Global Learning Fellowship

The Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (DGM) Global Learning Fellowship was designed to cultivate long-term strengthening of IPLC leadership within the DGM network by providing virtual in-depth global learning experiences for DGM subproject implementers as a way of building capacity in DGM-specific topics, amplifying IPLC voices, and enhancing the visibility of their efforts and expertise. The DGM Global Learning Fellowship is a four-month program that provides fellows with the opportunity to participate in and present on their experience and results in knowledge-sharing sessions, create relevant knowledge products to share back with their communities and networks, and receive virtual training/e-learning in a particular area of interest.



Between 2021 and 2022, 20 extraordinary fellows (13 women and 7 men) from 7 DGM countries were selected (Brazil, Burkina Faso, Nepal, Mexico, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Congo, and Mozambique).

Their areas of expertise include traditional knowledge, territorial management, gender, social inclusion, agroforestry, governance, community enterprises, climate-smart agriculture, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and environmental justice.

This 2022 cohort of fellows had the opportunity to connect with one another, speak and hear from their peers about their backgrounds and diverse experiences in their DGM countries. They were also able to share useful insights and resources about their projects in terms of challenges, innovation, lessons learned, and, encourage each other. In total 8 sessions were facilitated including four small group sessions with the following objectives:

  • Connect DGM fellows with one another according to their area of work and interest.

  • Promote a space where DGM fellows can share experiences and resources regarding project implementation and other climate-action initiatives.

  • Find links between fellows’ interests/needs and connect them with CI and/or other external resources.

  • During these meetings, fellows were able to dive deep into their projects and DGM activities in their countries such as the commercialization of non-timber products in Brazil and Mozambique, the utilization of banana waste in making paper bags in the Cote d’Ivoire, mechanisms to ensure women and youth’s participation in projects in Mexico, conflict resolution in countries like Mozambique and Brazil, the importance of environmental education in schools in Burkina Faso, and the cultivation of medicinal plants in Nepal and Mexico.

    The main theme identified among the twelve fellows in this cohort was community enterprises. To attend to fellows’ learning interests DGM GEA hosted in collaboration with DGM Brazil a training titled Community Enterprises: Productive Organizations and Market Access to enhance their knowledge learning from Brazil’s experience and best practices. Fellows from both cohorts also attended virtual international events such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress and Global Landscape Forum, and two fellows were selected to attend COP 27 in-person.

    At the end of the fellowship, fellows were able to broaden the view and the scope of their work from beyond the local level but also understand the impact of what they are doing at the global level. They felt empowered and part of a greater global community that works together for a better world for future generations.

Benjamim Ouanho, DGM Global fellow, delivers an impactful lecture on environmental education at a local school in the Zambezia region, Mozambique.

Empowering Zapotec Women: Rocio Aguillar, DGM Global Fellow from Mexico, documents Mujeres Sureñas' (subproject) dedication to cultivating quality coffee plants.

Empowering Metuge Community: Launa Joaquim leads training in modern honey production techniques, fostering active participation of his community in the DGM subproject focused on the production and processing of honey as an alternative source of income.

  • “One of the greatest contributions that the scholarship has brought me is to be able to look at things in a more focused and directed manner and envision new horizons. And also understand on a global level the situation in which we live and to understand that we share the same struggles and victories with more people around the world.”

    Antônio Fagno Braga

  • “For my community, it has allowed them to develop a harmonious life among themselves and especially to adopt a better behavior in nature conservation. Personally, I would say that this grant has also allowed me to acquire knowledge on nature conservation (setting up a nursery, reforestation, and maintenance of plants). Also, the fellowship gave me the opportunity to have a working tool (laptop) and especially to use it because with it I attend trainings in informatics for more proficiency. It also allowed me to be in continuous contact with the community.”

    Bertrand Some

  • “Participating in the MDE global fellowship has allowed me to focus on observing, evaluating, and analyzing the results we have had in the productive projects in the communities and with the groups, to obtain the best strategies in the area of social inclusion and teamwork, also thanks to the experience exchange sessions I have been able to enrich my knowledge and practices.”

    Karla Juarez

  • “Being DGM Global Fellow has contributed to the dissemination of the ancestral knowledge and traditional practices that will allow for the new generation to experience what is beautiful in the Quilombola communities as well as keeping our Cerrado and Pantanal standing which is what guarantees the air we breathe.”

    Laura Ferreira

  • “I can say that the most important successes as a DGM Global Fellows are: 1) Documentation of the combination of our traditions and culture, with the social and environmental safeguards in the execution of its subproject 2) The engagement of work groups that include youth, women and men, both young and old, with training and capacity building programs, and last 3) Personal and communal satisfaction, being aware that we have a cultural and traditional wealth that allows us to combine our love and respect for mother earth to produce our food while protecting our planet.”

    Rocio Aguilar

  • “The DGM Global Fellowship has brought a great opportunity to show the environmental and cultural work that we have been developing and how much the Krahô-Kanela people are committed to defending and protecting the environment.”

    Wagner Katamy

Meet the 2022 Fellows

  • Antônio Fagno Braga

    Local community:
    Lago do Junco | Maranhão - Brazil

    Project focus:
    Babassu production chain and cooperativism

  • Asmita Pandey

    Local community:
    Parasi | Nawalparasi - Nepal

    Project focus:
    Storytelling | Women in the apiculture business

  • Benjamim Ouanho

    Local community:
    Namanda | Zambézia – Mozambique

    Project focus:
    Awareness campaign | Mitigation and adaptation to climate change

  • Bertrand Some

    Local community:
    Batié | Noumbiel - Burkina Faso

    Project focus:
    Environmental Education

  • Karla Juarez

    Indigenous community:
    San Andres Ixtlahuca | Oaxaca – Mexico

    Project focus:
    Environmental and social safeguards in the context of DGM Mexico

  • Launa Joaquim

    Indigenous community:
    Aldeia de Unidade | Metuge - Mozambique

    Project focus:
    Sustainable honey production | Documentation of project and dissemination

  • Laura Ferreira

    Quilombola community:
    Mutuca | Mato Grosso – Brazil

    Project focus:
    Cultural valorization of Quilombola ancestral knowledge

  • Lia Lopéz

    Indigenous community:
    Capulálpam de Méndez | Oaxaca – Mexico

    Project focus:
    Community enterprises & Non-timber forestry resources

  • Neidy Zapata

    Local community: Kantemo | José Maria Morelos – Mexico

    Project focus: Dissemination of mitigation measures in 7 subprojects in the Quintana Roo region

  • Rocío Aguilar

    Indigenous community:
    Cieneguilla | Oaxaca – Mexico

    Project focus:
    Execution of Environmental Management and Social Inclusion within DGM Mexico

  • Salimata Toh

    Local community:
    Djouroutou | San Pedro - Ivory Coast

    Project focus:
    Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Biodegradable bag made of banana waste

  • Wagner Katamy

    Indigenous from Aldeia Catamjê | Tocantins – Brazil