The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) in the USA is inviting applications for the Community Solutions Programme for Professional Development in 2020.
The Community Solutions Program (CSP) is a year-long professional development program for people who are working to improve their communities by addressing issues related to the environment, tolerance and conflict resolution, transparency and accountability, and women and gender.
The CSP is schedulled to hold from August – December 2020 Participants complete a four-month practicum at a U.S.- based host organization.
For 2020–2021, up to 80 community activists will be selected to participate in the program, which includes:
- Four-month Fellowship in the United States: Community Solutions fellows are matched to host organizations throughout the U.S. where they complete a four-month, hands-on professional experience.
- Community Leadership Institute: Community Solutions fellows participate in the Community Leadership Institute, a leadership training program designed to strengthen their leadership and management skills. The Institute includes face-to-face trainings, online courses, professional coaching, and networking.
- Community-based initiatives: While in the U.S. and with the help of their U.S. host organization, Community Solutions fellows design and plan a community development initiative or project to carry out after they return home. Once the fellows depart the U.S., they put these projects into action in their home communities.
Worth of Award
The Programme covers the cost of most expenses associated with:
- J-1 visa support;
- Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the U.S.;
- Monthly allowance to cover housing, meals, and other living expenses while in the U.S.
- Accident and sickness insurance.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Community Solutions Program, applicants must meet the requirements listed below;
- You are between the ages of 25 and 38 as of January 1, 2020;
- You are a citizen of one of the eligible countries listed below;
- You are living and working in your home country;
- Individuals with refugee status working on behalf of their home community may be given special consideration.
- You have at least two years of experience working on community development, either as a full-time or part-time employee or volunteer;
- You are not currently participating in an academic, training, or research program in the U.S.
- Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and West Bank/Palestinian Territories
How to Apply
To apply for the IREX Community Solutions Programme, applicants must follow the following instructions;
- Detailed application instructions can be downloaded by the link below.
- Please review the Programme requirements prior to starting an application to ensure that you are eligible.
- Please note that eligibility requirements are determined by the US Department of State and exceptions cannot be made.
- If, after reviewing the application instructions, you have additional questions, please e-mail [email protected].
- Applications that are mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to IREX will not be accepted.
- Applications must be submitted online at https://oas.irex.org/csp
Deadline: Application closes October 30, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.