Peace Fellowships

Professional development certificate program

Is the professional development certificate program right for me?

The ideal candidate is a proven mid-career peace and development leader with at least five years of relevant work experience. Candidates need to come to the program with a social change initiative to promote peace and development within the program region. They should also have a clear vision of how the fellowship experience and network will help advance their peace work and increase their impact. This program is intended for working professionals and requires 11 weeks of on-site participation. Fellows earn a postgraduate diploma upon completion of the program. After the program, candidates should be willing to share their own work and experience, staying in touch with peace fellows in the region and maintaining strong connections with Rotary members.  

Eligibility 

Certificate candidates must also:

• Be proficient in English
• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Have at least five years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work
• Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace as shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
• Demonstrate leadership skills 
• Be able to explain how their plan to promote peace aligns with Rotary’s mission 
• Candidates for Makerere University: Either be from Africa, have worked in Africa, work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.
• Candidates for Bahçeşehir University: Either be from the Middle East or North Africa, have worked in the region, work elsewhere around the world with communities or initiatives related to the Middle East or North Africa, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.

Candidates must have a gap of at least three years between the completion of their most recent academic degree program (undergraduate or graduate degree) and their intended start date for the fellowship. Candidates currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program are not eligible to apply.

Rotary Peace Fellows who have completed the master’s degree program, or a Global Grant Scholarship, must wait three years between the end date of that program and their intended start date for the fellowship. 

We encourage people with disabilities and people from other diverse backgrounds to apply. Rotary provides reasonable accommodations as needed to people with disabilities.

You are not eligible if you are an active Rotary member or an employee of a Rotary club, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity.

* Rotaract club members who are not also Rotary club members are eligible to apply.

Learn more about eligibility restrictions.

University Partners

Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (fact sheet)

The program integrates theory, research, and practice for peace and development leaders who are from Africa, have worked in Africa, work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent, or demonstrate strong interest in learning about peacebuilding within Africa. Fellows will learn how to influence policies and initiate action to transform society through positive peace.

Bahçeşehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey (fact sheet)

Opening in 2025

The multidisciplinary program will train peacebuilders who are from the Middle East or North Africa, have worked in the region, who work elsewhere around the world with communities or initiatives related to the Middle East or North Africa, or demonstrate strong interest in learning about peacebuilding within the region. Fellows will learn how to use their experience to create meaningful change in societies through groundbreaking ideas based on participatory approaches.

Rotary Peace Fellowship: Stories of Impact