Call for Applications: Human Rights Defender Exchange (HRDx) Mentoring Programme for Early Career Human Rights Scholars 2026 ·Unknown

The Human Rights Defender Exchange (HRDx) has opened applications for a two-year mentoring programme supporting early career human rights scholars from designated countries in the Global Majority.

The programme aims to strengthen the emerging field of Human Rights Defender Studies by supporting researchers whose work focuses on human rights defenders and human rights activism.

Selected scholars will receive mentorship, international networking opportunities, academic writing support, and career development guidance.

Applications are open until 10 August 2026.

About the Human Rights Defender Exchange (HRDx) Mentoring Programme

The Human Rights Defender Exchange (HRDx) programme is designed to support and expand communities of scholarship and practice focused on understanding, documenting, and strengthening the work of human rights defenders around the world.

Through this initiative, early career researchers will gain access to international academic networks, expert mentorship, and opportunities to strengthen their research impact.

The programme brings together leading academic institutions and human rights networks from different regions, creating a collaborative platform for scholars working on human rights activism and defender protection.

Human Rights Defender Exchange (HRDx) Programme Partners

The mentoring programme is a collaboration between:

• Centre for Social Justice and Community Action, Durham University (United Kingdom)
• Centre for Law and Social Justice, Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)
• Networked Teaching and Learning Centre, Goiás State University (UEG, Brazil)
• African Universities Hub for Human Rights, University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
• York Law School, University of York (United Kingdom)

The programme is funded through a British Academy International Writing Workshops 2025 grant.

Benefits for Selected Scholars

Participants in the HRDx mentoring programme will receive support in several areas, including:

Mentorship and International Networking

Selected scholars will benefit from:

• Guidance from experienced human rights researchers and academics.
• Opportunities to connect with international scholars and practitioners.
• Participation in knowledge-sharing activities and academic networks.

Academic Writing and Research Development Support

The programme will support participants to:

• Develop diverse academic writing styles.
• Improve their ability to communicate research findings to different audiences.
• Strengthen publication strategies.
• Produce impactful research outputs.

Each scholar will receive support to develop three international publications in English during the programme.

Career Development Opportunities

Participants will also gain:

• Professional development support.
• Exposure to international research communities.
• Opportunities to strengthen their academic and professional profiles.

Programme Activities

The two-year programme will include:

• Individual and group mentoring sessions.
• Online knowledge exchange activities.
• Research and writing support activities.
• An in-person writing workshop in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in July 2027.

Participants will be expected to actively engage in programme activities and collaborate with other scholars throughout the initiative.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all three essential requirements below:

1. Country Eligibility

Applicants must be based in or originally from one of the following countries:

• Brazil
• Egypt
• Indonesia
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• South Africa
• Türkiye
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Applicants from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are also eligible.

Eligible LDCs include:

Africa:
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia.

Asia:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, and Yemen.

Caribbean:
Haiti.

Pacific:
Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

2. Early Career Human Rights Research Experience

Applicants must:

• Have conducted research related to human rights defenders and/or human rights activism.
• Have between more than three years and less than 10 years of research experience in this field.

The programme defines participants as early career scholars based on this research experience period.

3. Commitment to Programme Participation

Applicants must:

• Be willing and able to participate in most programme activities.
• Engage actively in mentoring, online sessions, and writing activities.

Who Should Apply?

The HRDx mentoring programme is suitable for:

• Early career human rights scholars.
• Researchers studying human rights defenders.
• Academics researching social movements and activism.
• Scholars working on human rights protection, advocacy, and justice issues.
• Researchers from Global Majority countries seeking international academic networks.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must complete the official application form before:

Application Deadline: 10 August 2026

Applicants will be informed of the final selection decision by:

15 September 2026

For additional information, applicants may contact:

Dr Alice M. Nah
Email: alice.m.nah@durham.ac.uk

Early career researchers passionate about advancing knowledge on human rights defenders and strengthening global human rights scholarship are encouraged to apply.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this programme. Please do not send applications or supporting documents to GSO. All applications should be submitted directly through the official Shelter City application platform before the stated deadline.

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