The Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Fellowship for Community Forestry Research 2027 will support graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers conducting practical research on challenges affecting community forest enterprises (CFEs) in Latin America.
The fellowship provides US$20,000 per year for two years, for a total of US$40,000 in fellowship support. Applications are scheduled to open on August 31, 2026, with the next application deadline set for February 28, 2027.
Researchers from any nationality or country of residence can apply, but the proposed research must be conducted in Latin America.
What Is the Kleinhans Fellowship?
The Kleinhans Fellowship is a Rainforest Alliance research opportunity focused on generating practical knowledge that can help community forest enterprises become more sustainable.
Community forest enterprises play an important role in sustainable forest management and conservation, particularly as responsibility for forests and natural resources is increasingly devolved to local communities.
However, CFEs can face challenges involving:
- Financial sustainability
- Governance
- Access to finance
- Market development
- Forest conversion pressures
- Biodiversity management
The fellowship is designed to support research that can identify practical responses to these challenges while involving communities in the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research.
Kleinhans Fellowship 2027 Funding
Successful fellows will receive:
- US$20,000 per year
- Two years of funding
- US$40,000 total fellowship support
The fellowship does not cover academic tuition or fees.
It also does not cover the purchase of transport vehicles or equipment considered unnecessary or unreasonable for the proposed research project.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunity is aimed at researchers working toward a graduate qualification in forestry, ecology, environmental science, or another closely related discipline.
Relevant fields include:
- Forestry
- Ecology
- Botany
- Environmental Science
- Related disciplines
Doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers are preferred.
However, the fellowship information states that applicants may substitute relevant professional or research experience for higher-level academic qualifications.
Geographic Eligibility
The fellowship has an important geographic requirement.
Researchers can be from any nationality or place of residence, but the research itself must be conducted in Latin America.
Therefore, being an international researcher does not automatically prevent you from applying, provided your proposed research meets the geographic requirement.
Research Areas Supported
The Kleinhans Fellowship supports research in several priority areas related to community forestry.
1. Markets for Lesser-Known Species and Non-Timber Forest Products
Research can examine how domestic markets can be developed and maintained for diversified forest products.
This may include:
- Lesser-known timber species
- Non-timber forest products
- Market development
- Factors contributing to successful markets
- Economic viability of community forest enterprises
Research should ultimately provide practical recommendations that can strengthen community forest enterprises.
2. Biodiversity Management Practices
Projects can explore community-level approaches to sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.
Possible areas include:
- Protection of High Conservation Value Forests
- Riparian buffers
- Sustainable forest management
- Biodiversity conservation
- The relationship between biodiversity practices and CFE economic viability
3. Social Organisation and Governance
Applicants can investigate organisational and governance approaches that strengthen community forest enterprises.
Potential topics include:
- Equitable participation
- Transparency in decision-making
- Benefit-sharing
- Human resource management
- Business training
- Bylaws
- Legal status
- Compliance
4. Multi-Community Enterprises
Research can examine how different community forest enterprises can work together to improve their economic position.
Projects may explore:
- Aggregating supply
- Collective investment
- Access to financing
- Multi-community enterprise models
- Successful collaboration models
- Unsuccessful models and lessons learned
- Recommendations for future investment and development
What Research Outputs Are Expected?
The fellowship is focused on research that produces practical value for participating communities.
At the end of the fellowship, the successful fellow will participate in a workshop involving community members and regional Rainforest Alliance staff.
The workshop will provide an opportunity to present findings and discuss their implications for work with specific communities.
Fellows are also expected to:
- Produce a final report summarising research findings and lessons for a general audience
- Share results with participating communities and relevant stakeholders
- Publish research findings in a peer-reviewed journal
- Contribute to discussions about applying research findings to community forestry practice
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete application containing several components.
Research Proposal
The proposal must be no more than seven typed pages and should include:
- Abstract
- Review of relevant literature
- Detailed methodology
- Discussion of practical applications
- Research budget
Curriculum Vitae
Applicants must provide a CV or resume outlining their academic and professional or research experience.
Recommendation Letters
The application must include two letters of recommendation.
Funding Information
Applicants must provide a list of their:
- Past funding sources
- Current funding sources
- Potential funding sources
This should cover both the applicant and the proposed research project.
Languages Accepted
Applications can be submitted in:
- English
- Spanish
- Portuguese
This provides flexibility for researchers working in Latin America and conducting research in different linguistic contexts.
When Does the Application Open?
Applications for the 2027 fellowship are scheduled to open on:
August 31, 2026
The next application deadline is:
February 28, 2027
Because the deadline is several months after the application opening date, prospective applicants have time to develop their research proposal and assemble the required supporting documents.
How to Apply
Completed applications can be submitted by email to Elena Degli Innocenti at kleinhans@ra.org or by regular mail to the Rainforest Alliance address provided in the fellowship information:
Rainforest Alliance
Kleinhans Fellowship
298 Fifth Avenue
7th Floor
New York, NY 10001
United States
Applicants should verify the latest official application instructions before submitting their materials.
Why Apply for the Kleinhans Fellowship?
The fellowship is particularly relevant to researchers who want their academic work to have a direct practical impact on communities managing forest resources.
Rather than focusing solely on theoretical research, the programme emphasises participatory research and practical applications.
For researchers working on community forestry, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, environmental science or forest-based livelihoods, the fellowship can provide both financial support and an opportunity to engage directly with communities and practitioners.
Who Should Consider This Fellowship?
The opportunity may be particularly suitable for:
- PhD candidates researching community forestry
- Postdoctoral researchers in forestry or environmental sciences
- Researchers studying sustainable forest management
- Ecologists working on community-based conservation
- Researchers studying biodiversity management
- Scientists investigating non-timber forest products
- Researchers examining forest governance
- Specialists studying community forest enterprises
- Researchers investigating forest markets and financing
- Professionals with relevant research experience who may qualify through the alternative experience pathway
Important Things to Check Before Applying
Applicants should pay particular attention to several requirements.
Your research must take place in Latin America. Your nationality does not restrict eligibility, but the location of the research does.
The proposal has a seven-page limit. Applicants should structure their research proposal carefully to cover the required elements without exceeding the stated limit.
The fellowship does not cover tuition. Applicants should have a separate plan for academic tuition and fees if these apply to their programme.
Research must have practical value. The fellowship expects researchers to engage with participating communities and communicate findings beyond academic audiences.
A peer-reviewed publication is expected. Applicants should consider how their research can produce findings suitable for academic publication while remaining useful to participating communities.
Final Thoughts
The Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Fellowship for Community Forestry Research 2027 offers US$40,000 in total support over two years for research addressing practical challenges faced by community forest enterprises.
The programme is open to researchers of any nationality, but proposed research must be conducted in Latin America. Priority areas include forest-product markets, biodiversity management, governance and multi-community enterprise models.
With applications opening on August 31, 2026, researchers interested in the fellowship should use the time before the February 28, 2027 deadline to develop a focused research proposal, secure recommendation letters and prepare their funding information.
The information supplied identifies the Rainforest Alliance as the fellowship organisation and provides the programme requirements, funding and timeline. Applicants should independently confirm the latest official application instructions before submission.
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