Fostering the next generation of leadership in peace and humanitarian diplomacy.
Applications opening soon →
The International Geneva Peace Fellowship Programme is a partnership between Interpeace and the Geneva Graduate Institute, with the generous support of the Foundation for the Adaptation of International Geneva, that fosters the next generation of leadership in peace and humanitarian diplomacy.
Responding to the growing challenges facing multilateralism, the Programme empowers emerging and mid-career professionals with the skills, networks, and practical experience needed to drive innovative solutions for peace.
Over an initial pilot phase, the Programme will support 10 fellows selected from recent graduates and junior to mid-career professionals, for a 9-month residential programme in Geneva. The programme aims to expand Geneva's peace support capacities while building foundations for a brain trust of peacebuilding leaders and a mechanism to reinforce Geneva as a global hub for peace.
To this end, the programme aims to strengthen Geneva's connectivity to key global centres by bringing together an international cohort of Fellows and providing them with access to research and field operations on peace and humanitarian diplomacy, along with an enabling environment within International Geneva — through a host of partners, and networks including the Fabrique de la Paix — the Geneva Graduate Institute's research and student innovation and co-creation hub, Interpeace's global partner network as well as the broader ecosystem of platforms and hubs of International Geneva.
A group of 10 International Geneva Peace Fellows will be housed at the historic Domaine Barton, on the shores of Lake Geneva, working on critical, future-oriented, and practical projects addressing pressing global challenges in humanitarian and peace diplomacy.
Fellows are embedded within partner institutions from leading organisations working in peace and humanitarian diplomacy, while developing their projects and immersing themselves in exclusive networks, knowledge and expertise emerging from International Geneva for a nine-month placement aligned with their expertise and institutional needs.
Fellows build on their existing expertise and learn from the themes of the partners they work with. Fellows will also be expected to design and implement a cutting-edge, forward-looking initiative—such as a policy innovation, applied research output, operational tool, or multi-stakeholder engagement platform—that draws on Geneva’s unique ecosystem while maintaining strong connections to field realities and global policy debates.
A strong emphasis is placed on horizontal learning and peer exchange, complemented by sustained mentoring support, strengthening Fellows' leadership and innovation skills.
The Programme builds on the combined competences of leading Geneva-based institutions.
Interpeace is an international organisation with 30 years of experience preventing violence and building lasting peace across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Interpeace supports locally led solutions and strengthens capacities for non-violent conflict management.
The Geneva Graduate Institute, founded in 1927, the Institute is dedicated to producing and sharing knowledge on international affairs and global challenges. It leads on mentorship, training, and the curation of policy-relevant knowledge and dialogue through its academic and research platforms.
The Programme is structured around thematic areas defined with partner institutions, reflecting emerging priorities in peace and humanitarian diplomacy. Each Fellow is selected against a specific thematic focus, ensuring alignment between individual expertise, institutional needs, and the bridging of policy and practice.
Fellows working on the different themes will be expected to provide cutting-edge research and practice and develop sustainable projects that contribute to advancing peace and humanitarian diplomacy, leveraging Geneva’s multilateral ecosystem.
This thematic area focuses on bringing greater visibility to under-addressed and neglected conflicts, while strengthening mediation approaches that respond to how conflicts are changing today. It also engages with identifying entry points for dialogue, ceasefires, and inclusive peace processes in protracted conflicts. This theme promotes context-sensitive approaches to mediation that take into account climate change, environmental pressures, illicit economies, and digital dynamics, while ensuring that gender and inclusion remain central to efforts towards peace mediation.
This thematic area is grounded in a holistic understanding of health as closely linked to environmental, social, and security dynamics, recognising that siloed approaches to health are no longer effective. It explores how health, as a central entry point, intersects with peace and security in contexts shaped by conflict, climate pressures, and technological change, treating these factors as part of health systems rather than external to them. In response to gaps in how knowledge production on health is siloed, the theme adopts an integrated approach that connects health and peace within broader multilateral efforts.
Advancing the concept and practice of ecumenical peacebuilding through engagement with global church networks and interfaith partners to support dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion in diverse country contexts. This thematic area explores how religious actors and institutions contribute to peace processes, including through mediation, community-level engagement, and moral leadership, while examining the role of faith-based diplomacy in shaping international policy discussions in Geneva. It also engages with efforts to connect locally grounded experiences of peacebuilding with multilateral processes, leveraging the ethical influence and convening power of religious leaders to promote inclusive and sustainable peace outcomes.
This thematic area focuses on strengthening pathways for meaningful youth participation and leadership across peacebuilding, policy, and civic processes, positioning young people as agents of change and partners in dialogue, conflict prevention, and social cohesion, particularly in contexts affected by conflict, political transitions, and democratic backsliding. It advances youth-led and youth-inclusive approaches through community engagement, local peace initiatives, policy innovation, and advocacy, while promoting humanitarian values through education and strengthening understanding and respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Strengthening programmatic, policy, and humanitarian diplomacy efforts on the protection of civilians through applied, field-informed analysis of evolving conflict risks. This thematic area engages with priority issues in conflict dynamics, including the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence, humanitarian access constraints, displacement dynamics, and civilian harm mitigation practices, with particular attention to risks affecting vulnerable populations, including women and children.
Advancing gender-responsive approaches to peacebuilding by strengthening the meaningful participation and leadership of women in conflict prevention, mediation, and peace processes. This thematic area explores how inclusive and gender-sensitive strategies can contribute to more sustainable and equitable peace outcomes, including through support to women-led initiatives, local peace infrastructures, and community-level engagement. It also engages with the structural barriers that limit women’s participation, examining pathways to enhance protection, representation, and access to decision-making spaces.
Across all thematic areas, the Fellowship emphasises a balance between analytical, research-based and practical engagement, ensuring that Fellows contribute to both knowledge generation and operational outcomes on the thematic areas they work on.
Eligible candidates must fulfil at least one of the following profiles:
MA programme graduates who completed their studies within 12 months of applying, or advanced PhD candidates transitioning into policy and practice-oriented careers.
Junior professionals at early stages of their career development.
Mid-career professionals preparing for leadership roles in peace and humanitarian fields.
The Fellowship is designed as a career-booster programme in a challenging professional landscape.
A week-long intensive course to build the knowledge and skills required for leadership in peace and humanitarian diplomacy.
Nine-month fellowship placements embedded within Geneva's institutional ecosystem, complemented by visits, convenings, and collaborative platforms.
Fellows are mentored by experts from designated partner organisations, with regular learning sessions and contributions to networks and forums in Geneva.
Access to global networks within International Geneva alongside practical tools, institutional exposure, and operational experience — supporting long-term career development.
Further details regarding the application process will be shared soon. We invite interested candidates to follow this page for updates.
For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at peacefellowship@interpeace.org
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