Applications are now open for the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples 2027, which will fund Indigenous representatives to attend two of the United Nations’ most important Indigenous rights processes: the 26th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the 20th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Administered by the United Nations Human Rights Office, the Fund covers the practical barriers that keep Indigenous advocates away from the rooms where decisions about their communities are made: it provides, in line with UN guidelines and procedures, a travel arrangement plus a stipend covering travel, accommodation, and related expenses for selected representatives.
The opportunity location spans both Switzerland and the United States, home to the UN’s Geneva and New York offices where the two sessions convene. The application deadline is November 8, 2026.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are open to Indigenous individuals and representatives of Indigenous Peoples’ organisations who meet three criteria:
- Are actively engaged in the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Can demonstrate how their participation will contribute to advocacy efforts on behalf of their communities and organisations
- Require financial assistance to cover travel, accommodation, and related expenses
The Fund has also issued a deliberate signal about who it most wants at the table: applications from Indigenous persons with disabilities and Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people are strongly encouraged.
What You Need to Apply
Applicants are required to upload three documents:
- A current curriculum vitae
- A copy of their passport
- A letter of recommendation from the Indigenous group, community, non-governmental, or non-profit institution they represent
On the recommendation letter, the Fund notes that there is no official or prescribed template, so applicants are free to use a format of their choosing.
Why This Fund Matters
UN processes shape global standards on Indigenous rights, from land and resource questions to cultural protection, but the cost of reaching Geneva or New York excludes most of the people those standards affect. The Voluntary Fund exists precisely to close that gap, ensuring Indigenous voices are present in the sessions that influence their futures.
For Indigenous advocates and organisations, selection means not just attending but carrying their communities’ positions into formal UN spaces, and bringing back the networks and knowledge to strengthen advocacy at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the UN Voluntary Fund cover?
For selected representatives, the Fund provides a travel arrangement plus a stipend covering travel, accommodation, and related expenses, in accordance with UN guidelines and procedures.
Which UN sessions does the 2027 round fund?
The 26th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the 20th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, held in Switzerland and the United States respectively.
Who can apply?
Indigenous individuals and representatives of Indigenous Peoples’ organisations who are actively engaged in promoting and protecting Indigenous rights, can show how their participation will advance their communities’ advocacy, and need financial assistance to attend.
What documents are required?
A current CV, a copy of your passport, and a recommendation letter from the Indigenous group, community, NGO, or non-profit institution you represent. No official template exists for the letter, so any format is acceptable.
What is the deadline?
November 8, 2026.
Are any groups given priority?
Yes. Applications from Indigenous persons with disabilities and Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people are strongly encouraged.
