Reliance Foundation/Vital Voices WomenLead India Fellowship Programme 2022

By supporting changemakers who are tackling the world’s biggest challenges and those who play a catalytic role in achieving the transformational economic, environmental, and social changes necessary to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the WomenLead India Fellowship will drive an ambitious and urgent agenda for women’s leadership in India.

Areas of Focus

This inaugural fellowship aims to support 50 Indian women leaders who are addressing urgent economic and social issues across the following key areas:

• Rural Transformation: Developing holistic, sustainable solutions to address the main development concerns of rural communities, such as economic empowerment, nutrition security, water security, ecology, governance capacity of local organizations, and women’s empowerment.
• Education: Addressing inequalities in access to Early Childhood Care and Education, primary, secondary, and higher education across income, gender, social group and geography; improving quality of educational services imparted across all levels; and developing or strengthening educational institutions.
• Sports  for Development: Building character and leadership skills among the youth in India by using sports as a medium to encourage lifelong learning and by also expanding access to sports in rural and marginalized communities.
• Arts, Culture & Heritage: Preserving and promoting India’s art, culture, and heritage; advancing the knowledge of Indian arts, culture, and heritage domestically and globally; sustaining and making art and culture relevant to the younger generation.

Professional Development Tracks

Under these key areas, fellows will be divided into three tracks based on their experience:

• Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurs
• Social Sector Leaders
• Changemakers

Benefits

The fellowship offers:

• Three webinars per month, extending through the duration of the fellowship, focused on leadership development and core content areas.
• One virtual cohort gathering per month, focused on peer learning.
• Two in-person gatherings at the beginning (December 2022) and end of the Fellowship in India, subject to change based on COVID-19 restrictions.
• Access to visibility and mentorship opportunities through the Vital Voices Leadership Network.
• Access to the Vital Voices Community Hub, a virtual space for leaders in Vital Voices to share and obtain resources and support, and effectively collaborate and communicate with one another.

Eligibility

• Applicant must identify as a woman.
• Are an Indian national, currently residing and working in India.
• Have a minimum of three years of work experience in working to enact social change in one or more of the following thematic areas:
  • Rural Transformation:  Developing holistic, sustainable solutions to address the main development concerns of rural communities, such as economic empowerment, nutrition security, water security, ecology, governance capacity of local organizations, and women’s empowerment.
  • Education:  Addressing inequalities in access to Early Childhood Care and Education, primary, secondary, and higher education across income, gender, social group and geography; improving quality of educational services imparted across all levels; and developing or strengthening educational institutions.
  • Sports for Development: Building character and leadership skills among the youth in India by using sports as a medium to encourage lifelong learning and by also expanding access to sports in rural and marginalized communities.
  • Arts, Culture & Heritage: Preserving and promoting India’s art, culture, and heritage; advancing the knowledge of Indian arts, culture, and heritage domestically and globally; sustaining and making art and culture relevant to the younger generation.
• Demonstrate a minimum of an intermediate level of English speaking, writing, and listening skills.
• Have a commitment towards making a positive social impact.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to the following core principles: innovation, collaboration, and driven by a clear sense of mission; engaged in and leading social change in her community; committed to advancing the status of women and girls; and committed to transparency and good governance.
• Have a desire to engage with a global network of women leaders.
• Employees of the Reliance group of companies, Reliance Foundation, and Vital Voices Global Partnership are not eligible for this Fellowship.

Application

All applications are due by October 3, 2022.

• Once all applications are received, they will undergo a thorough review process from Vital Voices and Reliance Foundation.
• Selected candidates will be notified by November 15, 2022.
• All candidates will be notified by December 1, 2022.

Click here to apply