The Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship is a 24-month programme empowering young climate advocates from Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger to lead grassroots climate justice work in their own communities. It’s implemented by the DEAN Initiative, a Nigerian NGO founded in 2010, and funded by the Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF). The inaugural cohort of 20 fellows has already been selected and publicly announced, including named fellows like Iliya Muhammad Makinta from Damaturu, Yobe State, and Shola Rafiat Sule from Biu, Borno State.
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Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship Summary
| Fellowship Name ⇒ | Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship |
| Host Organisation ⇒ | DEAN Initiative (Development of Educational Action Network) |
| Funded By ⇒ | Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF) |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowship |
| Duration ⇒ | 24 months |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger (Lake Chad Basin) |
| Reward ⇒ | $1,500–$2,000 seed funding (sources vary), mentorship, skills training, global exposure |
| Application Status ⇒ | Inaugural cohort of 20 fellows already selected. Watch DEAN Initiative’s channels for news of a future cohort. |
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Why Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship Exists
Lake Chad has lost over 90% of its surface area since the 1960s, according to CJRF’s own reporting, driving desertification, resource scarcity, and the collapse of traditional livelihoods like agriculture and fishing across the region. Those pressures have deepened social tension, fuelled insecurity, and displaced communities, with women and girls disproportionately affected. Young people in the region carry much of this burden but remain underrepresented in climate action, due to limited resources and restricted access to advocacy skills and platforms.
The fellowship blends storytelling, digital advocacy, and policy engagement with direct attention to gender-based violence prevention, aiming to build climate solutions that are genuinely locally led rather than externally imposed.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be a citizen of a Lake Chad Basin country: Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, or Niger
- Be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application
- Demonstrate genuine passion or experience in climate justice, advocacy, or environmental sustainability — prior experience in climate-related initiatives is an advantage, though not stated as mandatory
- Commit fully to the entire 24-month duration and all programme activities
What the Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship Offers
- Seed funding for community-based climate projects — reported as $1,500 by most sources, though DEAN Initiative’s own launch statement to Legit.ng cited $2,000, plus access to resources valued at $8,000; confirm the current figure directly with DEAN Initiative
- Capacity-building workshops covering climate justice, storytelling, data visualisation, and project management
- One-on-one mentorship from experienced African climate practitioners and global facilitators
- Participation in international and African climate forums
- Connection to a genuine regional and global network of young climate justice advocates
- A real platform to influence local, national, and international climate policy
Required Documents for Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship
- A completed online application form
- A statement of purpose, 300 to 500 words
- An updated CV highlighting relevant experience
- A written proposal outlining your intended climate solution
What the Selection Process Looked Like
For the inaugural cohort, applications went through an initial review, followed by virtual interviews for shortlisted candidates assessing communication skills and genuine interest in climate justice work. Final selection balanced gender representation and geographic spread across the four eligible countries, resulting in the 20 named fellows now publicly profiled by DEAN Initiative.
How to Prepare for a Future Cohort
- Follow the DEAN Initiative directly across its official channels for news of a next cohort, since this fellowship’s continuation beyond its inaugural round isn’t yet confirmed
- Begin building genuine, documented experience in climate advocacy or community organising now, since prior experience is considered an advantage
- Draft a real statement of purpose reflecting your specific community’s climate challenges, rather than a generic environmental interest statement
- Develop a concrete proposed solution tied to your own local context, since a written proposal is part of the application itself
Our guide on how to write a personal statement for scholarship covers exactly how to build a compelling statement of purpose, and applies directly to this kind of fellowship application even though it isn’t a traditional academic scholarship.
Official Application Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship currently accepting applications?
No. The inaugural cohort of 20 fellows has already been selected and publicly announced. Follow DEAN Initiative directly for news of any future cohort.
Who actually runs this fellowship?
The DEAN Initiative, a Nigerian NGO founded in 2010 and registered in 2015, implements the programme. It’s funded by the Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF), an established international climate philanthropy organisation.
How much seed funding do fellows actually receive?
Sources genuinely differ — most report $1,500, while DEAN Initiative’s own launch statement cited $2,000 plus access to $8,000 in additional resources. Confirm the current figure directly with DEAN Initiative for any future cohort.
Which countries are eligible for this fellowship?
Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger — the four countries bordering the Lake Chad Basin.
Is this a legitimate opportunity?
Yes. It’s independently confirmed by established Nigerian outlets including TheCable and Legit.ng, and the funding body, CJRF, has published its own detailed account of the programme and its selected fellows.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details were verified against DEAN Initiative’s own materials, the Climate Justice Resilience Fund’s official reporting, and independent Nigerian news coverage as of August 2026. The inaugural cohort has already been selected — always confirm current status directly with DEAN Initiative before assuming a new application cycle is open.
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