The Green Institute, a sustainability education non-profit based in Ondo, Nigeria, is recruiting for the February 2027 cohort of its Officially Green Global Fellowship (also called the Green Fellows Programme). It’s open to young people aged 18 to 35 anywhere in the world, and no previous sustainability experience is needed.
It’s an action-based fellowship. Fellows take a compulsory online course, then set up an Officially Green Club in a primary or secondary school and teach younger students about sustainability. One outstanding fellow can win a US$1,000 award to continue their work.
Applications close on 7 January 2027 at 4:00pm GMT. That’s 5:00pm in Lagos, 6:00pm in Johannesburg and Cairo, and 7:00pm in Nairobi.
At a Glance
| Organiser | The Green Institute (and The Green Campus Initiative) |
| Programme | Officially Green Global Fellowship (Green Fellows Programme), February 2027 cohort |
| Who can apply | Ages 18–35, from any country |
| Experience needed | None |
| Main commitment | An online course, plus running a sustainability club in a school |
| Award | Certificate on completion, and one US$1,000 award for an outstanding fellow |
| Deadline | 7 January 2027, 4:00pm GMT |
| Results | By email in the first week of February 2027 |
What Fellows Do
- Learn: complete the compulsory Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and attend the designated fellowship conferences.
- Educate: set up and run an Officially Green Club in a primary or secondary school, reaching at least 20 students, according to MSME Africa’s report on the call.
- Advocate: promote the seven Officially Green pledges in your community and on social media, using #OfficiallyGreen.
- Show impact: send short reports documenting your activities and results.
Benefits
- Learn from sustainability experts and thought leaders
- Build leadership, advocacy, communication and project-management skills
- Hands-on experience in sustainability education and community engagement
- A network of young sustainability leaders worldwide
- A certificate if you complete all fellowship requirements
- A portfolio of documented sustainability projects
- A chance at the US$1,000 post-fellowship award for one fellow who completes everything and shows documented impact
Be realistic: being selected doesn’t guarantee a certificate or the US$1,000 award. Both depend on completing the requirements, and the award goes to one fellow only. A recommendation letter is possible only for fellows who stay engaged and show impact for at least a year after the fellowship.
Eligibility
- Aged 18 to 35 on the application deadline.
- A real commitment to sustainability and environmental action.
- Willing to teach sustainability to younger people through an Officially Green Club.
- Available to attend all designated conferences and take an active part.
- Reliable internet access, and ready to document your activities and impact.
- Open to applicants from any country. You don’t need to be a sustainability expert.
The application form asks whether you can access a primary or secondary school where you could start a club, so line one up before you apply.
How to Apply
- Read the fellowship page and FAQ on The Green Institute’s website (link below).
- Click Apply Now to open the online form, which takes about 5–7 minutes.
- Fill in your details, current status, affiliation and LinkedIn profile.
- Choose up to three of the Officially Green pledges and up to three SDGs you care about.
- Write a short bio (max 100 words) explaining why you want to be a Green Fellow and what you hope to achieve.
- Confirm your commitment to the MOOC, the club and the reports, then submit before 7 January 2027, 4:00pm GMT.
Officially Green Global Fellowship: official page and application
Questions: [email protected]
Tips for a Strong Application
- Name the school. If you already have a school or headteacher willing to host a club, say so. It shows you can deliver.
- Make your 100 words count. Mention one real environmental problem in your area, such as flooding, waste or deforestation, and what you’d teach students about it.
- Pick pledges and SDGs that match your plans, for example SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
- Plan your time. Running a club, finishing a course and reporting all take time over the whole fellowship.
Note: the official page doesn’t say whether the conferences are online or in person, or whether there are any costs. Ask the organisers if this matters to you.
