Abya Yala - Indigenous BBNJ Cohort (BBNJ)

Exchange on the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) 

November 2026 - February 2027 

Application Deadline: Nov 2, 2026

The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s (HBS), Washington DC Office is pleased to announce the first iteration of the Abya Yala - Indigenous BBNJ Fellowship.

This fellowship brings together eight participants representing Indigenous communities based in the Western Hemisphere to form a small cohort around the first UN BBNJ COP in January 2027. Focusing on women and gender-diverse participants, the program includes a specific focus on how gender shapes participation, community knowledge, livelihoods, and decision-making in ocean governance.

The selected participants will take part in online sessions in November and December 2026 to exchange experiences, develop a shared understanding of the BBNJ process, identify questions and priorities for the COP, and prepare to communicate the negotiations and their implications to their respective communities.

In January, the cohort will convene in person in New York City, engage with the BBNJ COP, and meet with policymakers and other actors involved in the process. The program will exchange with members of the German Green Party, connecting the cohort’s perspectives and questions with high-level international policy discussions.

Following the COP, participants will jointly develop a short, written report, to be published in February 2027, documenting their experiences, key observations from the BBNJ process, community perspectives, and recommendations for improving participation and representation in future ocean-governance discussions. 

The key outputs of this fellowship opportunity are: 

• Preparatory online cohort;  

• January convening and policy exchanges;  

• Community outreach;  

• Joint post-COP report  

WHAT WE EXPECT 

• Travel to the US and engage with the BBNJ COP: All candidates must be available to travel to the US during a 5-day period during the conference dates in January 2027. The exact dates of the trip will be set once the BBNJ COP program is announced. 

• Engage in discussions and provide thematic inputs  

• Active social media engagement  

• Be part of a growing network 

Please note that professional competency in English is . 

WHAT WE OFFER 

• Travel Costs: The Heinrich Böll Foundation will cover the cost of international flights; transportation to the departing and arriving airport, as well as local transportation in NYC; up to 4 nights of accommodation in New York City; and health/travel insurance. Selected meals will also be provided. 

• Visa Processing: If needed, the Foundation will support the visa application process by providing an official letter of invitation and will cover visa fees. Please note that the Foundation cannot guarantee that visas will be processed in time. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

Please read the instructions carefully. Incomplete applications or applications sent via email cannot be considered.  

Experience and applicant profile: Prior experience in UN or other international negotiations is not expected. Applicants should be actively engaged with community. 

Regional background: The fellowship seeks to create a cohort among Indigenous communities in the Western Hemisphere, but applications from communities based in other geographies will be considered. 

Applications should consist of: 

1. Resume: Please use a standard US format. Standard US resumes do not include pictures or marital/familial status and have a maximum of 2 pages. Please indicate your age, as we reserve some fellowships for candidates aged 21-35. 

1. Cover letter: Introduce us to you and your community, as well as your motivations for participating in the fellowship program with representatives of other Indigenous communities in international governance processes. 

1. Statement of purpose (Not part of the evaluation process): In 300 words or less, share your goals for the fellowship program. This will help us align programming with participant needs and objectives. 

Please submit all application materials via Bamboo by 12 noon EST November 2, 2026.

About the Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC

The Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC is a non-profit organization that is part of the global green movement. The Washington, DC office, in line with the Foundation’s guiding principles and values, works to strengthen civil liberties, human rights, and democratic institutions. We promote gender equality, social justice, and equity. We strive to preserve a habitable planet for current and future generations. We foster these goals through a diversity of projects such as public seminars, fellowships, study tours, and publications.

For questions and inquiries, please contact Brendan O’Donnell at
Brendan.ODonnell@us.boell.org
or Mariama Baldé at [email protected].