Deadline: 01 July 2025
The Western Union Global Fellowship Program is a fully funded virtual experience for individuals leading ventures, initiatives, or organizations who identify as and/or support refugee, forcibly displaced, or highly marginalized communities. Applicants do not have to have fully registered ventures.
To date, the Western Union Global Fellowship Program has supported 154 Fellows and over 6,000 earlier-stage entrepreneurs through the Basecamps they run around the world and initiatives they help lead.
As a core component of the Fellowship, you will design and lead a 1-3 day Basecamp—an interactive, community-focused workshop that strengthens your leadership skills, expands your network, and provides valuable feedback. You’ll receive training, resources, and a stipend to plan and execute an impactful event that supports rising entrepreneurs and changemakers in your community.
Location:
Online
Benefits
Through this fully-funded Fellowship, supported by Western Union and powered by Watson Institute, you’ll gain the tools, mentorship, and network needed to scale your venture’s impact. The Fellowship is specifically optimized for entrepreneurs and leaders from marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities worldwide, with carefully selected facilitators, mentors, and speakers who bring deep expertise in driving meaningful change within these communities.
- Hands-on training & live sessions with expert facilitators
- Personalized mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs
- A financial stipend and support to lead a local Basecamp project
Eligibilities
- You have experienced the challenges of marginalized, refugee, or displaced communities and are actively working to address issues for these populations.
- Your nonprofit or for-profit organization has an established business model and is actively serving customers or beneficiaries in historically underserved communities. You’re now ready to scale your impact with the support of dedicated mentorship and resources.
- Applicants located in and/or creating impact in the following locations are encouraged to apply:
- Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, the Philippines, the United States, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Japan, and Pakistan.
Eligible Regions: Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, the Philippines the United States, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Japan, and Pakistan.
Application Process
- Submit Your Application: Candidates complete the online application in approximately 30 minutes. Submit by the priority deadline of July 1st, 2025, for early consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.
- Application Review: The Admissions Committee evaluates applications to identify entrepreneurs with scalable ventures and strong potential for impact. Early applicants receive priority consideration.
- Interview: Selected candidates will be invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview to share their entrepreneurial journey, discuss their venture’s vision for growth, and explore how the Fellowship aligns with their goals.
- Final Selection & Enrollment: Final decisions will be announced by July 25th, 2025. Accepted applicants must confirm their enrollment to secure their spot. The program begins on August 25, 2025.
For Further Queries contact: angelique@watson.is