Indo-Pacific Futures Fellowship (IPFF) (formerly Equitable Futures Fellowship) Grant

Indo-Pacific Futures Fellowship (IPFF) (formerly Equitable Futures Fellowship) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: East-West Center
Last Updated: September 18, 2025

Summary

The Indo-Pacific Futures Fellowship (formerly the Equitable Futures Fellowship) offers a unique opportunity for leaders from diverse backgrounds to address systemic global challenges, such as wealth inequality and climate crisis. Hosted by the East-West Center, this program combines in-person sessions in Hawaii and New Zealand with virtual engagements, fostering collaboration and growth among fellows. Participants gain essential skills and networks to empower marginalized voices and drive equitable policies, enhancing their leadership capabilities for impactful change.

Overview

NOTE: One letter of reference from a professional contact is required to complete your application but two are suggested. Instructions with a link to the Letter of Reference form will be sent to your referee(s) via email upon the submission of your application. See Second Full Proposal Deadline above. About The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Equitable Futures Fellowship Many of the world's biggest problems today stem from systemic imbalances of wealth, access, and power. Solving them requires new approaches to leadership and capabilities to put forth transformative actions and policies that reimagine concepts of power and governance. In answer to this need, the Equitable Futures Fellowship is a new program from the Doris Duke Foundation and the East-West Center for leaders from a broad range of cultures and backgrounds. Fellows will explore techniques to empower previously unheard voices and resolve inequity in its many forms, including gaps in income, health care, and education; impacts of the climate crisis; and challenges to societal pluralism. Selected participants will include leaders and creative thinkers across government, communities, advocacy groups, media and technology, artists and entrepreneurs. This expanded view of who can create policies and positive change will ensure an array of unique experiences and ideas. Through a combination of in-person sessions in Hawai‘i and Aotearoa (New Zealand), plus regular virtual meetings, fellows will hear from top experts and engage in activities designed to enhance their knowledge, leadership capacities, and networks. The enduring skills and bonds they gain are intended to serve their communities and our world in building more equitable futures. Award Information The Equitable Futures Fellowship provides fellows with round-trip airfare to/from the program locations, program fee and materials, accommodation, travel insurance, meals, and some applicable visa-related costs (if required). This program is subject to postponement/cancellation due to prevailing and unforeseen circumstances.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 5 to 10 years of professional leadership experience in any aspect of policy, advocacy of influence. This includes but is not limited to: elected officials, government agency representatives, advocacy group leaders, topic experts, community leaders, artists, activists, and entrepreneurs. A citizen or resident of countries in the Indo-Pacific region, or citizens or residents outside this region but whose past experience or current work comes with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region. There is no country restriction to apply/participate in the EFF.Applicants will be expected to have a fluent level of English. Applicants are encouraged to provide an English language test score (such as IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC…) if available.A current passport with validity through the end of date specified in RFP.Able to fully commit to two weeks of travel during times specified in RFP, plus regular virtual connections in between and a capstone project to implement during and after the program.