Deadline Date: June 28, 2026
The Western Union Global Fellowship is seeking applications to support entrepreneurs and community leaders working to create impact for refugees, highly marginalized groups, and displaced populations around the world.
The Fellowship focuses on entrepreneurship and leadership development, financial tools and resources, Basecamps designed for community impact, and pitch training through a virtual summit, while also providing mentorship, financial literacy skills, stipends, long-term alumni support, and access to a global network aimed at strengthening ventures serving displaced and underserved communities.
The Western Union Global Fellowship, powered by Watson Institute and supported by Western Union, is a 16-week intensive program that brings together entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who are committed to solving challenges faced by refugees and marginalized communities. The program is structured to strengthen leadership capacity, improve financial understanding, and accelerate social impact ventures through structured learning and real-world application.
Participants engage in entrepreneurship and leadership workshops delivered through Watson Institute’s flagship fellowship curriculum, where they collaborate with a global cohort of entrepreneurs and gain insights from experienced mentors. The program also emphasizes financial tools and resources, helping participants build stronger financial foundations for their ventures through practical frameworks and expert guidance.
A key component of the fellowship is the creation and leadership of Basecamps, which are one-day entrepreneurship training programs designed to extend learning into local communities. Fellows receive training and resources to organize these sessions, enabling them to support emerging entrepreneurs who are also working with marginalized and displaced populations.
The fellowship also includes dedicated pitch training and participation in a virtual summit, where participants refine their storytelling and present their ventures to a global audience that may include entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders, and program partners. This experience is designed to help fellows communicate their impact effectively and build connections that support long-term growth.
Applicants are expected to be entrepreneurs or community leaders with lived experience or strong proximity to refugee, marginalized, or forcibly displaced communities, and they must demonstrate a commitment to driving meaningful, community-centered impact while being at least 18 years old.
For more information, visit Watson Institute.
