Call for Applications: Vital Voices Global Fellowship Program

This 10-month program brings together fellows across two key pillars — VV Venture (social entrepreneurship) and VV Engage (public leadership) while also encouraging cross-sector synergies to drive systemic change.

Through this fellowship, Vital Voices aims to amplify the impact of women addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, facilitate meaningful collaboration among changemakers, and equip participants with the tools to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Categories

• VV Venture (social entrepreneurship): The VV Venture (social entrepreneurship) pillar equips purpose-driven women entrepreneurs leading for-profit businesses with social impact with the skills, tools, and strategies to strengthen their value proposition, expand their influence, amplify their impact and success.
• VV Engage (public leadership): The VV Engage (public leadership) pillar equips women leaders in politics, policy, and governance with the skills, networks, and strategies needed to strengthen their leadership, advance equity, and drive systemic change.

Benefits

• Leadership training through Vital Voices Leadership Journey.
• Pillar-specific skill development tailored to social entrepreneurs (VV Venture) and public leaders (VV Engage).
• Opportunities to expand cross-pillar collaborations by building partnerships with public leaders, social entrepreneurs, changemakers, and civil society leaders to drive systemic change and drive innovative solutions.
• Access to the Vital Voices Community Hub and leverage the cohort and Vital Voices Global Network of thousands of changemakers for mentorship, peer learning, and strategic connections to amplify impact, support growth, and advance goals.
• Attend an in-person convening in the third quarter of 2025, to deepen learning, relationship building, and collaboration.
• A certificate of completion upon successfully completing the program.

Program Specifications

• Attend all virtual trainings from June 2025 to March 2026 and complete all required program components.
• Virtual sessions are typically 60-90 minutes each, held between 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM US EST, with 2-3 virtual sessions per month.
• Engage in additional community gathering, peer exchanges, and program staff check-ins as required.
• Dedicate an average of 4-6 hours per month to program participation.
• Attend the in-person convening in the third quarter of 2025.
• Complete mid and post-program impact surveys up to three years after the fellowship.

Eligibility Criteria

• VV Venture (social entrepreneurship):
  • Hold a key decision-making role in a legally registered, for-profit, purpose-driven business that advances the SDGs.
  • Generate a minimum annual revenue of $100,000 USD with at least three full-time paid employees (or the equivalent) and a minimum of two years in business.
  • Exhibit clear business growth and impact potential, such as expanding market reach, increasing revenue, scaling operations, or strengthening social impact outcomes.
  • Commit to leading the business with no plans for a near-term exit.
  • Demonstrate commitment to developing their leadership, collaboration and advancing the SDGs.
• VV Engage (public leadership):
  • Elected or appointed official, political party leader, or functionary.
  • Political activist advancing policy change and advocacy.
  • Community leader working on policy-related issues or leading in politically excluded communities.
  • Media professional covering politics, gender issues, or SDG-related policy work.
  • Civil society leaders running a policy-focused nonprofit or advancing legislation/governance reforms.
  • At least three years of experience in elected office, appointed leadership, policymaking, political activism, or civil society leadership.
  • Demonstrated commitment to good governance, transparency, and democratic principles.
  • Have an understanding of policy-making processes within their community or sector.

For more information, visit Vital Voices.