Catalyst for Change Fellowship 2025-2026 cohort is now open.

Application closes by 15th Nov 24

Migration & Asylum Project (MAP), an initiative of The Ara Trust, is India’s first and only law centre for refugees and the foremost advocate for forced migrants in the region. The organisation recognizes law as a powerful tool for analysis, advocacy, and policy development, and adopts it to pioneer innovative approaches for promoting safe migration in South Asia. In the last 10 years, MAP has pioneered several innovative programmes for forced migrants that range from legal empowerment campaigns to financial inclusion.

What does the Programme Offer?

The Fellows will have an unparalleled opportunity to spend twenty-four months gaining both academic, legal and field experience working in the areas of migration, women’s rights, protection of displaced communities, and being part of a movement to build an inclusive and responsive legal protection landscape through a rule of law-focused approach.

The position will be a unique opportunity for a highly motivated candidate to raise awareness around issues related to forced migration and displacement, gain an in-depth understanding of programmes, engage with domestic and international experts, and, most importantly, interact with the migrant and displaced communities in South Asia. The Fellows may be placed in any of MAP’s three primary programmes – support for survivor of sexual & gender-based violence, legal empowerment of migrant workers, and direct assistance to displaced communities.

The Fellows will have the rare chance to use core human rights and international law principles to directly impact the lives of their clients. Over the course of the Programme, the Fellows will be trained to effectively leverage the law as a tool to protect the rights of displaced populations, contribute to ongoing advocacy, litigation, and policymaking efforts and undertake path breaking research in the field. Fellows will also have the opportunity to engage with MAP’s key partners and collaborators, which includes UN agencies, civil society organisations, and state institutions.

The CFC Fellowship can be used as a springboard towards a wide range of academic and professional opportunities in the future. MAP’s alumni have gone on to pursue careers in the development sector including in within the UN system and graduate degrees, other prestigious academic fellowships and PhDs.

What are the terms?

Title: CFC Fellow

Location: New Delhi (on-site)

Duration: Up to 24 months

Monthly Stipend: INR 60,000 (subject to applicable TDS) along with other benefits.

Note: Stipends are periodically reviewed subject to availability of funds.

Starting Date: 1 January 2025

​How to Apply?

Potential candidates who meet the requirements should submit their Resume, covering letter and a writing sample, directly using the following link – https://forms.gle/8w6j2MDWXhM7GKqcA. Only complete applications submitted through the Google Form link will be considered.

The deadline for receiving the applications is 15 November, 2024 (6 pm IST). The selection process will be completed by 15 December, 2024. The fellows are expected to join on 1 January 2025.

Any extensions or modifications to these dates will be notified through our website, social media handles, and emails to prospective candidates.

Note

Please note, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the recruitment process. Due to limited capacity, we are unable to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

Please also note that while MAP will seek to allot you to the team of your preference, all decisions regarding allocation will be based on programmatic needs.

For any queries, please write to us at recruitments@aratrust.in

​Who Should Apply?

MAP is looking for applicants who are graduates of law or other related fields, with 0-2 years of experience. Candidates must have a deep commitment towards human rights and access to justice issues. Candidates must be motivated to work with migrant and displaced communities, be empathetic in their interactions and effectively communicate with the community. Candidates must be familiar and/ or willing to learn digital tools like Slack, GSuite, etc.

Some key responsibilities, depending on the programme the Fellows is assigned to, may include:

• Provide legal aid and representation to migrant and displaced populations in India;
• Engage with the target communities through trainings, meetings and other events to spread awareness on their legal rights and their access to justice;
• Assist in operationalising community legal desks in identified settlements to conduct in-takes and provide individualized assistance to vulnerable clients;
• Conduct trauma-informed interviews with potential clients to identify protection needs, prepare legal/supporting documentation, and perform such other tasks related to casework;
• Engage in programme-based research, policy and advocacy;
• Assist in strengthening MAP’s community-based networks comprising of Paralegal Volunteers, ASHAs, NGOs, community leaders etc., and coordinate their grassroots interventions;
• Assist in maintaining office databases and drafting office correspondence; and
• Such other activities, which are required to meet MAP’s goals.

The Fellow will be carrying out the aforementioned activities under the supervision of the Project Coordinator. The Fellow will be required to travel for work, as needed.

CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE AND APPLY

FAQs

Fellowship Terms

1.How many fellows will be recruited every cohort?

We are seeking to recruit 2-3 Fellows for the 2025-26 cohort. This number will vary from one year to the next depending on programme requirements and available funding.

2.Is the Fellowship period flexible?

The starting date for the current cohort will be between January 1st 2025 or can be extended, for a period of 24 months, and this period is not flexible. Fellows will also have to undergo a three-month probation period in line with MAP’s standard HR Policy.

3.Does MAP offer deferrals for successful applicants?

No, at present there is no option of deferral.

4.Is the stipend negotiable?

No, the stipend is non-negotiable and will be uniform across the 2025-26 cohort. The stipend may be revised annually subject to availability of funds.

5.Are there any other benefits?

Fellows are provided a modest allowance towards health insurance (subject to availability of funds).

6.Where are the Fellows based?

Fellows will be based in New Delhi.

7.What will the working hours be like?

MAP’s working hours are 09:00 am to 05:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays.

8.Are Fellows entitled to time off?

Yes, all Fellows are entitled to casual and sick leaves, along with weekends and public holidays. The detailed Leave Policy and other internal policies and procedures will be provided to the Fellows on joining.

9.May I work remotely?

Fellows will be based out of New Delhi and will be required to come into office. However, in exceptional situation, staff may work remotely in accordance with the organization’s ‘Work from Home’ policy.

Eligibility

1.Am I eligible to apply?

MAP is looking for applicants who are graduates of law or other related fields, with 0-2 years of experience. Candidates must have a deep commitment towards human rights and access to justice issues.

2. Does MAP have a non-discrimination policy?

Yes. MAP also encourages applications from women and non-binary individuals, and people from minority backgrounds.

3. Does MAP accept non-Indian applicants?   

No, currently the MAP-CFC Fellowship is only open to Indian citizens. Preference will be given to applicants who can speak Hindi and local languages.

4.Can I apply if I am currently a student?

No, the MAP-CFC Fellowship is intended to be a full-time position for recent graduates. You are required to have completed your coursework before the start of the Fellowship. If you are currently a student of law or related subjects, you are welcome to apply for an internship at MAP.

5.Can I do the Fellowship part-time, with other employment, coursework or a thesis?

No, the MAP-CFC Fellowship is intended to be a full-time position. Fellows will be required to enter into an exclusive contract with MAP and will not be able to take on other paid positions during the period of the Fellowship.

6.Is previous experience working with refugees and migrants required? 

No, prior experience working with migrants and refugees is not required before you apply to be a Fellow. However, any prior experience with displaced communities or other marginalised groups will make your application stronger so please include it in your application!

7.Is there a grade cut-off for applicants?

No, there is no grade cut-off for applicants for the MAP-CFC Fellowship. However, a strong academic record will make your application stronger.

8.I applied last year and didn’t receive an offer. Can I apply again?

Yes! An unsuccessful application does not disqualify your candidature. Please utilise the Letter of Motivation to highlight your professional growth and tell us how your application is stronger this year.

Application Process

1.What can I expect from the application process?  

Only complete applications sent via the Google Form within the deadline will be assessed. Applications sent to us directly via email or other portals will not be accepted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to appear for a written test, based on which they may be shortlisted for an interview.

2.What can I expect from the written test?

The written test will be case-study based and will be used to measure your analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. Other relevant information will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to the test.

3.What can I expect from the interview process?

Interviews will be conducted by MAP’s Project Coordinators, and HR staff. The focus of the interviews will be to assess the candidate’s commitment to human rights and their existing knowledge of displaced communities in India.

4.Where will the interviews be held?

The interviews will be conducted in-person at our New Delhi office, or remotely (subject to the Applicant’s location).

5.What is the timeline for the application process?

Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section above.

6.I have missed the deadline; can I still apply?

Unless an extension is specifically mentioned, we will not be accepting applications past the deadline. Please keep an eye out for other opportunities on our website’s careers page or try again for the next cohort.

Projects & Training

1.What sort of work are Fellows assigned during their time at MAP?

Depending on the programme assigned, the main responsibilities of the Fellows will include assisting in providing legal representation in individual cases, scouting talented and skilled asylum seekers and refugees and assisting them access work opportunities in third countries, providing legal counselling through MAP’s legal response desk, formulating and implementing outreach campaigns in addition to contributing overall to the research and policy work undertaken by the organisation.

MAP is a small organisation; all Fellows should also be willing to take on ancillary and administrative tasks related to their project.

2.How are Fellows assigned to ongoing projects?

Fellows will be assigned to specific project teams after their training period. This allows us to assess the skills, and strengths of each Fellow and match them with the project requirements. Fellows may be given an opportunity to work on more than one project during the Fellowship period, however, the same is subject to the staffing requirements, performance, and availability of funding.

While we encourage Fellows to inform us of their preferences, we cannot guarantee that Fellows will be assigned their first-choice of projects as the requirement of the project and the strengths of the other team members are also relevant factors in this determination.

3.Do Fellows receive any training?

Yes, Fellows will be provided training in the first month of the Fellowship. The training will include an overview of existing projects and internal processes, along with the legal and policy framework that they will be required to engage with. Fellows will be expected to finish assigned readings and take initiative to make the most of this training period.