The Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship is a five-month leadership program run by the International Leadership Center at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. Each cohort brings together 16 young clean-energy and climate leaders from the Global South — across developing Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Fellows come from a range of backgrounds, including public service, entrepreneurship, energy companies, finance, journalism, education, research, civil society, and law. The program pairs two week-long in-person sessions — an orientation at Yale in New Haven and a closing week in Paris — with remote “Learning Journeys” and a collaborative group project, and culminates in policy recommendations presented to a global advisory board.
Benefits & funding
- Covers fellows’ travel and lodging for both required in-person weeks (Yale orientation and Paris closing week): round-trip airfare, hotels, and transfers, with most meals provided.
- Curriculum with Yale faculty and international experts on climate governance, renewable energy, clean-energy innovation, carbon pricing, and nature-based solutions.
- Networking with professionals from the International Energy Agency and the OECD, French government officials, and civil-society representatives.
- Membership in an ongoing alumni network.
- Note: as of June 2026 an application fee is required to submit an application. Beyond the covered travel and lodging, the official pages do not state any salary or living stipend.
Eligibility
- Open to professionals from the Global South — representatives of emerging and developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The official page does not publish a definitive country list; it is not open to applicants from developed nations.
- Between five and 10 years into their professional careers, with demonstrated accomplishments at a regional, national, or international level.
- Working in clean energy or climate change, with demonstrated leadership promise.
- Fluent in English (excellent written and spoken command).
- No minimum or maximum age, though the program seeks leaders still early in their rise.
- Must be available to participate fully, including both in-person weeks and the remote learning journeys.
Can you apply?
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Eligible nationalities
Afghanistan · Angola · Bangladesh · Benin · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cambodia · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · DR Congo · Djibouti
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Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Kiribati · Laos · Lesotho · Liberia · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mozambique · Myanmar · Nepal · Niger · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Timor-Leste · Togo · Tuvalu · Uganda · Yemen · Zambia · North Korea · Syria · Algeria · Bhutan · Bolivia · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Republic of the Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Egypt · Eswatini · Ghana · Honduras · India · Iran · Jordan · Kenya · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Micronesia · Mongolia · Morocco · Nicaragua · Nigeria · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Samoa · Sri Lanka · Tajikistan · Tunisia · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Zimbabwe · Palestine · Argentina · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belize · Botswana · Brazil · China · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Fiji · Gabon · Georgia · Grenada · Guatemala · Guyana · Indonesia · Iraq · Jamaica · Kazakhstan · Libya · Malaysia · Maldives · Marshall Islands · Mauritius · Mexico · Montserrat · Namibia · Nauru · Palau · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Saint Helena · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · South Africa · Suriname · Thailand · Tonga · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Venezuela
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Experience required
5–10 yrs
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Complete the online application (an application fee is required to submit).
- 2Submit a résumé/CV (maximum three pages), a brief video statement, a personal statement (maximum 600 words), and one letter of recommendation.
- 3Selected fellows are notified and confirm their availability for the in-person sessions.
Program timeline
Application deadline for the 2027 cohort (11:00 AM US Eastern time)
Jul 30, 2026
Yale orientation week (New Haven)
Feb 1, 2027 to Feb 5, 2027
Remote Learning Journeys and group project
2027-03 to 2027-06
Paris closing week
Jun 14, 2027 to Jun 18, 2027
Annual
applications for the next cohort typically open in mid-year