uOttawa Refugee Hub Fellowship for Refugee Leaders

Title: uOttawa Refugee Hub Fellowship for Refugee Leaders

Number of Fellowships: 2

Organization: University of Ottawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International

Duration: 12 months

Location:

• Canada-based, with the ability to travel to Ottawa as required (one position).


• Remote, open to applicants based in Brazil and Colombia (one position).


• Candidates must also be eligible for and willing to travel to Canada to attend a mandatory course on Global Pathways to Refugee Protection at the University of Ottawa. Valid travel documentation (such as a passport and the ability to obtain a Canadian visa, if required) is necessary.

Fellowship overview:

We invite applications for the 2025 cohort of the uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International Fellowships for Refugee Leaders program. This unique program provides a tailored and in-depth mentorship experience for refugees with high leadership potential, fostering their development as global innovators and social entrepreneurs. It serves as a platform for emerging leaders to acquire the expertise, skills, networks, and confidence to influence and lead in the global refugee system.

Key program features:

Each fellow will:

• Commit 20 hours/month to the program for 12 months.


• Receive dedicated mentorship from a senior member of the uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International team, and engage with our extensive global network of leaders in the field.


• Have a tailored development plan based on their interests, skills, and experience, co-developed with their assigned mentor.


• Receive a $20,000 stipend and $5,000 in professional development funds to support activities in their tailored development plan.


• Serve as a member of the Refugee Advisory Board for uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International's flagship capacity building project in Latin America.

About us – what do we do?

At a time of unprecedented forced displacement and system disruption, uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International is reforming the global system of safe and legal routes to protection. Our projects and partnerships include the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI), the Global Sponsorship Fund (GSF), the Resettlement Diplomacy Network (RDN), and the Third Country Solutions Identification and Referral Network (TIRN).

The University of Ottawa Refugee Hub houses our dedicated knowledge team and contributes to the critical work of our partnerships and workstreams.

Our world-class team works closely with leaders from across sectors in over 20 countries. Together we design, launch, and expand safe and legal routes for displaced people, including those impacted by climate change. We also lead transformative new architecture and pilot bold new models to make the entire system of safe and legal routes bigger, better, and more sustainable.

About the role - what will you do?

The uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International Fellowships for Refugee Leaders offer a unique opportunity for individuals with lived experience of forced displacement to accelerate their professional growth while contributing to solutions for displaced people and a more effective global system. As part of the uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International team, fellows will actively contribute to our work on global pathways, building on their own expertise through exposure to uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International’s agile and entrepreneurial approach to pathways design and systems change. This will include learning about and contributing to one of our global projects or workstreams focused on growing pathways to protection for refugees and migrants.

Both fellows will also be integrally involved in the broad dissemination of the Toolkit for Mentorship of Refugee Leaders, which will be shared with academic institutions, NGOs, corporations, and other organizations. 

Key responsibilities, mentorship, and other opportunities:

Upon joining the program, each fellow will work with their assigned mentor to co-create a development plan based on their interests within the scope of Global Pathways.

Individual focus area:

• Engage actively in one of our global projects or workstreams focused on growing pathways to protection for refugees and migrants.


• Support the development and delivery of key workstreams.


• Provide strategic input as a member of the Refugee Advisory Board to enhance the relevance and impact of uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International’s project in Latin America.

Mentorship, networking, and program development:

• Collaborate with your assigned mentor to create an individualized development plan, including drawing on and leveraging uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International’s extensive networks to support specific objectives.


• Support the senior program lead in disseminating the Toolkit for Mentorship of Refugee Leaders that will be shared with other organizations around the world.


• Contribute to the development of future iterations of the fellowship program through ongoing constructive feedback.

Learning opportunities:

• Benefit from a range of existing learning opportunities at uOttawa, which may include leadership training, workshops with uOttawa experts, and engagement with relevant centers and institutes.


• Engage with other fellows and the program coordinator to create an environment of mutual learning and support.


• Attend the “Global Pathways to Refugee Protection[1]” course taught by Professor Jennifer Bond at the University of Ottawa.

Post-fellowship opportunities:

Upon completion of the Fellowship, participants will join a network of Fellowship Alumni, promoting continued connections between alumni, new participants, and the uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International.

Fellowship benefits:

By the conclusion of the Fellowship, you will have:

• Gained a comprehensive understanding of the global refugee protection system.


• Advanced leadership skills through personalized mentorship.


• Contributed to the work of uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International and informed the organization’s mission to grow pathways to protection for refugees and migrants.


• Shared your unique experience and proposals for change with key stakeholders.


• Accessed uOttawa Refugee Hub-Pathways International’s global networks.


• Benefited from a tailored professional development program utilizing resources from both Pathways International and the University of Ottawa.

About you. Who are we looking for?

Eligibility criteria:

• Lived experience of forced displacement.


• Demonstrated potential for social entrepreneurship and high-impact leadership.


• Proven leadership in a Refugee-Led Organization (RLO), a Refugee Advisory Group, or in a displacement-focused initative, clearly defined contributions.


• A track record of impacting policy, programs, or practices related to refugees.


• Proficiency in English; knowledge of other languages is an asset.

Other skills we are looking for:

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and partners.


• Effective written and verbal communication skills.


• Willingness to travel for program-related activities.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Experience in event management or stakeholder engagement is welcome.


• Familiarity with the global refugee protection system is considered a strength.

• An enquiring, innovative, and entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged.

How to apply?

• Submit your CV.


• Provide a 2-3 minute video responding to the following question:
  
  
  
  • What personal experiences have shaped your journey as a refugee leader, and how will participating in this fellowship help you make a lasting impact on refugee communities?
  
  
  • Please send your video to [email protected]
  
  
  
  

Timelines: 

• Deadline for application: July 11, 2025


• Selection: July 11 – August 15, 2025


• Onboarding: September 15, 2025

[1] This course examines government-facilitated refugee pathways, merging theory with real-world applications and utilizing a hybrid learning model with insights from global experts. It is a 3-week long course that takes place in January, with two weeks conducted virtually and one week in-person.