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Two Fellowships to Promote Research on the Legal Framework for Civil Society in Latin America, Africa, and Asia

Fellowship Application Instructions

Click here to skip the instructions and go straight to the application (not recommended)

To apply for the Research Fellowship, applicants must submit the following items in English:

  1. Application coversheet;
  2. Proposal; and
  3. Resume, Curriculum Vitae (CV), or other statement of work history and education.

Proposal

In three pages or less, please address the following topics:

  1. Your past or present experience on issues relating to the legal framework for civil society;
  2. The issue(s) you would like to explore through the Fellowship;
  3. Your research design/methodology, including the language(s) in which your research will be published, and plans to publicize the results of the Fellowship in your country;
  4. How your Fellowship will contribute to the development of the legal environment for civil society in your country;
  5. Your interest and commitment to remaining engaged on the legal framework for civil society upon your return home; and
  6. Any conflicts you have that would prevent you from being able to travel to Washington, DC in August or September 2008.

Note Regarding Research Proposals

The topic proposed must relate to the legal environment for civil society (e.g., the rules governing the establishment, operation, or sustainability of NGOs, NGO-government relations, freedom of association, etc.) Illustrative research projects might include: an assessment of your country’s legal framework for civil society and recommendations for reform; an analysis, from an international perspective, of a draft law affecting civil society; comparative analysis of an issue of regional concern; or an analysis of how to improve the implementation of legislation affecting civil society in your country.  This is a non-exhaustive, illustrative list of possible research projects.  You are welcome and encouraged to suggest other research projects to advance the legal framework for civil society in your country.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following factors:

  1. Compliance with eligibility requirements and application procedures;
  2. Demonstrated interest and experience relating to the legal environment for civil society;
  3. Quality of proposed research project, including the significance of the issue to be studied, research methodology/design, feasibility of the project, and likelihood that the Fellowship will help advance the legal framework for civil society in the applicant’s country.
  4. Commitment to continue working on civil society legal issues upon the applicant’s return home and ability to effect change based upon leadership/leadership potential.

This initiative is open to applicants from the following countries:    

Latin America: Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela

Africa: Angola, Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Asia: Thailand, Vietnam

Award of fellowship is conditioned upon the recipient’s ability to travel to Washington, DC for two to four weeks between August and September 2008 and USAID’s concurrence. Fellows should state in their applications when they will be available to travel.

Fellows’ Obligations

Fellows will be required to agree to all terms of the fellowship, including a commitment to 1) complete a research project; 2) spend 2 to 4 weeks in Washington; and 3) continue work in the field of civil society law reform upon return to their home countries.  

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by completing form below or by downloading the application (Microsoft Word) (Adobe PDF) and sending it, along with all required documents, in English by May 30, 2008 to ICNL Program Assistant Elaine Scudder by one of the following methods:

Apply Online Now

1. Application Cover Sheet

Prefix
Name
Title
Organization
Mailing Address Line 1
Mailing Address Line 2
Country
Post Code
Telephone Number
Fax Number
Email Address
Language
Writing Proficiency
1 - low; 5 - advanced
Speaking Proficiency
1 - low; 5 - advanced

2. Availability

The Fellowship is for 2-4 weeks between August 1 and September 30, 2008.  Please indicate:

How long you would like to spend in Washington for this Fellowship?
Are there any time periods between August 1 and September 30 that you are unavailable to participate in this Fellowship? I am available during the entire period
I am available during this period with the exception of the following dates:

3. Proposal

The research proposal should not exceed three single-spaced pages, and should address the topics indicated in the Fellowship Application Instructions.

4. Resume, CV, or other statement of work history

Your resume, CV, or other statement of work history should not exceed five single-spaced pages.

5. Certification

Name:
Date:
Type your full name in the box above. By typing out your name, you certify that you have carefully read the “Fellowship Application Instructions” and will comply with all program requirements should you receive the research fellowship.

USAID

This fellowship is funded by the United States Agency for International Development, and made possible by the generous support of the American people.

This page was last updated 06-May-2008