a motivation statement (max 300 words) on the biggest challenge you see for gender equality or women’s rights right now, how you propose to deal with it, what you’re already doing, and how attending the CSW would help.
- Answer the post-fellowship question (max 200 words): would you be willing to write a short article or blog post afterwards, and do you have a topic in mind?
- Submit through the official application page before 2 November 2026.
Apply for the HBS Feminist Futures Fellowship (official page)
Questions: [email protected] or [email protected]
Tips for African Applicants
- Be specific about one challenge. For example, gender-based violence, women’s land rights, unpaid care work or girls’ education in your country, with concrete examples from your own work.
- Show what you’ll do at the CSW, such as speaking at a side event, meeting specific decision-makers or building a coalition.
- Plan your US visa early. Visa interview waits in some African countries can be long, and the conference is in March.
- Follow the CV rules exactly. No photo, 2 pages maximum, and include your age.
