The Beyond Borders Scotland has officially opened applications for the highly impactful Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme 2026, a transformative international fellowship focused on advancing women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding.
Organised in partnership with ELS, this prestigious fellowship will bring together women leaders, peacebuilders, activists, creatives, and advocates from conflict-affected countries for an intensive residential programme in Scotland from 20–25 July 2026.
The fellowship is designed to strengthen women’s leadership in peacebuilding while creating opportunities for dialogue, solidarity, collaboration, and cross-cultural learning among participants from different regions of the world.
Participants will engage in high-level discussions, workshops, collaborative learning experiences, and networking sessions focused on women’s rights, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and social transformation.
This programme is especially significant because it centers women’s voices, lived experiences, and leadership in global peacebuilding conversations while creating a supportive international network of changemakers.
About Beyond Borders Scotland
The Beyond Borders Scotland is a platform dedicated to small nation dialogue, cultural exchange, peacebuilding, and international cooperation.
The organisation works to:
- Foster dialogue across borders
- Encourage peacebuilding initiatives
- Support intercultural understanding
- Promote leadership and collaboration
- Strengthen global solidarity networks
- Amplify underrepresented voices in international conversations
Through fellowships, festivals, podcasts, and cultural engagement initiatives, Beyond Borders Scotland creates spaces for meaningful dialogue and transformative leadership development.
About the Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship
The Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme is inspired by the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
The fellowship focuses specifically on:
Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacebuilding
The programme recognises that women play essential roles in:
- Conflict prevention
- Community healing
- Peace negotiations
- Human rights advocacy
- Social reconstruction
- Transitional justice
- Grassroots organising
- Policy development
However, women are often excluded from formal peace processes and decision-making spaces.
This fellowship seeks to challenge that exclusion by empowering women leaders and strengthening their capacity, visibility, and influence within peacebuilding efforts globally.
Fellowship Theme for July 2026
The July 2026 programme will specifically focus on:
“Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacebuilding”
Participants will explore the challenges, opportunities, and strategies surrounding women’s leadership and inclusion in peacebuilding initiatives worldwide.
Programme Structure
The fellowship includes a week-long residential programme in Scotland alongside virtual engagement opportunities before and after the residential experience.
Key Components Include:
- Residential learning sessions
- Workshops and facilitated discussions
- Networking opportunities
- Collaborative dialogue
- Community-building activities
- Leadership development
- Peer learning
- Global solidarity exchanges
Participants will also take part in online sessions before and after the in-person fellowship to deepen learning and sustain long-term collaboration among fellows and alumnae.
What Fellows Will Experience
The fellowship aims to create an immersive and transformative experience for participants.
During the programme, fellows will:
1. Participate in Peacebuilding Discussions
Participants will engage with diverse perspectives on:
- Women, Peace and Security
- Conflict transformation
- Feminist peacebuilding
- Community resilience
- Human rights advocacy
- Grassroots leadership
- International solidarity
2. Build International Networks
The fellowship creates opportunities for participants to:
- Connect with women leaders globally
- Build long-term professional relationships
- Exchange experiences and strategies
- Develop solidarity across regions and sectors
3. Engage in Collaborative Learning
The programme promotes mutual learning through:
- Shared storytelling
- Dialogue sessions
- Group reflections
- Cultural exchange
- Interactive workshops
4. Join the Fellowship Alumnae Network
Participants will become part of a broader global fellowship community that continues collaboration and engagement beyond the programme itself.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is intended for women from conflict-affected countries who are actively involved in peacebuilding, women’s rights, or related sectors.
Applicants may come from backgrounds such as:
- Peacebuilding
- Human rights advocacy
- Community organising
- Women’s rights activism
- Social justice movements
- Journalism
- Academia
- Policy work
- Arts and culture
- Conflict resolution initiatives
Importantly, applicants with arts backgrounds are also strongly encouraged to apply.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows will gain access to numerous professional and personal development opportunities.
Benefits Include:
- Participation in an international residential fellowship in Scotland
- Engagement with global peacebuilding experts and practitioners
- Leadership development opportunities
- Expanded international networks
- Cross-cultural learning experiences
- Long-term alumnae engagement
- Opportunities for solidarity-building
- Exposure to diverse peacebuilding approaches
- Collaborative learning spaces
The programme also creates a supportive environment where women leaders can share experiences, challenges, and strategies for advancing peace and justice.
Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
The organisers strongly emphasise diversity and inclusion.
Applications are welcomed from individuals of all backgrounds, and those with accessibility needs are especially encouraged to apply.
The programme values:
- Diverse lived experiences
- Inclusive participation
- Accessibility
- Cross-cultural dialogue
- Intersectional feminist approaches
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must:
- Identify as women
- Come from conflict-affected countries
- Be working in peacebuilding, women’s rights, or related fields
- Demonstrate commitment to social change and peacebuilding
- Be able to participate in the fellowship activities
Applicants from arts and creative backgrounds are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Completed application form
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Reference letter
- Copy of passport
Applicants are encouraged to prepare all documents carefully before submission.
Application Deadline
Deadline: 20 May 2026
Click here for more and to apply
The organisers have noted that applications may close earlier than expected if they receive an overwhelming number of submissions.
Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Important Notes About the Programme
The fellowship includes:
- Pre-programme online sessions
- Residential programme from 20–25 July 2026
- Post-programme online engagement
This structure ensures continuous learning and sustained collaboration among participants.
Why This Fellowship Matters
Women continue to face barriers to meaningful participation in peacebuilding despite their critical contributions to conflict prevention and social transformation.
The Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship seeks to address this gap by:
- Elevating women’s leadership
- Creating global solidarity networks
- Strengthening peacebuilding capacity
- Supporting feminist approaches to peace
- Encouraging intercultural collaboration
- Amplifying underrepresented voices
For women leaders committed to peace, justice, human rights, and social transformation, this fellowship offers a powerful platform for learning, collaboration, and international engagement.
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