FULBRIGHT PUBLIC POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (FPPFP)

In close coordination with the Office of the Counselor (C) and Regional Bureau Assistant Secretaries, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is launching a new FULBRIGHT PUBLIC POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. The program seeks to send U.S. citizens with graduate degrees abroad to serve in professional assignments within host government ministries for an academic year. Fellowship applicants with fluency in host country language(s) and deep country knowledge will receive preference in selection. Possible placements include, but are not limited to, “special assistant” postings within the Ministries of Finance, Health, Education, Agriculture, Energy, Justice, Environment, Public Affairs, Women’s Affairs, or other ministries. Posts chosen to participate in the program will work with ECA to implement the program and monitor the participants’ progress.

The goals of FPPFP are to build capacity in the host country public sector, reverse brain drain where applicable, increase mutual understanding, and promote lasting bi-national ties. Fellows will support Cabinet or other senior officials while also carrying out an individual academic project.  Participants will be expected to spend approximately 32 hours per week working in their ministry assignment and 8 hours per week pursuing an academic project, which may be related to the ministry assignment.   Fellows are expected to serve in a capacity similar to a “special assistant,” with diverse responsibilities that requires a strong emphasis on service, flexibility, resourcefulness, and a wide range of skills. Fellows may be responsible for policy, budget development and analysis, program monitoring and evaluation, communications and speech writing, and general project management.  A Fellow’s subject area expertise, language fluency, and IT proficiency will support the achievement of goals by the partner government.  Participants will also be expected to undertake academic/research activities as required under Fulbright guidelines.  The assignment is intended to build the Fellows’ knowledge and skills, while providing support and skills to the host government and promoting long-term ties.

Host governments would be required to place Fellows in assignments in senior level offices within selected ministries during the 2012-13 academic year and to provide in-kind and administrative support, including office space and office supplies, to promote a successful and substantive exchange.

Any commitments are tentative pending the:

(1) the quality of the applicant pool;

(2) host country approval of appropriate Fellowship candidates; and

(3) the availability of USG resources.  You should also solicit host country views on providing housing or other in-kind support.

Eligible candidates will be U.S. citizens who are recent graduates of Masters or J.D. programs, or current Ph.D. students with approximately two years of work experience in policy-related fields.  Additionally, qualified candidates will have relevant language expertise, significant overseas experience and deep cultural knowledge of the host country.  Candidates from diaspora communities will be encouraged to apply.  Fields of expertise for eligible candidates may include, but are not limited to, public health, education, agriculture, justice, energy, environment, economic development, information technology, and communications. 

For more information and application submission, please contact IIE (Institute of International Education) at www.iie.organd CIES (Council for International Exchange of Scholars) atwww.cies.org