As we know, local governments across the Commonwealth are on the frontline of dealing with the impacts of climate change. Many of the services of local governments whether planning, water, waste, sanitation, managing urbanisation, local economic development, disaster risk reduction or community safety. Local government has a vital role to play, and this role is inevitably changing and growing to keep pace with the increasing challenges countries are facing.

King's Commonwealth Fellowship programme is open

We are delighted, therefore, that applications for the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) Climate Resilience Fellowships are now open. The programme has been inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, and the KCFP Climate Resilience Fellowships offer a unique opportunity for fellows from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with 5-15 years or equivalent of direct or related experience of working in climate adaptation.

The fellowships are designed for those working in roles where they are dealing with the effects of climate change. In the context of CLGF members, this will include anyone who is working in, or leading in local government, or working in a ministries which has responsibility for local government. You will need to have between 5-15 years of experience and it will be a chance to learn, online and in-person, alongside peers from other Commonwealth Small Island Developing States.

What is the Fellowship

The Fellowship includes:

• A fully funded, one-year, blended training programme, guided by expert facilitators and mentors via online, project-based learning with modules covering; climate literacy, inter sectoral collaboration, influencing policy and climate finance.
• A one-week, in-person residential opportunity in Fiji to support networking, collaborative efforts and project development.
• The opportunity to acquire the practical tools needed to respond to, and build long-term resilience against the current climate crisis with near immediate effect.
• Access to a virtual Community of Practice for shared problem solving and information exchange.

Lasting connections

Successful applicants will join a cohort of prestigious ‘King’s Fellows’ with access to a broad network of academic expertise, peers working in climate adaptation and the opportunity to create lasting connections across the Commonwealth whilst creating near-immediate change in their local community.

Eligibility

Applicants with citizenship or refugee status in a Commonwealth SIDS from the following countries are eligible: Mauritius, Seychelles, The Maldives, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme has been developed in response to urgent economic, social and environmental development challenges affecting Small Island Developing States.

The Fellowships are being managed by CLGF’s partner organisation, the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Further details of the KCFP Climate Resilience Fellowships, including eligibility, course details, trainer information and details on how to apply are available on the ACU website.

Applications will close at 13:00 UTC on 19 November.

Please visit the website, find out more, and apply.

Image courtesy of the Association of Commonwealth Universities