CIP Fellowship Program 2026 Invites Applications from Emerging Researchers with Disabilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries ·and Middle-Income Countries

The Center for Inclusive Policy (CIP) has opened applications for its 2026 Fellowship Program, a fully funded 12-month online fellowship designed to strengthen the research and policy skills of emerging researchers with disabilities from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The programme seeks to build a new generation of disability researchers and advocates capable of producing evidence that informs inclusive policies and advances disability rights globally.

The fellowship will commence on October 1, 2026, and provides financial support, expert mentorship, research funding, and access to an international network of disability policy professionals. Applications are open until July 31, 2026, at midnight EDT.

Building Research Capacity for Disability Inclusion

The CIP Fellowship Program is specifically tailored for early-career researchers with disabilities who possess some research experience and are looking to strengthen their skills in social policy and disability research.

Rather than targeting established academics, the programme focuses on supporting emerging researchers who demonstrate a strong commitment to disability inclusion, evidence-based policymaking, and social change within their home countries.

By combining online learning, mentorship, and practical research experience, the fellowship aims to empower participants to generate locally relevant evidence that contributes to more inclusive national and international policies.

Fellowship Objectives

The programme has three primary objectives that guide its training and mentorship approach.

These include:

• Strengthening local research capacity by enabling fellows to design and implement disability-focused research projects within their own countries.
• Connecting fellows to global policy discussions, ensuring their experiences contribute to international conversations on disability rights and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
• Mentoring disability advocates by providing research guidance, professional networks, and opportunities to strengthen inclusive policy engagement.

The programme seeks to amplify the voices of researchers with lived experience of disability while promoting evidence-based policy solutions.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive comprehensive financial and professional support throughout the 12-month programme.

Successful applicants will benefit from:

• A monthly stipend of USD 1,000 for 12 months.
• Up to USD 2,000 to support research costs, conference participation, or additional training.
• Funding for reasonable accommodation costs required for participation.
• An online training curriculum delivered by leading international researchers.
• Individual mentorship throughout the fellowship.
• Opportunities to participate in CIP research projects.
• Access to a global network of disability researchers, advocates, and policy professionals.

These benefits are designed to help fellows build sustainable research careers while expanding their influence in disability policy and advocacy.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to applicants who meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a person with a disability.
• Be from and currently living in a Global South country or another low- or middle-income country (LMIC).
• Have an interest in disability equality, social policy, and research.
• Be actively involved in the disability movement.
• Possess basic research skills.
• Hold an undergraduate degree.
• Demonstrate motivation to strengthen research capacity.
• Have sufficient written and spoken English to participate in the programme.

For sign language users, spoken English proficiency is not required, as interpretation services will be provided.

Applicants must also be at least 18 years old, although there is no upper age limit. The emphasis is on identifying researchers who are early in their research careers and committed to advancing disability rights.

Who Is Not Eligible?

The programme is not intended for:

• Senior or established researchers.
• Researchers with extensive experience working within United Nations agencies.
• Applicants whose research is unrelated to disability issues.
• Applicants residing in countries excluded under U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations, including:
  • North Korea.
  • Iran.
  • Cuba.
  • Syria.
  • Russia.

Research Areas of Interest

The fellowship prioritizes applicants interested in research that contributes to disability-inclusive public policy.

Preferred research areas include:

• Disability data.
• Social protection.
• Care and support systems.
• Inclusive budgeting.
• Community support services.
• Independent living.

The programme seeks applicants committed to research and policy development rather than service delivery or training implementation alone.

New Disability Data Fellowship Track

In addition to the standard fellowship, CIP has introduced a Disability Data Fellowship, which focuses specifically on quantitative data collection and disability-inclusive statistics.

Participants in this specialised track will receive practical training in:

• Disability data collection.
• Data interpretation and analysis.
• Disability-inclusive research methodologies.
• Advocacy using evidence-based data.
• Training stakeholders on disability-inclusive data collection practices.

The initiative aims to strengthen national and international efforts to improve disability statistics and evidence for policymaking.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants must submit their applications by email and include the following documents:

• A research proposal (maximum three pages) focusing on disability policy in their own country. The proposal should include:
  • Introduction.
  • Research question.
  • Methodology.
  • Data and methods.
  • Expected results.
  • Timeline for completion within 12 months.
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Cover letter.
• Two references.

Applications must be submitted to the designated CIP email address before the deadline.

Guidance on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

CIP has clarified that while applicants may use artificial intelligence tools during the preparation process, they are strongly discouraged from relying on AI to generate research questions or research methodologies.

Instead, applicants are encouraged to develop original ideas and present their proposals clearly, preferably using concise bullet points where appropriate.

Application Deadline

Applications for the CIP Fellowship Program 2026 must be submitted by July 31, 2026, at midnight EDT. Due to the expected volume of submissions, the organization notes that it will not be able to acknowledge receipt of every application.

The fellowship presents an exceptional opportunity for emerging researchers with disabilities to strengthen their research expertise, contribute to disability-inclusive policymaking, and join a growing global community dedicated to advancing equality, inclusion, and evidence-based social policy.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.