Southeast Asia
Farmed Animal Welfare Fellowship
(SEAFAWF)
Building a community and network of farmed animal advocates and professionals in Southeast Asia.
Are you passionate about
reducing the suffering of animals farmed for food?
Are you interested in
creating a more humane and sustainable food system?
We’re looking for highly motivated individuals who are interested in the issues surrounding industrial animal agriculture and who are seeking a career to be part of the solutions in Southeast Asia.
About SEAFAWF
The Southeast Asia Farmed Animal Welfare Fellowship (SEAFAWF) is designed for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in transforming industrial animal agriculture in Southeast Asia and creating a more compassionate and sustainable food system.
Participants will learn about the welfare issues associated with modern, intensive farming systems and the different career pathways that one can pursue to work towards higher welfare for animals farmed for food.
Fellows will get the opportunity to learn from professionals in the field of farmed animal welfare, including leaders of organisations, animal welfare experts and advocates, corporate engagement specialists and more. They will also be introduced to different interventions to address farmed animal welfare issues — including producer engagement, corporate outreach and campaign work — with the chance to participate in discussions to help identify and prioritise the strategies that would work best in their local settings.
This programme sees network-building as key to building a career in this field, and has been designed to grow a strong and coordinated network of peers, professionals and organisations in the region. SEAFAWF focuses on key countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Why should you join this fellowship?
Support us in building a more humane and sustainable future.
You’re looking to make a difference in a crucial yet overlooked issue (industrialised animal agriculture), and you’re based in Southeast Asia.
You care about the welfare of farmed animals and creating a more humane and sustainable food system.
You are seeking opportunities to put your interest into professional practice, to gain the knowledge, skills and the network that will help you achieve your long-term career goals.
You want to work in organisations, conduct research or create a new initiative focussed on improving the welfare of farmed animals and creating more humane food systems.
What our SEAFAWF programme provides
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Expert-led sessions on a range of topics including farmed animal welfare & advocacy, movement-building, corporate outreach, and communications, equipping participants with essential knowledge and skills.
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Networking opportunities with advocates, nonprofit leaders, and experts across Southeast Asia and beyond, to foster collaboration and support.
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Strategic advocacy tools to design and implement effective campaigns that drive positive change for farmed animals.
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Access to career opportunities in the farmed animal advocacy space, as well as exposure to global opportunities such as participation in international conferences and leadership programmes.
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Access to long-term community support through an engaged alumni network, providing connections and shared resources for continued learning and engagement.
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Practical insights from experienced advocates on overcoming challenges, maximising impact, and adapting strategies for the Southeast Asian context.
The 16-week programme
The Southeast Asia Farmed Animal Welfare Fellowship (SEAFAWF) is a 16-week online programme that combines expert-led sessions with interactive discussions to equip fellows with the knowledge and skills needed to advance farmed animal advocacy. Each session features talks from regional and global experts, followed by Q&A discussions where fellows can engage directly with speakers. The programme also includes interactive workshops to develop practical skills in strategic communication and campaign planning, as well as small group discussions to encourage collaboration and peer learning. By the end of the fellowship, participants will have gained valuable insights, advocacy tools, and connections to drive meaningful change in the region.
Topics covered include:
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This module provides an overview of farmed animal advocacy at both global and regional levels. Fellows will learn about the movement and the community working in this space, along with key welfare issues affecting intensively farmed land and aquatic animals.
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Exploring various interventions for farmed animal welfare, this module covers effective strategies and emerging opportunities for impact. Fellows will examine corporate engagement, producer engagement, and policy advocacy, gaining insights into how these approaches drive meaningful change.
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A deep dive into effective animal advocacy, this module introduces evidence-based and research-oriented approaches rooted in effective altruism. Fellows will learn how to identify high-impact solutions and apply strategic thinking to address farmed animal welfare issues in Southeast Asia and beyond.
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Designed to prepare fellows for careers in the movement, this module offers skills-based training in high-demand areas, particularly in Southeast Asia. Career development support, including “mentorship” and guidance tailored to individual interests and skill sets, will help fellows navigate opportunities in farmed animal advocacy.
Application Process
Step 1
(February to April 2025)
Interested candidates must submit an application form. Only selected applicants will proceed to the next stage.
Step 2
(March to April 2025)
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online interview as part of the selection process.
Step 3
(May 2025)
Successful candidates will receive confirmation of their acceptance into the programme.
Who should apply?
Are you:
- Highly motivated to reduce the suffering of as many animals as possible;
- Open-minded about exploring diverse approaches and interventions;
- Driven by evidence and focused on maximizing impact;
- Passionate about building a career in farmed animal advocacy in Southeast Asia;
- Based in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, or Singapore.
If so, the Fellowship could be an ideal fit for you!
FAQs
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This fellowship is an in-depth 16-week online programme in which selected participants are enrolled as ‘fellows’.
Fellows will be provided with opportunities throughout the programme to gain locally relevant knowledge on farmed animal welfare issues, learn about the solutions that can result in more humane farming practices and develop the skills needed to become involved in working in the field of farmed animal welfare professionally.
There will be discussions with peers as well as experts in the field. The fellows can expect to widen their professional network through this programme.
The fellowship programme is designed to empower its participants to be aligned advocates who can establish new farmed animal advocacy initiatives or apply for positions in existing animal welfare organisations in the region.
We aim to make the fellowship relevant to the region for the fellows, thus each version of the fellowship will be continuously updated and improved while retaining the core content and structure of the programme.
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The entire fellowship will be conducted online.
The structure of the fellowship programme will include speaker talks, group discussions, readings, networking, 1-1 guidance and opportunities to put knowledge and skills gained into practise through an end-of-programme task.
There will be one live session every week for a duration of 1.5 hours. The fellows will be expected to complete the reading materials provided for each weekly session. The sessions will include presentations by experts in the field and group discussions.
At the end of the fellowship, fellows will be provided with career planning support such as tailored network connections.
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SEAFAWF 2025 is scheduled to start towards the end of May 2025.
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No, the fellowship is being conducted free-of-charge to the fellows.
As part of the programme, fellows are expected to demonstrate high commitment and engagement with the intention of professional development in the spaces covered.
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No, there will be no stipend or financial support provided to the fellows during the course of the fellowship.
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We are seeking individuals based in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam who:
Care about the welfare of farmed animals, acknowledging that all farmed animals are sentient beings and capable of suffering.
Are highly motivated to make a positive difference for farmed animals, and interested in finding out more about building a career in farmed animal advocacy in Southeast Asia.
Are open-minded, and take an evidence-based and impact-oriented approach when considering various approaches for addressing farmed animal welfare issues.
Are at least final year university students, and ready to explore a career in farmed animal advocacy in the near future.
Applications are open to anyone meeting these criteria, regardless of career stage or background.
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The SEAFAWF programme for 2025 will be conducted in English. All the reading materials and the sessions will be in English.
We strive to make this programme as accessible as possible to both English and non-English speaking individuals in Southeast Asia. If you have any further queries on language, feel free to reach out to fellowship@welfarematters.org to find out more.
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We can accept 25-30 fellows into the SEAFAWF programme in 2025.
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The fellowship will conclude with the setting of a compulsory activity/task that must be completed by every fellow. Fellows will receive clear guidance and sufficient time to complete this task.
Fellows are also expected to:
Commit to attend at least 9 out of 14 sessions of the fellowship.
Be open-minded to learn about all of the different interventions and solutions being discussed.
Maintain a friendly and collaborative environment.
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Fellows will primarily learn about the welfare issues for farmed animals being raised in intensive systems, as well as other issues related to industrial animal agriculture. Fellows will also be introduced to the different career pathways that one can pursue to help create a more humane and sustainable food system.
The fellowship programme provides the fellows with:
Reading materials,
Access to talks by experts working across various fields,
Discussions related to locally relevant contexts,
Introductions to existing animal welfare organisations, and
Exposure to incubation and funding opportunities available in the region.
The fellowship aims to empower its participants to be aligned advocates who can apply for positions in existing animal welfare organisations or establish new farmed animal advocacy initiatives in the region.
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This fellowship is tailored to address the issues surrounding industrial animal agriculture in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. While there is no strict restriction regarding where applicants are located, we are looking for those who are currently based in or can potentially work in these specific countries. The fellowship aims to support those who are looking at entering a career in farmed animal advocacy in this region.
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Fellows will be provided with regular updates on career opportunities that open up in the areas of farmed animal advocacy. Based on the needs and interests of the fellows, we will follow up 1-on-1 with those who require mentorship support. In the case that a fellow is ready to work on developing independent projects, we will explore options that can best help them.
Most importantly, the network that the fellowship provides will continue to open up opportunities for the fellows to be engaged in the farmed animal advocacy space.
Last updated: Feb 18th, 2025
We will continue to update this FAQ list with more information.
If you have any questions about the programme, you can reach out to us at fellowship@welfarematters.org.