Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab
Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab supports mid-career Indo-Pacific professionals through collaborative leadership learning to address sustainability and livelihood challenges in coastal and river communities.
Funder: East-West Center
Due Dates: November 15, 2026 (Application) | November 22, 2026 (Letter of reference)
Funding Amounts: Ten-month fellowship covering airfare, program fees and materials, accommodation, meals, and some visa-related costs
Summary: Supports mid-career Indo-Pacific professionals developing collaborative leadership to address sustainability and livelihood challenges in coastal and river communities.
Key Information: Fellows must attend three residential gatherings and monthly virtual engagements, with a passport valid through July 2028.
Description
The Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab is an East-West Center program for mid-career professionals seeking to strengthen collaborative leadership and regional relationships. Its 2027–2028 focus, Sustainable Coastal and River Communities, explores how coastal, delta, and river communities respond to changing ecosystems, development pressures, and shifting livelihoods. Fellows examine governance, innovation, community-based approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and scientific, local, and experiential knowledge.
The ten-month program combines virtual engagement with residential learning in Japan, Malaysia, and Hawaiʻi. Through field-based learning, practitioner engagement, applied cases, peer exchange, reflection, and action learning, fellows develop systems-informed thinking and practical problem-solving skills. Participants shape initiatives for their professional contexts while building relationships that support ongoing knowledge sharing and future regional collaboration.
