WomenLeaders India Fellowship | Vital Voices & Reliance Foundation

Vital Voices and Reliance Foundation

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a nonprofit organisation that has worked since 1997 to grow the power of women leaders around the world. Reliance Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries and powers this fellowship as the lead partner, with Vital Voices as the technical partner. Together they have supported 100 women leaders in India's social sector since the fellowship launched in 2022, and Cohort 3 will support 50 more.

Role

A 10 month, fully funded fellowship for women leaders in India's social sector, built to grow women's leadership and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through workshops, mentorship and industry exposure, selected fellows sharpen their vision, build their skills and grow the impact of their work, across two tracks: Social Entrepreneurs and Social Sector Leaders.

Responsibilities

• Commit 6 to 8 hours a month across the 10 month fellowship, from February 2027
• Hold authority to make key decisions for your initiative, organisation or business
• Bring an SDG or social impact project to develop during the fellowship
• Take part in three webinars a month over 8 months, covering leadership development, core content and track specific training
• Attend five community gatherings for peer learning, and five one on one mentoring sessions over 8 months
• Join one Mentoring Circle meeting a month with fellows working on similar SDGs or themes
• Take part in eight domain specific or thematic sessions
• Attend two in-person gatherings in India, at the start and end of the fellowship, including a pitching competition at the closing event
• Collaborate with and support other fellows in the cohort
• Stay in touch with Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices to track progress after the programme ends

Requirements

• Identify as a woman, be an Indian national, and currently live and work in India
• At least 5 years of experience leading or contributing to initiatives in one or more thematic area: women's empowerment and economic agency, children's wellbeing and foundational learning, youth development and skills, or agriculture, rural livelihoods and climate resilient communities
• Committed to advancing the SDGs through innovation, partnerships and, where relevant, technology and AI enabled approaches
• Strong leadership potential, a collaborative mindset, and ready to apply what you learn to your organisation or initiative
• At least intermediate proficiency in written and spoken English
• Social Entrepreneurship track: founder, co-founder or key decision maker with at least 50% equity in a social enterprise based in India, employing at least 3 full-time staff (or the part-time equivalent), operating for at least 5 years, with demonstrated leadership and impact
• Social Sector Leaders track: executive, such as CEO, President, Executive Director or Vice President, leading programmes at a non-profit, for-profit or civil society organisation registered in India as a foundation, trust, non-profit, for-profit or Section 8 Company, with at least 5 years of relevant activities and a track record of leadership and impact

Benefits

• Fully funded fellowship, no cost to selected fellows
• Virtual, with in-person convenings in Mumbai, India (at the start and end of the fellowship)
• Visibility and mentorship through the Vital Voices Leadership Network and the Reliance Foundation ecosystem
• Access to the Vital Voices Community Hub, a global online leadership and networking platform
• Chance to win funding for your project through a pitching competition at the closing event

Apply

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