We invite you to apply to a joint Crude Accountability/FracTracker Alliance Environmental Leadership Program, which will take place online in September/October 2021. This page provides a program description and a link to the application form. You will have the opportunity to introduce yourself and your interests, areas of expertise, and areas in which you may be seeking additional training.

Crude Accountability, FracTracker Alliance

The Program:

Crude Accountability and FracTracker Alliance are organizing a virtual environmental leadership program for environmental youth leaders (ages 16-32 but flexible), especially those with an interest in protecting communities from oil and gas development, which, as we know, takes many forms and provides a variety of threats to communities. Fracking, plastics production, oil and gas extraction, transportation, and refining are among the key issues requiring attention and focus from the environmental and human rights community. This program will include environmental defenders from the United States and the countries of the former Soviet Union and will address issues of common concern to local communities in both regions of the world. 

Why this program?

Building stronger solidarity between these two major fossil fuel-producing regions is crucial as the impacts of climate change accelerate and global trends shift towards increasing authoritarianism. As such, this program is designed as an exchange of knowledge and experience in order to inspire leadership, action, and to build a necessary framework for cooperation. 

How to engage?

The ways to engage in this important work are varied. Journalism, legal work, direct action, working in coalition with others, monitoring financing of hydrocarbon projects, and environmental monitoring are among some of the areas in which defenders can address concerns about oil and gas development.

The Specifics:

The program is a virtual leadership “exchange” program, which will include seven online sessions with participants, organizers, and speakers. The program will include:

1. An opportunity to learn from women leaders with decades of experience in grassroots environmental organizing in the US and in the countries of the former Soviet Union;
2. An opportunity to develop a joint project with like-minded activists from the US and former Soviet countries who have expressed interest in projects and campaigns similar to yours;
3. Security training, including digital and personal security hygiene to keep you secure while you work, both during and after the exchange;
4. A committed and safe space for discussion, brainstorming, idea sharing, and exploration;
5. Training in identifying and maximizing your own leadership styles for personal, professional development;
6. An opportunity to explore potential fundraising sources for your specific project.

7. A moderate stipend will be offered to all participants.

The sessions will be held in 7 sessions over the course of several weeks.  Each session will last between 1.5 and 2 hours, and accommodations will be made for participants in various time zones.

The Invitation:

Activists from the former Soviet space and from the United States are invited to participate in the program. Women, nonbinary, minority, and others who feel their voices have been marginalized are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications include any of the following:

1. Activism, including direct action, in environmental issues related to community concerns, including, but not limited to, oil and gas development-related environmental concerns;
2. Journalism, particularly investigative journalism, of environmental concerns, including, but not limited to, oil and gas-related issues;
3. Use of legal and non-binding mechanisms to hold accountable oil and gas companies, financiers of hydrocarbon development, and governments involved in dodgy deals that impact local communities or the environment;
4. Engagement in specific environmental and/or human rights campaigns that address the concerns of communities, activists, or other entities impacted by environmentally egregious, toxic, or harmful projects;

5. Some proficiency in English. (Accommodations for Russian language available)

6. The time and ability to commit to participating in the online sessions, which will be held over a period of 4-6 weeks in the fall of 2021 (likely in late September and October).  

The Process:

Interested parties are invited to submit a short application, which outlines briefly their interest in the program, what they will bring to it, what they would like to get out of it, and a proposed follow-on activity to be carried out with other participants in the program. (See attached application form.)

Please submit your application by July 30, 2021, through this form or to Jeffrey@crudeaccountability.org. You will receive a response from the program sent to the email you provide by August 16, 2021.

Note, this application form is encrypted and secure. Your information will only be viewable to the Crude Accountability and FracTracker Alliance teams.

Thank you!