Fellowships FAQ

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Eligibility & Application

The programme is open to professionals from all countries worldwide working on climate change and security or closely related fields. Applicants should normally hold a Master’s degree, PhD, or possess equivalent professional experience in relevant sectors such as defence, government, academia, science, think tanks, industry, or non-profit organizations.

Yes. Applications from military practitioners and defence professionals are strongly encouraged, particularly those with operational or strategic experience related to climate security. Increasing representation from the military sector is a priority for the 2026 Fellowship cycle. 

The Fellowship is awarded to individuals only. However, fellows may collaborate with partners or institutions during the implementation of their project, provided the fellow remains the primary author and responsible party. From a contractual standpoint, the Fellow is the sole party bound by the Fellowship Agreement with CCASCOE – meaning all obligations, including confidentiality, reporting, compliance, and liability, rest exclusively with the Fellow. 

Yes. Applications are welcome from professionals working in government, defence institutions, academia, science, think tanks, industry, and non-profit organizations. 

Yes. Applicants may align their fellowship proposal with ongoing research or professional work, provided the proposed project clearly addresses the priority themes identified in the CCASCOE Fellowship Call for Applications and is closely aligned with CCASCOE’s strategic and operational priorities.

Applicants must submit their application through the official online form and provide: 

  • Cover letter (upload, max. 200 words): motivation and relevant experience
  • Project abstract (max. 200 words): project scope, methods, and expected outcomes
  • Problem statement (max. 200 words): key challenge, gap, or emerging issue addressed
  • Research question(s) / objectives (max. 200 words): main questions or goals guiding the project
  • Expected outcomes & relevance to CCASCOE’s mission (max. 200 words)
  • Research methodology (max. 250 words): analytical framework, methods, and tools
  • Data sources & evidence base (max. 150 words): key sources, cases, or target groups
  • Work plan (max. 200 words): project stages, tasks, and timeline
  • Implementation feasibility (max. 200 words): achievability, access to data/target groups, resources
  • Curriculum vitae: relevant experience and references, if available

No, but the Selection Team may request references. 

A publication list is welcome but not mandatory.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official CCASCOE Fellowship online application form, available on the CCASCOE website. The form is the sole entry point for all submissions and includes structured data fields compatible with the evaluation criteria. No other submission method is accepted.

No. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online application platform. Submissions sent by email or any other channel will not be considered or responded to.

The application form will automatically close after the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

All questions related to the fellowship should be sent to fellowship@ccascoe.org 

 

Responses may be added to the public FAQ to ensure transparency for all applicants. All fellowship-related correspondence is managed through this dedicated inbox.

Programme Structure & Duration

The standard duration is six months, typically running from September to February.  

No. The Fellowship is designed as a part-time engagement, allowing fellows to continue their professional or academic activities. Fellows are expected to dedicate approximately 10-20 hours per week to their project. The fellow shall devote the necessary time and attention, and shall devote their best efforts, skills and ability to the performance and the general advancement of the Fellowship project. The fellow is expected to act prudently and diligently at all times, and with care. 

The Fellowship is conducted remotely, with periodic virtual meetings and presentations including an onboarding session, monthly coordination meetings, a midterm review, and a final presentation. 

Financial & Administrative Details

 The Fellowship grant is CAD $10,000. 

The Fellowship Grant is paid in two instalments: 

  • First instalment after the fellowship contract is signed 
  • Second instalment following the successful midterm review 

Selection Process

Applications are evaluated through a multi-step process: 

  • Administrative and eligibility screening 
  • Pre-selection review by the Selection Group 
  • Individual ranking of applications by Selection Group members 
  • Final review and validation by CCASCOE leadership 

Applications are assessed based on: 

  • Relevance to fellowship priority themes and CCASCOE’s strategic priorities 
  • Quality and originality of the proposal 
  • Feasibility of the project, including methodology and accessibility of the target group and required data 
  • Professional experience of the applicant 
  • Methodology and research design 
  • Potential impact on climate security policy or practice 

Selection is primarily merit-based. A certain balance in national representation and of applications from CCASCOE’s Sponsoring Nations may be considered as a secondary factor between proposals of equal quality.

 The number of fellows selected may vary depending on programme priorities and available resources. The final number is determined during the internal preparatory consultation phase.

Deliverables

Fellows are expected to produce: 

  • At least one major written output (policy paper, research report, or equivalent) 
  • A midterm progress report 
  • A final presentation of the project results 
  • A short, standardized feedback form upon completion 

The midterm review allows CCASCOE to assess: 

  • Progress toward the original project proposal 
  • Any challenges encountered and proposed ways to overcome them 
  • Plausible adjustments or changes still within the trajectory of the original proposal 
  • The formal requirement for the payment of the second instalment of the stipend

Visibility & Dissemination

Yes. Fellowship outputs may be published or presented through CCASCOE platforms such as: 

  • CCASCOE website 
  • Climate Security Community of Practice (CS-CoP) 
  • Conferences or workshops 
  • Flagship events such as the Montreal Climate Security Summit (MCSS) 

CCASCOE may also showcase the strongest fellowship outputs in tailored formats at selected events where appropriate.

Yes. Fellows must acknowledge the CCASCOE Fellowship Programme in any publication or presentation resulting from the Fellowship.

Fellowship Completion

Fellows must submit their final deliverables by the end of February. At closure: 

  • Deliverables are assessed against the original expectations set out at the start of the fellowship 
  • No last-minute requests or scope expansions will be accepted 
  • Fellows may be asked to briefly present their work to CCASCOE staff either virtually or in person 
  • Fellows will be asked to complete a short, standardized feedback form 

Yes. Upon successful completion of all deliverables, fellows will receive an official CCASCOE Fellowship Certificate signed by the Director. The certificate includes: 

  • Fellowship cohort 
  • Fellow’s name
  • Confirmation of successful completion

Post-Fellowship Engagement

Yes. Former fellows may be invited to: 

  • Participate in the Climate Security Community of Practice (CS-CoP) 
  • Present their work at CCASCOE events 
  • Contribute to research initiatives or publications 

 

Continued engagement is at CCASCOE’s discretion and based on the relevance of the fellow’s work to ongoing programme activities. 

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