Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: October 31, 2025
The UNFCCC-UNU Early Career Climate Fellowship Programme 2026 is a prestigious initiative jointly offered by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations University (UNU). This fully funded fellowship provides early-career professionals from developing countries with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in climate policy, climate negotiations, and sustainable development.
Hosted in Bonn, Germany, the program equips fellows with the skills, networks, and knowledge required to become future leaders in global climate governance. Participants will contribute directly to the work of the UNFCCC Secretariat while receiving mentorship from experts in the field.
Benefits
Successful applicants of the Early Career Climate Fellowship 2026 will receive:
- Fully funded fellowship covering travel to Bonn, Germany.
- Monthly stipend to cover living expenses during the fellowship.
- Practical experience working with the UNFCCC Secretariat.
- Access to international networks of climate policymakers and researchers.
- Mentorship from leading climate change experts.
- Enhanced career prospects in climate governance, sustainability, and policy development.
SEE ALSO: French Government Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme 2026 for Masters & Ph.D. Study in France (Funded)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible:
- Candidates should be a national of a developing country, with preference being given to women from a least developed country (as per the UN country classification); dual nationality will not preclude the candidate from further consideration;
- Academically outstanding young graduates from developing countries, especially women from the least developed countries, are encouraged to apply.
- Candidates should have recently graduated with an advanced university degree (Master’s, doctorate, or equivalent), or be enrolled in their final semester, in fields related to climate change and environment, communications, international relations, or a related field;
- Candidates should provide evidence of top academic performance (i.e. scholarships, graduation with honors, etc.) from a graduate school programme (i.e. Master’s or doctorate). Candidates holding only a Bachelor’s degree and who have not yet completed or who are not yet in the final semester of a Master’s degree programme will not be considered;
- No professional experience is required; candidates with up to two years of work experience in total can also be considered.
Application Process and Documents Required
To apply for the UNFCCC-UNU Early Career Climate Fellowship Programme 2026, candidates must:
Please note: applications will only be accepted during the aforementioned open call.
A complete application package consists of the following mandatory documents:
1) A cover letter (maximum 1 page in length) setting out how the qualifications, experience and future career goals match the requirements of the programme and preferred working areas at UNU-EHS/VIE and UNFCCC
2) An up-to-date CV (maximum 2 pages in length);
3) A completed and signed UNU Personal History Form (P11); and
4) Copies of all academic transcripts/degree certificates to date saved in one PDF file.
