Community Advocacy Fellowship

The Community Advocacy Fellowship aims to support our community with advocacy knowledge and hands-on skills to build and defend an Internet that is reliable, affordable, secure, safe, and trustworthy for everyone.

This program brings the opportunity for you to:

• Join a network of knowledgeable Internet leaders who actively support the Internet Society’s mission and advocate for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet.
• Deepen your subject expertise through training from experienced Internet advocates and communication professionals.
• Broaden your advocacy, communications, and community engagement skills to:
  • Build the open, interoperable Internet so that people everywhere have equal opportunities to create, innovate, and build communities online. 
  • Advocate for policies, technology, and commercial decisions that put people’s safety, security, and privacy first. 
  • Reduce barriers to Internet access and make it a faster, more affordable experience. 
  • Empower people to make safe choices to protect themselves online. 
  • Defend the Internet against decisions that weaken online security. 
• Build an advocacy plan and develop the skills and connections needed to make a greater impact in your local community (and beyond!)
• Benefit from sharing networks, learning from each other’s approaches, working together, and forging relationships that will significantly enhance your impact as a leading Internet advocate in your community, country, and region during curated community workshops.

How to Apply

Applications are now open.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an active member of a chapter, special interest group, standing group, or an Internet Society organization member (i.e., organizations that are registered members of the Internet Society)
  • Following our focus regions for 2026, we are encouraging applicant based in Africa and Europe.
  • At least 80% of selected candidates will come from African and European chapters. Up to 20% of selected candidates will be welcomed from the remaining community segments or regions.
• Have basic comprehension and communication in English. 
• Be able to travel to assigned workshop locations, i.e., applicants based in Africa will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, and applicants based in Europe will travel to Brussels, Belgium. 
• Have access to the Internet.
• Be able to dedicate approximately 4-6 hours per week throughout the program.  
• Be able to attend required sessions. (happening between 9-14h UTC)
• Commit to complete all mandatory deliverables during the program
• Have led or participated in at least one chapter, special interest group, standing group, or an Internet Society organization member activity.
• Have not previously been selected as an Internet Society Community Advocacy Fellow
• Have not been accepted as a fellow in any Internet Society fellowship from 2024 to date 
• Have a clear Internet-related advocacy interest relevant to your region/country, ideally in line with any of these tracks: 
  • Open Internet 
  • Connectivity
  • Safer Internet
  • Internet Governance

Read the guidelines for the use of generative AI tools when preparing an application.

If you are interested in getting notified when the applications open, fill out the form below: 

If you meet these criteria, log in to the community portal to get the link to the application form.

Selection Process

• Only applicants who submit their applications will be considered for selection. Application form will be available through the link provided.
• Once the application period closes, all submissions will undergo two review stages, each conducted by separate review committees. 
• The review committees will not have access to any applicant demographic information except the country and region. This means they will not see names, genders, contact details, or any other personal identifiers.
• After the review process is complete, we will contact all candidates to inform them whether they have been selected for the cohort.

Key Dates

2026 Cohort