Western Union Global Fellowship 2026

The Western Union Global Fellowship 2026 is a joint effort by Watson Institute and Western Union to support emerging entrepreneurs and community leaders working toward meaningful social change. The programme draws on the combined strengths of both organisations to encourage innovation and leadership in regions that have historically received limited support.

This fully funded virtual fellowship runs for 16 weeks and is designed for individuals building sustainable ventures while addressing the needs of underserved, refugee, displaced, and marginalised communities. It seeks to close gaps in resources, knowledge, and networks, helping participants expand their reach and contribute to systemic transformation.

The curriculum covers core areas of venture development, including business growth, sales strategies, funding readiness, and impact measurement. Emphasis is placed on practical, hands-on learning so that skills gained can be applied directly within participants' organisations. Through this initiative, Watson Institute and Western Union reaffirm their commitment to fostering a global network of resilient, mission-driven organisations capable of delivering lasting social impact.

• Go to the official application page: https://watson.is/western-union-global-fellowship-application/
• Fill out the online form, giving full particulars of your organisation—its legal status, mission, and track record of operations.
• Explain your revenue model and how it produces measurable outcomes.
• Cite concrete instances and figures showing your work with underserved communities, proving you actively serve your customers or beneficiaries.
• Describe your leadership journey, underscoring your vision and capacity to bring about change.
• Set out your expansion roadmap, and specify how the fellowship would help you broaden your reach.
• Assemble supporting material—your pitch deck, team CVs, incorporation papers, and any social impact or financial reports (where available). These are not explicitly demanded but are customary for such applications and bolster your case.
• Send in your application ahead of the deadline. Applying early is advisable because reviews happen on a rolling basis—applications are assessed as they arrive, which could mean an earlier shot at being chosen.

Applications are assessed continuously from the opening of the application window until the final deadline, with no fixed review cycles. The evaluation begins with an initial check for eligibility, completeness, and alignment with the programme’s focus on social impact and underserved communities. Qualified submissions then move to a detailed review by a selection committee drawn from the Watson Institute and Western Union, which examines the business model, demonstrated community impact, leadership potential, venture scalability, and fit with the fellowship’s objectives.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a virtual interview or pitch session, where they present their ventures, discuss their vision, and respond to committee questions. Based on the full evaluation and interview performance, the committee selects the entrepreneurs and community leaders who show the strongest social impact potential and venture scalability to join the fellowship.