Priority Application Deadline: June 28, 2026.
Ali Nisar, 2025 Alum
Equipping courageous leaders and entrepreneurs supporting highly marginalized, refugee, or displaced communities across Western Union’s global footprint.
The Fellowship Offers
The Western Union Global Fellowship is a Fellowship designed for entrepreneurs impacting refugees, migrants, and displaced individuals globally. Suported by Western Union and powered by Watson Institute, this fully-funded 16-week program provides training, committed mentorship, financial literacy skills, financial stipends, long-term Alumni support, a playbook and funds to power a 1-3 day Basecamp in their community, and a global network of support to help exceptional entrepreneurs and leaders access economic opportunity, advance their impact, and transform their communities.
Entrepreneurship & Leadership Workshops
Participate in Watson Institute’s signature Flagship Fellowship curriculum, joining a diverse cohort of entrepreneurs from across Watson Institute’s broader Fellowship community.
Financial Tools & Resources
Access practical financial tools, frameworks, and workshops designed to strengthen your venture’s financial foundation. Benefit from the expertise of practitioners and Watson Institute’s broader network of specialists supporting entrepreneurs at every stage.
Basecamps: Creating Lasting Impact
Design and lead a comprehensive 1-day entrepreneurship training program (Basecamp) for earlier-stage entrepreneurs in your community. With training, resources, and a community development stipend, you’ll multiply your impact by supporting emerging entrepreneurs serving marginalized and displaced populations.
Experts You Will Learn From
We recruit experts and entrepreneurs with the specific expertise needed to best serve you. They are brought on to share their insights, facilitate our workshops, and provide 1-on-1 guidance. Preceptors from past Western Union Global Fellowship cohorts have included:
Ali Fraenkel
Community Strategist | Consultant & Facilitator | Trust-based Grantmaking Advisor | Philanthropy Innovator
Mentor Dida
Futurist | Facilitator | Speaker
Josiane Attalah
Experienced Program and Partnership Professional | Development and Humanitarian Assistance | MENA | Fulbright ’21
Key Dates
- Program: August 11–December 3, 2026
- Immersive: August 11–18, 2026 | Virtual
- Week 1: 8/11–8/14 (Tuesday–Friday)
- Week 2: 8/17–8/20 (Monday–Thursday)
- Virtual Summit: December 3, 2026 – Selected Fellows present their venture pitches to an engaged audience of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and peers
Schedule & Weekly Time Commitment
- Weekly Workshops: Fellows participate in virtual workshops each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 – 10:00 AM MT.
- Weekly Time Commitment: 8–10 hours per week, including workshops, community building events, optional mentorship sessions, Basecamp planning and implementation, and Summit preparations.
Eligibility: Is This Fellowship for Me?
Here is who we are looking for
Don’t take our word for it
Meet The Alumni
Viktoriia Palahniuk is Project Manager at the Refugee Council of Lithuania, where she leads initiatives supporting Ukrainian women displaced by conflict. Through art therapy, embroidery-based cultural preservation, and entrepreneurship training, she helps elderly refugees overcome isolation and financial barriers. Since joining, she has coordinated pilots engaging 11 women, expanded access to business financing, and contributed to raising $200,000 to foster economic inclusion. An international lawyer with degrees from Kyiv and Vilnius and pursuing an M.A. in Peace Studies, Viktoriia combines legal expertise and grassroots coordination to design sustainable pathways for displaced communities to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Lull Mengesha is the founder of Tiphub.co, a platform that rapidly and transparently distributes mutual aid funds to displaced communities during crises, especially in areas with low connectivity or disrupted infrastructure. Drawing on over 15 years of product management experience and his family’s displacement from Ethiopia’s Tigray region, Lull built Tiphub to address critical delays in humanitarian fundraising. Since launching, Tiphub has raised over $3 million across 150+ fundraisers to support displaced populations in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Congo. Now expanding its reach to serve disenfranchised communities across Africa, the U.S., and beyond, Tiphub is positioning itself as the go-to infrastructure for diaspora-led giving and localized mutual aid. Committed to user empathy and practical solutions, Lull continues to innovate in transparent aid delivery and impact measurement for underserved communities worldwide.
Camila Batista Pinto is the COO of Migraflix, a multicultural catering company empowering and employing migrants and refugees in Latin America through food entrepreneurship and cultural exchange. Operating across Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, Migraflix’s menus are co-created with migrants and refugee chefs from over 50 nationalities, enabling thousands to build sustainable livelihoods and foster social inclusion. A seasoned social entrepreneur and advocate, Camila has raised over $2 million in funding and has been recognized by the BMW Foundation and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations for her leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if my country or state is not listed under the priority geographies?
Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applications outside the geographies listed above. However, we run numerous programs a year and are likely to have an opportunity for you in the future. We encourage you to check back regularly and reach out to Watson Institute’s team members for more information.
What is the community development stipend?
The community development stipend supports Fellows in organizing and facilitating Basecamps, a required outcome of the program. Basecamps are community events, fostering collaboration, and advancing initiatives that accelerate collective growth in the communities the Fellows are impacting. Whether hosting workshops, networking events, or collaborative projects, this stipend provides resources to engage your community, build connections, and drive meaningful impact.
What is the application review timeline?
We understand the substantial interest in the program and strive to provide prompt responses. Decisions will be communicated by July 9, 2026. We appreciate your patience throughout this process.
How do you define refugee, highly-marginalized, or forcibly displaced communities?
We use this term to describe people who have been forced to leave their homes because of conflict, persecution, economic hardship, climate-related events, or long-standing systemic barriers. It also includes individuals who may still live in their home communities but face exclusion, discrimination, or limited access to basic resources and opportunities. We place a strong value on proximate leaders, people who come from these communities or work closely with them. Their lived experience and close connection to the challenges at hand help ensure that the solutions they create are practical, culturally informed, and truly responsive to real community needs.
How does this program open doors to funding?
Watson Institute connects Fellows to a robust network of potential investors, grantmakers, and partners dedicated to supporting ventures with impact. Through mentorship, pitch opportunities, and relationship-building events, Fellows gain access to introductions and resources that can accelerate their growth and sustainability.
What is the long-term impact on Fellows and Alumni?
After completing the program, Fellows join a vibrant community of changemakers with ongoing access to resources, learning opportunities, and peer support beyond the program. Alumni often report increased revenue, expanded networks, stronger leadership skills, and greater community impact as a result of their Watson Institute experience.
Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. 93% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute-powered program up to 12 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others.
What if I’m not admitted?
If you are not admitted this cycle, we encourage you to stay engaged with Watson Institute through our newsletters, events, and future programs. Many Fellows apply multiple times and continue to develop their ventures with the resources and support we offer. We value your commitment and look forward to your future involvement. Explore other Fellowships.
I have another question and need assistance.
For all other questions, please reach out to Sandra Mancia at sandra@watson.is.
This program is fully-funded through the generous support of Western Union.
