Announcement of Fellowship on Economic and Environmental Justice

Fellowship Period: May 2022 - March 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: April 1, 2022

SUBMISSION DEADLINE APRIL 16, 2022

SAWF IN is pleased to announce a call for fellowships on supporting initiatives to enhance claims of women and trans* to economic and environmental justice

 

About SAWF IN 

South Asia Women Foundation of India (SAWF IN) is currently the only Women’s Fund in India, mandated with resourcing feminist movement building and initiatives to empower women, girls and trans* persons. We support organisations led by marginalised women, girls and trans* people that are working to secure the rights and constitutional freedoms of their constituencies. SAWF IN operates from the world view that communities of women and trans* people who are most affected, are best suited to arrive at the most effective course of action to address their aspirations. SAWF IN’s mandate and role is to identify the most effective change makers and provide them strategic support in developing and implementing their change agenda. SAWF IN supports grassroots initiatives and women’s and trans* people led organisations with financial and non-financial resources. We believe in their leadership and skills to find the most appropriate solutions to address the issues facing them. SAWF IN’s role is to ensure that resources are made available and are reaching the most dispossessed women’s collectives, for the priorities they identify, and the claims they make. 

 

The intersection of economic and environmental justice 

COVID-19, is not only a public health crisis but has also debilitated communities economically and socially. Vulnerable populations especially trans* persons have been rendered even more vulnerable. Social safety measures have not managed to reach the neediest among the trans* persons communities. Several ground reports confirm that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on girls, women, transgender people, persons with disabilities (PwDs) and those dependent on daily wages. Transgender people who were already living a life of stigma and exploitation, have found it difficult to access relief, without proper identification documents in hand. They have become far more vulnerable with fewer livelihood opportunities, and limited access to social protection and rights. 

Trans* people who are highly dependent on regular group interactions for support and solidarity have reported severe mental stress as lockdowns and restrictions on mobility have meant such spaces have shrunk considerably. Data on the vaccination status of trans* persons is not easily available and existing research shows that less than 5 percent of the trans* persons population has been vaccinated in India [Murti, 2021].  As India moves into the recovery and re-building phase, there is much to be done to ensure trans* persons and other vulnerable communities are enabled to rebuild their lives and achieve economic and social stability. This means that the most vulnerable communities, which included trans* people need to be equipped with skills, information and access to technology. It also means that they become conscious of their constitutional rights and socio-economic entitlements and the ways to secure them. 

SAWF IN operates from the world view that communities of women and trans* people who are most affected, are best suited to arrive at the most effective course of action to address their aspirations. SAWF IN’s mandate and role is to identify the most effective change makers and provide them strategic support in developing and implementing their change agenda. 

 

The Fellowship Programme 

Through the fellowship programme, SAWF IN aims to support women and trans* people led interventions on advancing income generation activities and economic resilience,  but in a manner that is also ecologically sustainable. In other words, the fellowship seeks to nurture practices and actions that will achieve economic justice outcomes using environmentally robust strategies. 

Economic justice implies equitable distribution of wealth, well-being and resources. And environmental degradation hinders the achievement of economic justice. Therefore, interventions that address both these themes have the potential to improve economic and environmental outcomes for women and trans* people, especially from marginalised communities.  

Economic and environmental justice is being defined for the purposes of the fellowship to cover actions and practices that enable women and trans* people to claim their entitlement over economic and environmental resources. It includes reinstating practices that nurture their natural habitats, culture and livelihoods. This could include, but is not limited to these illustrative examples : 

  1. Advancing sustainable and ecologically sound livelihood practices 

  2. Securing access to indigenous and traditional food and livelihoods

  3. Advocating for special economic measures for women and trans* affected in ecologically fragile ecosystems

  4. Strengthening market linkages 

  5. Financial literacy and inclusion

  6. Skill-building for exercising control over the value chain 

Please note this list can be expanded to include other context-specific interventions 

We seek applications from individual women and trans* people (only) working independently or as part of collectives, to take forward actions and interventions which combine the achievement of economic justice and improved environmental outcomes. Our effort would be to give preference to applications impacting regions that are ecologically fragile and in need of supportive intervention inputs. 

 

APPLICATION CRITERIA FOR FELLOWSHIP

  1. Only open to women/ Trans*/ gender non-conforming persons 

  2. This application is open for individuals from the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana only. 

  3. Applicants with a minimum of 5 years of experience in their field of work and preferably below 40 years of age.

  4. Preference will be given to fellows who belong to the communities they intend to impact.

  5. Applicant should have shown demonstrated initiative in the areas of gender and livelihood/ gender and environment/ gender rights and justice

  6. Persons with experience of engaging with communities of women or trans* people, facilitating their leadership or has been an active supporter of the Indian women's rights movement

  7. Self-motivated person.

  8. Good articulation skills and willingness to document their work extensively

  9. Has internet connection or phone connectivity to participate in fellowship activities. 

 

PLEASE NOTE

  1. The last date for receiving applications is midnight of Saturday, April 16th 2022. Email the Application format with the relevant documents to fellowship.sawfin@gmail.com  with the subject "EEJ Fellowship Application 2022-23" by April 16th 2022 midnight IST.
  2. Applicants can expect an acknowledgement of their application within 24 hours of submission or else please get in touch with us at fellowship.sawfin@gmail.com .
  3. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview to be held by the third week of April 2022. Finally selected fellows will be informed by the first week of May 2022.
  4. Fellowships will be initially for a year starting from May 2022, with the potential of extension subject to progress and outcomes at the end of year one.  

If you have any questions or queries or need assistance to draft the application, please write to fellowship.sawfin@gmail.com and request a call.

Click here to download the fellowship announcement in Hindi

 

Download the application form

English    Hindi