Submit Applications for Women PeaceMakers Fellowship Program

The Women PeaceMakers Fellowship facilitates impactful collaborations between peacebuilders from conflict-affected communities and international partner organizations. The Fellows also co-create research intended to shape the peacebuilding field and highlight good practices for peacebuilding design and implementation.

Anyone who considers themselves a peacebuilder working to reduce cycles of violence through a focus on gender, peace, and conflict is welcome to apply. People of all genders, including transgender and non-binary or gender-fluid people, are welcome to apply and are eligible for a fellowship. The Women PeaceMakers Fellowship program does not consider sex, gender, or any other protected status as part of the application and selection process. Applicants must have at least five years of peacebuilding or violence reduction experience and must speak sufficient English to participate fully in Fellowship activities.

Objectives

• Throughout the Fellowship with the Kroc IPJ, selected Fellows will:
  • Learn from and with other Fellows and the Kroc School team
  • Gain new skills, perspectives, and innovative approaches to peacebuilding
  • Expand their professional peacebuilding networks
  • Drive forward vital peacebuilding research that focuses on shaping practice and policy.

Theme

• Borders, Gender and Violence Reduction

Funding Information

• Fellows will receive a stipend of USD $15,000, which will cover their time spent in the fellowship as well as any costs for conducting fellowship-related research. The Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice will cover costs for the residency period at the University of San Diego.

Program Specifications

• Complete fellowship activities and outputs: Fellows are expected to engage in all of the Fellowship’s activities and drive forward the research process.
• Identify and collaborate with International Partners: One of the most important goals of the Fellowship is to work with International Partners to exchange ideas and identify strategies to build more effective local/global collaborations to drive forward impact.
• Conduct original research: Throughout the Fellowship, the Kroc IPJ will capture critical insights into how to reduce violence at borders in a gender-responsive way. This process involves conducting data collection through interviews, focus groups, surveys, or other tools in the Fellow’s country of origin or residence.
• Travel for the residency: Applicants should expect to be involved with full-time program activities throughout the two-week residency and should not schedule any conflicting engagements elsewhere in the US or overseas. An unscheduled absence from the Residency may result in the Fellow losing their Fellowship.
• Become a member of the Kroc IPJ Women Waging Peace network: Upon completing the Fellowship, Fellows will become part of the 1,000+ member Women Waging Peace network. The Kroc IPJ-based network provides a range of benefits to members.
• Connect with the USD community: Fellows are expected to engage with members of the University of San Diego community, treating all community members with respect and professionalism.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants may come from any country, as long as they will be able to travel to the United States for the residency. Applicants must have at least five years of peacebuilding experience and must speak sufficient English to participate fully in Fellowship activities.
• Strong candidates will have the following experience:
  • Working or have worked as a researcher, with a substantial track record of academic and/or practitioner-based experience.
  • Research experience that is based on engagement with violence-affected communities and/or with peacebuilding organizations or social movements.
  • Experience of at least five years working in peacebuilding, policy advocacy, organizing or related work.
  • Experience implementing gender-responsive approaches in peacebuilding, policy or social movement work or substantial academic experience related to gender, peace and conflict.
  • Ability to participate in all activities during the year-long Fellowship and collaborate within a multicultural fellowship cohort.
  • Sufficient English language proficiency to relate personal experiences and engage in discussions with a multi-country cohort.

Application Requirements

• In order to apply, applicants must:
  • Provide basic personal and contact information.
  • Respond to short open answer questions about why they are interested in the Fellowship, the expertise that makes them a good fit for the Fellowship and the specific theme for that year, and their interest or experience in conducting research.
  • Submit a short research proposal.
  • Submit a resume.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Be willing to participate in public events and share their experiences and information with the Kroc IPJ team and the broader public.
  • Have sufficient capacity in English to be able to participate in cohort meetings, share experiences in public events, and participate in research meetings.

For more information, visit Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.