NED Calls for Applications for Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Programme

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Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy
Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is calling for applications from democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars from around the world for the annual Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Programme.

Fellows will have the opportunity to spend five months in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), in Washington, D.C., in order to undertake independent research on democracy in a particular country or region.

The programme offers five-month fellowships for practitioners to improve strategies and techniques for building democracy abroad and five-month fellowships for scholars to conduct original research for publication. While in residence, fellows reflect on their experiences; engage with counterparts; conduct research and writing; consider best practices and lessons learned, and develop professional relationships within a global network of democracy advocates.

Fellows are expected to complete a written product relating to their proposed research project. The fellowship culminates in a formal presentation in which fellows typically focus on their research project or another topic relating to the state of democracy in their country.

The fellowship offers fellows an important opportunity to step back from the field, reflect upon their work, and explore new ideas in a comparative context.

To be considered for the programme, 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 jobs 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 and be mid-career professionals.

Those 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; and have developed a detailed research outline for their fellowship project.

To apply for the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship applicants need to first create an account through NED’ss online portal:https://www.nedfellowships.org/Start/ReaganFascell. Detailed instructions on how to create an account is available at https://www.ned.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Setting-Up-a-Fellowship-Application-Account-2.docx. After creating an account, the applicant is required to submit: his/her information; project proposal for the practitioner or the scholarly fellowship track; letters of recommendation; Resume/CV and Biography. All application materials submitted are to be in English.

Each Reagan-Fascell Democracy fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses; 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 the cost of a short-term, furnished rental apartment, plus “cost of living” for food, local transportation, and other necessities.

Fellows are also provided with a fully equipped office, plus a limited budget for long-distance phone calls and professional travel within the United States. Fellows who wish to take family members with them to Washington, D.C., will be expected to cover the costs of their dependents’ roundtrip travel and stay within the United States.

The deadline for submitting the application for the 2021-2022 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is October 1, 2020, while the deadline for submitting letters of recommendation is October 8, 2020.