Fresh openings in the green sector

Hey,

Welcome to Green Jobs Rising!

As the new year gets going, there are already plenty of opportunities you can tap into, and I know you’ve got big plans for the year ahead.

We’ve pulled together a shortlist of green-sector internships and fellowships that have currently opened.

Here we go:

• African Wildlife Foundation Geospatial Leaders Fellowship 2026
  A 10-month conservation-focused GIS fellowship designed to build the next generation of African geospatial leaders. The programme combines structured online learning, an in-person cohort workshop in Nairobi, and a mentored project that fellows implement within an organisation that has clear GIS needs. Fellows gain access to advanced geospatial tools and data, plus training and mentorship (including through AWF’s partnership with Esri), and graduates able to turn spatial data into practical conservation solutions such as tracking deforestation and mapping wildlife corridors.

• AWF-Wall Leadership and Management Fellowship 2026
  A nine-month intensive leadership programme for young African professionals already working in conservation and environmental action across NGOs, business, government, and community-based organisations. The fellowship builds self-leadership, team leadership, and organisational leadership through a 360 assessment and tailored workshops, innovation mentorship to solve organisational challenges, leadership placements for month-long visits, and networking with peers and senior conservation leaders. Fellows gain practical management skills, coaching support, and the ability to lead systemic impact on environmental issues. 

• AWF-Wall Policy Fellowship 2026
  A nine-month fellowship that builds hands-on capability in international biodiversity governance and policy, with a strong focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity and delivered in partnership with UNEP. The programme develops policy and negotiation skills through virtual workshops, a one-week in-person event in Nairobi, and a multi-month virtual policy boot camp. Fellows also participate in relevant governance conferences, write and publish policy briefs, and expand professional networks with policy and conservation experts, graduating ready to contribute to policy formulation and review at country, regional, and international levels.

• Wind Industry Internship Programme (WIIP) 2026
  A 12-month internship run by the South African Wind Energy Association that places young graduates with leading organisations in the wind-energy sector. The programme offers hands-on workplace experience across fields such as engineering, finance, environmental sciences, governance, IT, law, and social sciences, building job-ready skills to contribute to South Africa’s clean-energy transition and to grow into wind-industry professional roles.

• UNECA Internship, Macroeconomics, Finance and Governance Division (MAS)
  A full-time UN internship in Addis Ababa (expected 3–6 months) within UNECA’s division that supports African member states on development planning, macroeconomic management, economic governance, and financing. Interns contribute through research and analysis on sustainable economic development and governance, inputs and editing for publications, stakeholder coordination, meeting and event support, outreach, and day-to-day operational tasks. Candidates gain UN policy-research exposure and practical experience supporting regional economic work (note the posting states the internship is unpaid).

• Halcyon Global Climate Fellowship 2026
  A hybrid fellowship for founders of for-profit startups building scalable climate adaptation and resilience solutions, requiring at least an MVP and early validation. The programme includes a virtual kickoff, two one-week in-person residencies in the US (Washington, DC and Los Angeles), and additional virtual programming. Fellows receive support to accelerate their venture through expert workshops on product-market fit, capital strategy, and leadership, plus professional advisors, investor and stakeholder networking, access to Halcyon’s global founder community, and equity-free resources including a stipend and AWS credits.

• International Climate Protection Fellowship (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)
  A Germany-based fellowship for prospective leaders (and postdocs) from non-European developing or transition countries who work academically or practically on climate protection or climate-relevant resource conservation. It supports a research project in cooperation with a host in Germany and emphasises exchange of knowledge, methods, and practical applicability back home. Fellows receive a monthly fellowship amount (level-dependent) plus ancillary support options such as travel, health insurance, German language courses, a multi-week introductory program with visits and networking, and longer-term alumni support to sustain collaborations.

• SEI Africa Research Internship Programme
  A capacity-building internship for postgraduate (MSc/PhD) students and recently graduated candidates to gain skills in environment and development and SEI’s thematic areas. Interns get training and hands-on experience with research, science-to-policy processes, and sometimes fieldwork, with exposure across SEI Africa focus areas including energy and climate change, natural resources and ecosystems, health and environment, and sustainable urbanisation, plus communications work. Internships are typically six months (January to June or July to December), and can be project-based or applicant-initiated (including thesis-related work), helping candidates build practical research and policy-relevant experience.

Curious why fellowships and fully funded opportunities are game changers for your growth? Watch this quick video to find out.