Call for Applications: World YWCA Leadership Cohort 2025

Apply today!

Are you a young person involved with a local/national/regional YWCA advocating for women’s rights? Then this call is for you!

Women’s and young women’s leadership is at the centre of everything we do, which is why the World YWCA is pleased to announce an open call for the Leadership Cohort 2025!

Through this hands-on six-month paid internship (October 2025 – March 2026), young women from across the World YWCA movement will work closely with our team to contribute directly to our global fundraising and leadership strategies. During the internship, cohort members will learn more about resource mobilisation and gain experience and training in research by using the Feminist Consultation Methodology (FCM).

As we live in a digital age, interns will work remotely from their home countries and collaborate with colleagues across regions. This unique internship will end with Leadership Cohort interns joining the World YWCA team in person at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York in March 2026!

The Leadership Cohort 2025 is made possible through the generous support of the World Service Council, whose long-standing commitment continues to strengthen young women’s leadership across the YWCA movement.

Criteria for Selection:

  • Must be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of application.
  • Involved in a national/regional/local YWCA (member/volunteer, participant, or staff)
    with at least two years of active engagement.
  • Basic working knowledge of English; Spanish and/or French is an asset.
  • Strong commitment to women’s rights and intergenerational leadership.
  • Previous experience in advocacy and/or activism on women’s rights and/or
    fundraising is an asset.
  • Independent, self-reliant, creative, hard-working, and flexible.
  • Able to commit 25–30 hours per week (October 2025 – March 2026), including travel
    to New York for CSW70 (the time commitment is flexible, to be specified in
    the application).

Deadline for applications: Sunday, 28 September 2025, 11:59 PM (CET)

Should you have any queries, please reach out to leadershipcohort@worldywca.org.

Full details, including eligibility criteria, application process, application form and Terms of Reference, are available in the documents below.

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