Women Career and Education

The Native Leadership Scholarship (NLS) program creates educational opportunities for women around the world who are grassroots leaders, organizers and activists demonstrating financial need. NLS invests in women’s leadership and leadership development by supporting non-doctoral graduate education in human rights, sustainable development, and public health.

The NLS Selection Committee awards four to eight scholarships per year, up to US$25,000 per academic year for a maximum of two years. The awards help the recipients meet the costs of tuition, fees, books, educational supplies, housing, maintenance, and travel to and from the home country and the educational institution. WLS awards are paid directly to the institution in a student’s account. For foreign women intending to study at U.S. universities, WLS funding for expenses other than tuition and books is subject to a 14% U.S. tax.

An eligible candidate is a woman leader from a developing country and/or a member of an indigenous tribe or group who:
1. Is committed to grassroots organizing and the needs of her community or indigenous group;
2. Has proof of a bachelor’s or a higher degree;
3. Has at least three years of work experience dealing with critical human rights concerns, and other social, educational, environmental, health or economic conditions that threaten life or social stability, that discriminate, or that destroy or deplete her country’s or community’s resources;
4. Is accepted into a non-doctoral graduate program at an accredited university for full-time study/research related to her work experience;
5. Can show evidence of financial need for educational support;
6. Intends to return to her home country to work, utilizing training and research acquired in the study program.

Candidates may use WLS funding for non-doctoral graduate study at accredited institutions worldwide. WLS is committed to strengthening research institutions in the Global South. As such, WLS encourages students to study in their home country or region provided that the educational institution is accredited for higher education.

There are two stages in the WLS application process. All applicants are invited to submit pre-applications but only a few will be invited to complete full applications.
January 1, 2007 : Pre-applications become available
March 23, 2007 : Last day pre-applications available
Late March 2007 :Committee reviews full applications, and invites the top 12-15 candidates to submit full WLS application with supporting documentation
Late May 2007 : Committee reviews full applications
Early June 2007 : Awardees notified
Summer 2007 Funds disbursed

The 2006-07 WLS awards have already been granted, and no further inquiries or applications can be considered for 2006-07 funding. For more information about applying for the WLS for the 2007-08 academic year and to download pre-application materials, please visit the website after January 1, 2007. Pre-applications will be accepted from Jan. 1 to March 23, 2007 only.