857 Application Deadline: 2 March 2026
The application window is now open for the UNHCR Innovation Fellowship 2026. This Fellowship is dedicated to enhancing the innovation capabilities and skill sets of its participants, empowering them to collaborate closely with colleagues, partners, and refugees. The goal is to introduce and embed innovative strategies within their respective operations or departments.
Throughout this comprehensive program, Innovation Fellows acquire and apply a variety of innovation methodologies and tools. These fresh approaches become an integral part of their daily work routines. The Fellowship emphasizes problem-solving techniques, ideation processes, and experimental methods to craft groundbreaking solutions that tackle tangible challenges faced either in the field or at UNHCR headquarters. The selected Fellows act as champions of innovation, fostering sustainable positive transformations both inside UNHCR and across the broader humanitarian ecosystem.
Eligibility and Requirements
The UNHCR Innovation Fellowship welcomes applications from UNHCR staff members, regardless of whether they are stationed at Headquarters or within field operations across any region or professional level. Additionally, professionals affiliated with partner organizations are encouraged to apply, including:
- All United Nations agencies
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Partner organizations collaborating with UN agencies
The Fellowship is designed for individuals eager to discover novel ways to advance their work. Applicants do not need to hold a formal “innovator” title or possess prior experience with innovation frameworks. What truly matters is a genuine curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a dedication to experimenting with new approaches within the scope of their current roles.
It is important to note that applicants must secure formal approval from their managers to participate in this learning journey.
Moreover, candidates are not required to submit a fully developed idea, project, or solution at the time of application. Instead, Fellows bring a challenge or an area of interest, which they then develop into a full-fledged innovation project during the course of the Fellowship.
Focus on Real-World Challenges
Innovation Fellows apply their newly gained skills to tackle actual problems they have encountered in their work environments. They journey through the different phases of innovation to address the challenge they have selected. Between 2023 and 2024, Fellows worked on pioneering solutions across diverse sectors such as protection, shelter, food security, and cultural heritage preservation.
Examples of past projects include:
- Combating negative stereotypes about refugees in Ireland by establishing a refugee-led storytelling network and digital platform that amplifies creative refugee voices.
- Implementing systematic methods to integrate refugee perspectives into UNHCR Panama’s strategic planning processes, ensuring the inclusion of those directly affected in decision-making.
- Investigating sustainable, community-driven approaches to provide more durable and environmentally friendly shelter options in Chad.
For further details and to submit your application, please Visit the Official Webpage of the UNHCR Innovation Fellowship.
