2024 U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement for emerging African Leaders (Fully Funded to the United States)

The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement is a professional program funded by the US Department of State for emerging leaders in Africa to exchange and implement best practices for inclusive civic engagement. The program will support approximately 12 disability rights professionals (Fellows) from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia to participate in a 5-week Fellowship Program in the US.

Eligibility

Be Kenyan, Ugandan, Tanzanian, or Ethiopian citizen between the ages of 25-40.
Individuals working to improve civic engagement for people with disabilities in their home country or local community.
You should have two or more years of professional experience in the disability field or working on issues of disability inclusion.
You are an individual seeking to build their inclusive civic engagement career through a 5-week Fellowship program in the United States.

The Fellowship training will also include weekly seminars, mentorship, and community service.

Begin your US Fellowship: Attend virtual sessions with program staff to prepare for your Fellowship experience and travel to the US.
Engage in your Fellowship: Work with your US host organization during your customized Fellowship placement. Exchange knowledge and best practices on disability inclusion across cultural contexts.
Develop a plan: Collaborate with US colleagues to develop an action plan for your follow-on project that you will implement upon returning home.
Attend the Professional Fellows Congress: Join and network with over one hundred Professional Fellows from around the world at a four-day conference in Washington D.C.
Sustain your project: After your Fellowship in the US, your US host mentor might visit you in your country to provide additional support with the implementation of your follow-on project.

Benefits

As a Fellow, you will receive funding and support for:

Round-trip travel between home country and the US
Fellowship-related travel within the US
Travel interruption insurance
Accident and health insurance for the duration of the Fellowship in the US
Living accommodations in the US
Living allowance to cover meals, local transportation, and incidental expenses
Cultural allowance to spend on books and attending cultural events
Disability-related arrangements, if needed
An Internet hotspot

Travel to your US Host Organization and begin your Individual Fellowship Placement

Kristen McCosh, Disability Commissioner for the City of Boston (right), meets with Fall 2022 Fellow Salome N Gitau from Kenya (left).

Spend four weeks at your designated US host organization
Work alongside your US colleagues and study policies and practices in inclusive civic engagement
Develop an action planfor your follow-on project with support from your host mentor
Participate in community service, volunteering, or similar activity
Engage in social and cultural activities

Attend Weekly Seminars during the Fellowship Placement Training

Participate in video conferences with other Fellows facilitated by program staff
Share experiences and lessons learned from Fellowship training and activities
Engage in peer mentoring and give and receive peer support
Hear from guest speakers who will address different aspects of inclusive civic engagement

Program Details

The Fellowship Program will begin on approximately May 8, 2024, and end on approximately June 13, 2024. Note that Fellowship start and end dates may be subject to slight changes.
The Fellowship training will be in-person in the US, unless otherwise specified. If COVID-19 or related travel restrictions occur, we will conduct the program virtually.