Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

HCWN is an Indigenous-led initiative focused on strengthening Himalayan climate knowledge, storytelling, and resilience. We work at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, media, and ethical climate data to support more grounded decision-making and representation.

Many Himalayan Indigenous communities are on the frontline of climate change, yet their knowledge and lived realities are often missing from research, media, and policy. HCWN exists to bridge this gap through community-rooted knowledge, storytelling, and data practices.

HCWN follows Indigenous data sovereignty principles, including FPIC, CARE, and TRUST frameworks. Community consent, accountability, and ownership are central to all work. Stories may be public, but community knowledge is treated with care and respect.

HCWN is developed within Mudland Climate Lab and led by an Indigenous founder from the Himalayan region. The pilot phase is supported by the BeVisioneers – Mercedes-Benz Fellowship.

It is a three-month, part-time fellowship supporting Indigenous Himalayan storytellers to produce high-quality journalistic or media work focused on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and climate solutions.

Yes. This is the inaugural fellowship cohort. We are intentionally starting small, prioritising quality and care, and welcoming feedback from fellows as the programme evolves.

The exact start date will be shared with selected fellows. The first cohort is expected to begin in April 2026.

The fellowship is open to individuals who identify as belonging to Indigenous or frontline communities of the Himalayan region and are engaged in storytelling, journalism, research, or media-based climate work.

No. We value lived experience, community knowledge, and commitment as much as formal credentials.

Yes, as long as your work is rooted in Himalayan Indigenous communities and contexts.

No.

Three months.

The fellowship is part-time and designed to be flexible. Fellows are expected to commit consistent weekly time, which will be clarified before the programme begins.

Each fellow is placed with a partner media organisation and supported through:

• Editorial mentorship
• Story development support
• Peer learning
• Guidance on ethical storytelling and knowledge practices

Each fellow will produce:

• One major published story or media output focused on a Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)-based climate solution
• A short community-rooted insight that contributes to HCWN’s broader knowledge ecosystem

Outputs are intended to be published through partner platforms and shared within the HCWN ecosystem.

Fellows retain authorship of their work. Any community knowledge shared follows ethical and consent-based practices.

Yes. Fellows receive a stipend to support their time and work during the fellowship.

Each fellow receives a modest research stipend of 300 USD to support costs directly related to their reporting and fieldwork. This may include local travel, communication, materials, or basic equipment needed to document their story. The stipend is not intended as a salary or personal income, but as practical support to enable ethical, grounded research within the fellow's community. Fellows are expected to document how the stipend is used and submit a brief summary of expenses as part of the fellowship's accountability and learning process.

• Editorial and mentoring support
• Placement with a partner organisation
• Guidance on ethics, safety, and community accountability
• Connection to a growing Indigenous climate network

Once the call for applications is announced, you can apply by visiting the Fellowship page and clicking “Apply Here” at the end of the page.

At the moment, you can register your interest. Registered individuals will be notified when applications open.

Selection is based on alignment with the fellowship’s values, clarity of intent, commitment to community-rooted work, and the potential impact of the proposed story.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted within a few weeks after the application deadline.