Mahsa Jina Amini Fellowship - Apply

Overview

To mark the two-year anniversary of the brutal killing in “morality police” custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini 16th September, igniting the Woman. Life. Freedom movement, we honor and commemorate her memory and enduring legacy, its profound impact on the global community and the struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy in Iran.

This fellowship is dedicated to supporting emerging female scholars, policymakers, leaders and advocates who are committed to driving change in Iran and across the Middle East and North Africa region, advancing the cause of women’s rights, gender equality and social justice.

The objective of the fellowship aligns with the vision of the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum Women’s Leadership Initiative contributing to broader regional foreign policy objectives, including but not limited to highlighting the egregious and dire human rights situation for women and girls in Iran and Afghanistan, systemic and institutionalized gender-based oppression and crimes against humanity with impunity.

Deadline

30^th April 2025

Duration of Fellowship

1^st October 2025-30^th June 2026

Honorarium

£12,000 / $15,000

Responsibilities

The Mahsa Jina Amini Fellow will work in collaboration with the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum and engage in the following activities to make meaningful contributions to the ongoing efforts for justice and gender equality in Iran and the broader MENA region:

Conduct original research and write a policy brief on a topical issue pertaining to women’s rights in Iran and/or the broader MENA region. The policy brief should take a practical approach and contain recommendations for foreign policymakers on how to meaningfully engage in order to effect positive change with the topic at hand.
Write a series of analytical articles and/or opinion pieces on topics directly related to the mission of the fellowship, to be published in the Forum’s Manara Magazine as well as in international foreign policy magazines.
Assist the Forum with the organization of a flagship speaker event as part of its Women’s Leadership Initiative for Women’s History Month, March 2026.

Criteria

Candidates need to have completed an Undergraduate degree and meet the following criteria in order to qualify for the Mahsa Jina Amini Fellowship:

Academic Excellence: Strong academic background, typically demonstrated through previous degree(s), grades/GPA, and achievements in relevant fields such as human rights, women and/or gender studies, Iranian History, Middle Eastern Studies, International Relations or a cognate discipline.
Research Interest: A clear commitment to researching women’s rights issues, with specific focus on Iran and/or Middle Eastern contexts. Proposals should align with the fellowship’s objectives, including but not limited to institutionalized gender-based oppression and discrimination, women’s rights advocacy and/or exploring socio-political and socio-economic challenges facing women in Iran and/or the broader MENA region.
Leadership Potential: Demonstrated leadership in academic, community or professional settings, showing the interest in and/or ability of driving positive change in women’s rights and gender equality.
Experience: Previous work or volunteer experience in areas such as activism, human rights advocacy, or social justice, with specific focus on women’s issues in Iran and/or the MENA region is desirable.
Cultural and Regional Knowledge: In-depth knowledge and understanding of the cultural, social, and legal challenges facing women in Iran and/or the broader MENA region.

For applicants based outside of the United Kingdom, the Forum will not be able to provide visa sponsorship as the fellowship can be completed remotely.

Application Process

Apply by email by 30^th April 2025 at p.kurath@cmenaf.org. In your application, please include:

A CV (resume)
A cover letter of up to one page, detailing your interests in and suitability for the fellowship, and providing a proposal for the policy brief you wish to write
An academic writing sample
Two academic or professional references
One letter of recommendation

Applications will be reviewed by the Forum at the earliest convenience and finalists will be invited to participate in an interview over Zoom.