NED Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program 2022-2023 93 views

5-month long residential fellowship in USA to research on democratic studies. Fully funded. Apply by 1 October 2021.

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program at a glance

• The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is a federally funded, international exchange program.
• The fellowship offers democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars from around the world the opportunity to spend five months in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
• Fellows undertake independent research on democracy in a particular country or region.

Who can apply to Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program?

All applicants should:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
• Propose a project focusing on the political, social, economic, legal or cultural aspects of democratic development
• Be available to work in residence at the International Forum for Democratic Studies in Washington, D.C. during the 5 month fellowship period (October 1 – February 28 or March 1 – July 31).
• No other fellowships or opportunities may be held at this time.

Applicants on the practitioner track should:

• Have substantial practical experience working to promote democracy or human rights in their country of origin or interest
• Be mid-career professionals

Applicants on the scholarly track should:

• Possess a doctorate (a Ph.D., or academic equivalent) at the time of application
• Have a proven record of publications in their field
• Have developed a detailed research outline for their fellowship project

Awards/Benefits

• Program Activities: Through its calendar of seminars, roundtables, field trips, and other events, the program seeks to:
  • build knowledge about the work of the Endowment and its core institutes;
  • provide education concerning democracy through field trips and seminars;
  • support outreach for dialogue and interaction with the governmental, nongovernmental, academic, and media communities around town and beyond; and
  • promote a sense of collegiality among fellows as a group. In addition, fellows benefit from the many informal social and cultural activities that the program has to offer, including trips to sporting events, museums, movies, and happy hours.
• Financial Support:
  • Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C., at the beginning and end of the fellowship period.
  • Fellowship payments are calculated to cover cost of a short-term, furnished rental apartment, plus “cost of living” for food, local transportation, and other necessities.
  • Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, plus a limited budget for long-distance phone calls and professional travel within the United States.
• Research Associates: Research associates are assigned to work with several fellows and provide critical support in a variety of ways:
  • consulting with fellows on the shape and direction of their projects,
  • providing research, written, and editorial support on issues relating to the theory and practice of democracy,
  • facilitating outreach,
  • aiding in the preparation and follow-up of fellows’ public presentations, and
  • providing other assistance as necessary.
• Democracy Resource Center: Housed at NED, the Democracy Resource Center (DRC) is staffed by four librarians and contains approximately 20,000 works, including books, journals, grantee reports, and other publications on democracy.

NED Fellowship Deadline

The application deadline for the 2022-2023 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is 1 October 2021.

Other useful information

• Visas: Prior to their arrival in the United States, prospective fellows who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States must obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa in order to travel to the United States. Accompanying family members must obtain a J-2 visa.
• Fellowship applicants cannot have participated in a J-1 research scholar program within the 24 months immediately preceding their Reagan-Fascell fellowship.
• Fellows who are sponsored on our J-1 visa are typically required by U.S. law to return to their home country for two years following the completion of their fellowship before they may apply for an H visa, an L visa, or for legal permanent residence.

Head over to NED website for all details.