Deadline: 15 December 2020
Open to: candidates aged under 36 
Benefits: full financial support for its fellows and their immediate, accompanying families

Description  

ICWA wants to cultivate deep expertise in foreign countries and cultures. They achieve that by supporting fellows for two-year immersive programs of self-designed, independent study abroad.

This is a writing fellowship. Fellows are required to produce monthly dispatches made available on ICWA website and email to institute supporters and other interested parties, including family, friends and professional associates of the fellows. Fellows work closely with the executive director, who serves as writing coach, editor and mentor.

While many fellows go on to pursue political or social causes at home and abroad, the purpose of a fellowship is to learn about other societies, not to change them. Fellows are not permitted to engage in overtly political activities during their fellowships. The institute does not accept any government funds. Fellows must preserve that independence in letter and in spirit.

Fellows should not expect to return to the United States during the two years of their fellowships. ICWA fellowships are immersive; a vital component of the fellowship experience is remaining, without interruption, in the area of study for the duration of a fellowship.

Eligibility

They are looking for promise, curiosity, and enthusiasm in their candidates, and consider whether a candidate is ready for the rapid personal growth the fellowship makes possible. Extensive professional experience in the proposed area is not always necessary; fellowships are aimed at developing advanced knowledge and professional skills, not necessarily awarding research or reporting opportunities to those who already possess them. Strong candidates generally propose compelling fellowship topics.

• Candidates must be under 36 years of age at the time of the due date for the initial letter of interest.
• U.S. citizenship is not a requirement, but candidates must show strong and credible ties to U.S. society.
• Applicants must have excellent written and spoken English-language skills and must have completed the current phase of their formal education. (They do not accept applications from currently enrolled undergraduate students.
• They expect candidates to have the necessary language skills to allow to them to carry out their proposed projects. That means enough language proficiency for candidates to be able to function in the local language within a few months of arriving in country.

Benefits 

ICWA provides full financial support for its fellows and their immediate, accompanying families. Fellows do not receive salaries; the institute gives them sufficient funding to cover their expenses, enabling them to fulfill the purposes of the fellowship and allowing them and their families (if accompanying the fellowship) to live in good health and reasonable comfort. “Full financial support” does not mean unlimited financial support; fellows are expected to live and spend modestly.

How to Apply?

Those interested in applying for an Institute of Current World Affairs Fellowship should send an initial Letter of Interest and a resume or CV in English to the institute via email.

Email: apply@icwa.org

For applications via post: 
Institute of Current World Affairs
1818 N St. NW, Ste 460
Washington, DC 20036

For more information please visit the official website.