Global Platform for Action Climate and Sustainability Academy Fellowship

Global Action Platform The Climate and Sustainability Academy Fellowship is a collaboration between Chatham House, The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the University of Oxford Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH).

Candidates are given the chance to spend ten months at Chatham House working on a personal project. Fellows are especially invited to investigate how they may expand on the existing research on humanitarian energy conducted by the Environment and Society Programme and the GPA Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) initiative.

The initiative provides inclusionary analysis and evidence to support all displaced people’s energy demands. They focus on quantitative data analysis to support the aims of delivering inclusive humanitarian energy action in refugee settings.

Fellows take part in the core work of the Institute, developing their skills through the leadership programme, and furthering their professional network in the field of international affairs.

Eligibility:

Eligibility for this fellowship is limited to individuals who meet the selection criteria and want to work with the Environment and Society Programme.

• Citizenship

The fellowship is open to individuals who have lived experience of forced displacement such as identifying as a current or ‘former’ refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, stateless person, or another category.

• Education

Applicants must hold a completed BA degree or equivalent and have experience with conducting research.

• Career

The ideal candidate should be at the early-to-mid-stage of their career and come from one of the following fields or work: academia, NGO, business, government departments, civil society or the media. All applicants should possess knowledge of, and an interest in, international affairs, their chosen area of research, and Chatham House’s mission and research.

• Age restrictions

We do not impose age restrictions for applicants.

Duration:

The fellow’s time will be split between three key areas:

• Completing a personal research project: the fellow will choose and design a personal project to undertake with the guidance of a Chatham House expert (approximately 60%).
• Leadership Programme: it is a key part of all fellowships. It aims to develop fellows knowledge, network, self-awareness and to equip them with important skills on which they can draw in their future careers as leaders in their field (approximately 20%).
• Contributing to ongoing research activities: working with their host research team and other Chatham House teams as appropriate, fellows will contribute to existing research priorities in line with the Chatham House mission (approximately 20%).

Leadership Programme:

All fellows participate in and contribute to the Leadership Programme which encompasses the following components:

• Intensive induction week
  Academy fellowships begin with an intensive five-day induction week to become familiarized with the elements of the fellowships, meet their host research programme and have their first personal development coaching session.
• Discussion seminars
  In these sessions, fellows meet and discuss current international affairs challenges with subject matter experts from Chatham House and beyond. The sessions cover the principal substantive and skills-based areas vital for informed and effective international leadership. Fellows usually chair these sessions and are expected to contribute to and learn from one another’s experience.
• Leadership workshops
  Every two months, fellows participate in half-day workshops focusing on skills development within specific aspects of leadership such as ‘Leadership in a new role’ and ‘Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship’.
• Project presentations
  Fellows present updates on their research projects to help develop presentation skills, provide a forum for peer-review and to analyse issues outside their own area of expertise.
• Personal development coaching
  Fellows have access to one-on-one sessions with a dedicated coach as a way to grow their self-awareness. Fellows work with the coach to set personal development objectives which they work to meet during their fellowship and beyond.
• Media training
  Fellows learn effective interview skills needed for television and radio culminating in a mock interview from which they receive feedback on style and any areas of improvement
• ‘Leadership in the 21st Century’ Breakfast Briefings
  All fellows benefit from priority access to the ‘Leadership in the 21st Century’ Breakfast Briefings series. There, they have the opportunity to discuss leadership experiences and learn in an informal setting with leaders from government, business, media and the non-profit sectors.
• Career mentoring (optional)
  Fellows’ development is facilitated and supported by partnering them with mentors to enhance their career perspective and path.

Benefits:

The fellow will receive a monthly stipend of £2,365 which will cover London living costs, including accommodation, utilities, food, transport and other basic expenses.

The Academy will cover costs related to relocation, visas and payment of the UK’s Immigration Healthcare Surcharge which allows access to the UK National Health Service (Note: candidates may be required to pay for dental and optical treatments and medicines prescribed by a doctor), fieldwork and travel, research activities, and possible publication.

Selection criteria:

• Meet eligibility requirements and have lived experience of forced displacement such as identifying as a current or ‘former’ refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, stateless person, or another category.
• Must hold a completed BA degree or equivalent
• Applicants with quantitative data analysis experience are encouraged.
• A minimum two years of professional experience in the field of the proposed research (this can include a PhD)
• Must be excited to contribute to the work of Chatham House’s Environment and Society Programme specifically and propose a project around their existing or complementing research areas
• Proven leadership experience or leadership potential
• Commitment to Chatham House values
• Aptitude to benefit from the broad and inclusive nature of the fellowship
• The relevance and clarity of the proposed research project, as demonstrated through the project proposal
• Relevant background experience, as demonstrated through the curriculum vitae
• Demonstrate the necessary English-language ability
• Motivation to undertake the fellowship
• A post-fellowship plan which indicates how the candidate will apply their research, skills and knowledge

Selection process:

• Stage one: complete the application. Once the submission period ends, all applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by our selection committee.
• Stage two: shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview via Zoom. The interviews are carried out by a member of senior management at Chatham House and relevant programme representatives. After this round, fellows will be selected and notified via email.

Application:

• The applicant’s CV/résumé
• The names of two referees
• The applicant’s proposal for a research project

Click here to apply