The initiative seeks to support a new generation of professionals with the skills, networks and practical experience needed to address rising global conflicts and contribute to innovative peacebuilding efforts.

Backed by the Foundation for the Adaptation of International Geneva, the programme will initially offer at least ten fellowships during a nine-month pilot phase. Fellows will work with Geneva-based partners, receiving mentorship and engaging in collaborative initiatives focused on innovation in peacebuilding and humanitarian diplomacy.

The launch comes at a time when the multilateral system faces increasing strain, with conflicts rising worldwide and international cooperation challenged by geopolitical fragmentation. Organisers say the fellowship aims to help address these challenges by nurturing a new generation of leaders capable of bridging research, diplomacy and practical peacebuilding efforts.

According to Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute, the programme will give participants direct exposure to both academic research and real-world peace operations.

“In these dire times for peace, the Fellowship Programme draws on the unique strengths of the Geneva Graduate Institute, Interpeace and Geneva’s broader ecosystem,” she said, noting that it will provide fellows with access to cutting-edge research while encouraging new thinking in peacebuilding and multilateral diplomacy.

For Itonde Kakoma, President and CEO of Interpeace, the initiative reflects a growing need to strengthen the global architecture supporting peace efforts.

“Through the International Geneva Peace Fellowship, we aim to support a new generation of leaders equipped not only with strong analytical and technical expertise, but also with the empathy, integrity and foresight needed to navigate increasingly complex conflict contexts,” he said.

Kakoma added that the programme seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and operational peacebuilding by connecting research with field realities in conflict-affected areas.

Achim Wennmann, Director for Strategic Partnerships and Nagulendran Chair in Peace Mediation at the Geneva Graduate Institute, said the fellowship would also strengthen the role of Geneva as a global hub for peace diplomacy.

“The programme provides access to the expertise and networks for peace and humanitarian diplomacy that are among Geneva’s key assets in an era of increasingly networked multilateralism,” he said.

Details about the fellowship, including application procedures, will be released later in March 2026.