Fully funded Legislative Fellowship Program 2018 in USA

Deadline: March 30, 2017.

Applications are invited for the Legislative Fellowship Program 2018 in USA from young professionals from India, Pakistan and Nepal. The Professional Fellows for Governance and Society, South and Central Asia program brings young professionals from India, Pakistan, and Nepal to the U.S. to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices in legislative process and policy making.

Professional Fellows for Governance and Society is administered by World Learning on behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Through this two-way exchange for emerging leaders ages 25-40 from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and the United States, participants will exchange ideas and best practices, while also improving leadership skills and developing sustainable and enduring linkages with professional counterparts. Participants will be matched with a U.S. organization or government office for a professional fellowship in order to increase their understanding of the U.S. legislative process. They will also engage in civic life through enrichment activities such as meeting with key stakeholders, dialogues, and site visits and participate in the Professional Fellows Congress with other 200+ Fellows from 48 countries.

Program Goals: The goals of the Legislative Fellowship Program are:

• Promote mutual understanding


• Establish networks among mid-level professionals in the U.S., India, Pakistan, and Nepal


• Encourage increased knowledge of the legislative process and principles of good governance

Supported by:U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Fellowship Location:

• It will begin with an orientation in Washington, DC that focuses on the structure of the U.S. government, the legislative process, and the role of civil society. Next, participants will take part in a four-week fellowship in one of several U.S. cities, which includes professional assignments at local/state/federal government offices or NGOs, seminars and observational site visits, homestays with local families, and volunteerism. Participants then return to Washington, DC for the concluding Professional Fellows Congress, which includes workshops, dialogues, meetings with U.S. Government officials, and a program debrief.

Fellowship Dates: October 13-November 17, 2018, Fall 2018

Themes and Topics of Fellowship:

The following are themes and topics related to legislation and governance that may be included in the program:

• Good governance (e.g. transparency and anti-corruption)


• Legislative processes


• the role of women, minorities, and marginalized populations in civil society and the political process;


• decentralization


• Youth engagement


• Development and strengthening of NGOs and civil society


• Post-conflict transitions


• Non-violent civic participation

Financial Support:

• Legislative Fellowship Program is fully funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.


• Accommodations will include double-person hotel rooms and homestays with American families and peers.


• A small stipend will be provided during the participants’ time in the United States to cover basic living expenses.


• The cost of international and domestic travel, program-related ground transportation, cultural activities, and all the other programmatic and logistical arrangements will be covered.


• Health coverage is provided through the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE). ASPE is a self-funded, limited health care benefit plan designed to pay covered medical expenses for eligible exchange participants.


• Covered medical expenses are subject to limitation and pre-existing conditions are not covered. This plan is not an insurance policy. Therefore, if the participant should have any serious medical care, he/she should seek additional health insurance on their own behalf.

Fellowship Benefits:

• Gain an understanding of the U.S. legislative and political process


• Explore governance principles and practices in both public and civil society institutions in the U.S.


• Enhance their appreciation for the role of civil society in the political process


• Gain a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, and people


• Gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures, and people of each other’s countries


• Develop and implement projects in their home country that promote good governance, strengthen civil society, and/or support democratic institutions


• Create and maintain linkages and networks between Americans and other Professional Fellows


• Increase cooperation between the government and civil society of India, Pakistan, and Nepal

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates from India, Pakistan, and Nepal will be professionals ages 25-40.


• They seek candidates with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, proven leadership abilities, the ability to work in a cross-cultural setting and a commitment to the program and follow-on activities.


• Written and oral English proficiency is required as the participants will need to converse about complex political and global issues with U.S. peers and experts.


• Preference will be given to applicants with relevant professional achievements who have not previously visited the United States.


• All candidates should be able and willing to host American counterparts, for up to a week, and design, arrange, and coordinate, under World Learning and its partners’ supervision, a local professional and cultural program for the American participants.

How to Apply:

Application form must be submitted online. The application of the must be completed in English.

Preference will be given to applicants with relevant professional achievements who have not previously visited the United States. All candidates should be able and willing to host American counterparts, for up to a week, and design, arrange, and coordinate, under World Learning and its partners’ supervision, a local professional and cultural program for the American participants.

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Official Information