Columbia University ISHR HRAP Fellowship for Developing Countries

Eligibility Criteria

• The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, social workers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBT rights, labor rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, and corporate social accountability.
• Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time students or government officials will not be considered. Applicants holding full or part-time jobs pursuing their advocacy efforts are preferred.
• Advocates must work at the grassroots level. Applicants from high-income countries will not be considered except for those representing marginalized communities.
• Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement in English from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program.
• Only one application per organization should be submitted. More than one application means all applications from that organization will be disqualified. It is up to the applicant to make sure no one else from the organization has applied.

Offered Benefits

•  ISHR makes every effort to provide full funding to cover participants’ program costs as well as travel and housing. A stipend is also provided for basic costs.

Application Process

Application Instructions

• Applicants are asked to complete the application in its entirety. Please complete all sections in English. Please follow all instructions, including those sent to your email address.
• In order to access the application, applicants must  register an account on the ISHR website and  log in. Once logged in, applicants can begin a new application by choosing Start/Resume A HRAP Application from the menu.
• After beginning an application, the applicant can either choose to save the form as a draft, or submit a completed application. If you choose to save the form as a draft, you can return to this page to complete it.  Upon submission of a completed application, a confirmation will be sent to the applicant. Applicants may login to the online application to view or edit their submitted applications until the deadline. 
• To edit or complete submitted applications,  log in to the ISHR website and choose Manage HRAP Submission.
• Columbia University aims to make all websites fully accessible to users with disabilities. If you experience difficulty using this page, please contact 

Required Documents:

• Two signed letters of recommendation
•  Proof of institutional endorsement