ICANN invites nominations for mentors for the Fellowship Program

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched a call for nominations for mentors for its Fellowship Program, inviting its Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) to put forward one volunteer each to support fellows during the ICANN87–ICANN89 Public Meetings. The Fellowship Program plays a key role in onboarding new participants into ICANN’s multistakeholder processes, and mentor involvement is central to ensuring that fellows can meaningfully engage.

Each SO or AC may nominate one individual, with submissions due by 10 February 2026. Nominations should be sent to the ICANN Fellowship Program Manager, Siranush Vardanyan. Self-nominations are not accepted, underscoring that mentors must be selected through internal community processes.

Mentors will accompany fellows across three consecutive ICANN Public Meetings, beginning with ICANN87. The role requires a significant time commitment, approximately 30 to 40 hours for each meeting cycle. This includes preparation with assigned fellows in the weeks before the meeting, on-site guidance during sessions, and follow-up support after the meeting concludes. ICANN will provide travel funding where applicable.

To maintain consistency and program integrity, mentors are expected to follow all established Fellowship Program guidelines. They may not serve simultaneously on the Fellowship Program Selection Committee.

ICANN encourages communities to nominate individuals with strong knowledge of ICANN’s processes, a commitment to capacity building, and the ability to guide new participants in navigating policy development work. Additional details about expectations and program structure can be found on the ICANN Fellowship page.