Legislative Fellows Program for India and Pakistan Fall 2017

Program funded by the U.S. Department of State
Applications must be in English and ALL questions are required
Submission Deadline: April 15, 2017

Dear Applicants,

Thank you for your interest in the Legislative Fellows Program for India and Pakistan. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by World Learning, the Legislative Fellows Program for India and Pakistan will promote mutual understanding and establish networks among mid-level professionals in India, Pakistan, and the United States, while also promoting increased knowledge of the legislative process and principles of good governance.

Through this two-way exchange for emerging leaders from India, Pakistan, and the United States, participants will exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices in legislative processes and policymaking, while also improving leadership skills and developing sustainable and enduring linkages with professional counterparts. Through professional fellowships, where participants will be matched with a U.S. organization or government office, participants will have the opportunity to increase their understanding of the U.S. legislative process while engaging in civic life through enrichment activities, such as meetings with key stakeholders, dialogues, and site visits. The following are themes and topics related to legislation and governance that may be included in the program: good governance (e.g. transparency and anti-corruption); legislative processes; the role of women, minorities, and marginalized populations in civil society and the political process; decentralization; youth engagement; development and strengthening of NGOs and civil society; post-conflict transitions; and non-violent civic participation. Through the program participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the U.S. legislative and political process
• Explore governance principles and practices in both public and civil society institutions in the U.S.
• Enhance their appreciation for the role of civil society in the political process
• Gain a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, and people
• Gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures, and people of each other’s countries
• Develop and implement projects in their home country that promote good governance, strengthen civil society, and/or support democratic institutions
• Create and maintain linkages and networks between Americans and other Professional Fellows
• Increase cooperation between the government and civil society of India and Pakistan

To promote program sustainability and create a multiplier effect, participants will create and implement follow-on projects in their home communities. Actions plans for the follow-on projects will be developed throughout the course of the U.S. program.

The U.S. program for participants from India and Pakistan will take place from October 14 – November 17, 2017 (tentative dates). It will begin with an orientation in Washington, DC that focuses on the structure of the U.S. government, the legislative process, and the role of civil society. Next, participants will take part in a four-week fellowship in several U.S. cities, which includes professional assignments at local/state/federal government offices or NGOs, seminars and observational site visits, homestays with local families, and volunteerism. Participants then return to Washington, DC for the concluding Professional Fellows Congress, which includes workshops, dialogues, meetings with U.S. Government officials, and a program debrief. Following the U.S. program, American Fellows will travel to India and Pakistan to participate in workshops, consultations, and provide support to follow-on projects in the winter of 2017/2018 (tentative dates).

Accommodations will include double-person hotel rooms and homestays with American families and peers. A small stipend will be provided during the participants’ time in the United States to cover basic living expenses. The cost of international and domestic travel, program related ground transportation, cultural activities, and all the other programmatic and logistical arrangements will be covered.

Candidates from India and Pakistan will be professionals (ages 25-40) with experience in the legislative process and/or policymaking, including: good governance (transparency, anti-corruption, right-to-information), legislative and political processes, including the role of women, minorities, and marginalized populations in them, youth politics and student leaders, climate change and environment, and trade and regional connectivity. Such experience can have been attained through their work in government, civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups, political campaigns, political parties, or election monitoring organizations. We seek candidates with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, proven leadership abilities, the ability to work in a cross-cultural setting and a commitment to the program and follow-on activities. Those selected will come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, organizations, and political orientations. We also aim for gender balance. Written and oral English proficiency is required as the participants will need to converse about complex political and global issues with U.S. peers and experts. To select the best candidates, we will review applications based on clearly defined criteria, including:

• Openness to dialogue and new ideas;
• Strong potential to play an increasingly important role in society;
• Proven commitment to nonviolence;
• Interest in participating in the program and sharing the experience with colleagues and the public; and
• Commitment to the implementation of a follow-on project.

Preference will be given to applicants with relevant professional achievements who have not previously visited the United States. All candidates should be able and willing to host American counterparts, for up to a week, and design, arrange, and coordinate, under World Learning and its partners’ supervision, a local professional and cultural program for the American participants.

Please find the application form below. The application must be completed in English. The deadline for submitting the application is April 15, 2017. Applications will be reviewed and considered as they arrive. Early applications are encouraged. Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will only contact semi-finalists. No calls please.

We appreciate your interest in this project and look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Vlad Spencer
Manager, Development & Innovation
World Learning’s Exchanges and Training Unit

Legislative Fellows Program for India and Pakistan-Link 2017

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