Forging strong
MOUNTAIN
CONNECTIONS

Improving social and environmental sustainability in mountain communities

Mountain Sentinels Fellowship logo
Mountain Sentinels Fellowship logo
2026 FELLOWS CALL NOW OPEN

The Fellowship Program offers leadership, mentorship, research and educational opportunities to students, postdocs, youth, practitioners, and community members who are living, working, or from the mountains. 

The Fellows Program provides impactful opportunities for project support, mentorship, network exchanges, participation in international policy fora, involvement in the Moving Mountains Summit, developing meaningful connections with mountain communities worldwide and lifelong bonds with other Fellows around the world.  

  • Initial award is $1000 total with an opportunity to apply for additional funding.
  • Projects should improve social and environmental well-being and sustainability in mountains.
  • Fellows are individuals living, working, or raised in a mountain community.
  • We encourage applications from those who are under-served and/or under-represented in science.
  • The Fellowship will run for two years, with the new cohort announced in March, 2026.

Apply Now.  Deadline is Sunday, February 15, 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time. 

Save your spot — Get Application Tips & Insights!

Register here for our informational webinar on February 2, 2026 at 9:00 MST/ 16:00 GMT to learn more about the application process.

How to Apply

  • Submit your application by the deadline of February 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm MST. Applications are accepted in English and Spanish.
  • If you have questions, register for the 2026 Fellows Webinar on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 9:00 MST/ 16:00 GMT. Webinar will be recorded and shared.
  • Watch the 2024 Fellows Informational Webinar for questions about the Fellowship and the application process.
  • Letters of support for your project are not required, but are strongly encouraged, in order to show connections to the community in which you wish to work. This letter can be a few short sentences, and can be provided by anyone with standing in the community where your project is based. In addition to traditional letters, screenshots of statements or messages from What’sApp, Facebook Messenger, or another communication platform are acceptable. Please provide a translation alongside the original text if your letter is not in English, Spanish, or French.
  • A budget template is available in the project application form. Click here to download an example budget form with suggestions on how to develop your budget.
  • You do not need to write more than 1-2 paragraphs for any given question. Direct answers with a short, clear vision are encouraged.
  • 2026 Fellows will be announced in March.

  • $1,000 to support an ongoing or new project that improves social and environmental well-being & sustainability in mountains.
  • Mentorship opportunities with other members of the Mountain Sentinels Alliance
  • Monthly virtual gatherings amongst the Fellows cohort
  • Training and leadership opportunities
  • Opportunity to apply for additional experiences suited to the Fellows’ interests (see below)

Fellows can apply for additional funding to participate in activities such as:

  • A network exchange program with partner organizations and communities
  • Engagement in policy fora, such as the UNFCCC COP
  • In-person or virtual participation in the Moving Mountains Summit
  • Other experiences that benefit the Fellow’s career or community

Fellows may use initial funds to support an ongoing or new project focused on improving social and environmental well-being & sustainability in mountains. We particularly encourage projects that elevate community voices and address community needs in mountains, and build/enhance long-term relationships with mountain communities.  

Examples of past projects include:

  • Documenting knowledge of medicinal plants by community members through interviews to create a plant guidebook and short documentary film for the preservation of local/Indigenous ecological knowledges
  • Engaging mountain community members in sustainability projects through avenues such as workshops, resource mapping, or co-development of learning materials
  • Interviewing community members about how the mountains provide safety during COVID-19 and creating a book of poetry and art from the interviews
  • Working with a local school to expand access to online learning materials related to mountain sustainability
  • Increasing food security for communities through facilitating community workshops on local agriculture products and establishing community gardens
  • Working with other community groups to improve facilities or programming in community centers
  • Ethnographic research exploring Indigenous women’s perspectives of climate change and ice loss in the Andes
  • Establishing a small-scale network of solar energy for community use
  • Developing a local radio talk show to cover community-related topics

  • Fellows are expected to attend an orientation meeting and participate regularly in group meetings, as one’s schedule allows.
  • Fellows will be asked to send in a brief end-of-year project update at the close of Y1.
  • Fellows are asked to participate in surveys and provide anonymous feedback on their experience to Mountain Sentinels and external evaluators.
  • After sponsored travel experiences, Fellows are asked to develop a blog, reflection, or other small follow up project in line with their personal and professional goals.
  • At the end of their fellowship, we will ask fellows to share a final product, such as a report, blog, video, photographs, art, or other materials to communicate the outcomes of their project.  This will be shared publicly on our website, with permissions from all involved.  
MEET OUR 2024 FELLOWS

Our 2024 fellows came together from 11 countries to strengthen and protect their mountain communities. This cohort of 15 individuals brought energy, creativity, knowledge, and passion to their projects and their roles as stakeholders, scientists, leaders, peers, and educators.

Meet the Mountain Sentinels Past Fellows
Siya Aggrey
Uganda
Shahina Aqdodova
Tajikistan
Rodrigue Mushagalusa Batumike
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Phurwa Dhondup Gurung
Nepal
Dr. Katie L. Kamelamela
USA
Tual Sawn Khai
Myanmar
Tah Kennette Konsum
Cameroon
Kerry Kary Mendoza Loayza
Peru
Holly Moulton
USA
O.H. Jackson Napier
USA
Prinsha Niraula
Nepal
Tiffany Pyette
USA
Vidal Rondán Ramírez
Peru
Bidhya Sharma
Nepal
Thaddée Uwimana
Rwanda
Yufna Soldier Wolf
USA
Rick Stevens
USA
Myanmar Relief
Building Community,
SAVING MOUNTAINS
Fellows and their projects are making changes all around the world.
GET INVOLVED
Reach out with eligibility questions, to learn more about project suitability criteria or with your idea on how to use funds.
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