• Democracy Fellows Overview
• Available Fellowships
  • Senior Trafficking In Persons Advisor
  • Senior Transitional Justice Advisor
  • Social Sectors Governance Specialist
• How to Apply
• Current Democracy Fellows
• Recent Democracy Fellows Alumni
• Democracy Fellows FAQs
• Download the Democracy Fellows Brochure (PDF)

Democracy Fellows FAQs

1. What are the eligibility criteria for a Fellowship?
2. What kind of experience is the program looking for?
3. What are the characteristics of a successful application?
4. Where are fellowships served?
5. What stipends and benefits do Fellows receive?
6. What is the difference between a junior-level, mid-level, and senior-level fellowship?
7. How long does a Democracy Fellowship last?
8. What is the timeline for applying to the program?
9. Can you describe the nomination and selection process?
10. What happens after USAID selects the finalist for a specific fellowship?
11. If I specify a particular country, am I still eligible for fellowships in other locations?
12. Can you tell me about some of the current fellowships?
    
    

1. What are the eligibility criteria for a Fellowship?

Criteria for acceptance include:

• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a national security clearance for all USAID Democracy Fellowships.
• Ph.D., J.D. or Master's degree. (An undergraduate degree plus significant related democracy and governance experience may be considered on an exceptional basis when requested by USAID or the sponsoring organization.)
• Professional democracy and governance experience, particularly field-based experience.
• Academic background or practical expertise in democracy programs, elections, government, law, international relations, political science, or other fields relevant to democracy and governance projects.

2. What kind of experience is the program looking for?

The Democracy Fellows Program currently seeks senior-level (10+ years) and mid-level (5 to 10 years) professionals with prior relevant experience in the field of international democracy and governance. Some junior-level fellowships may also be available for those with fewer years of democracy and governance experience.

3. What are the characteristics of a successful application?

Applications must meet all technical criteria for the DFP and be submitted in a complete manner. Those that pass this review are then reviewed against the following criteria:

• Applicant has the specific skills, qualifications and professional experience desired by USAID for the particular fellowship under consideration.
• Applicant demonstrates suitable language and cross-cultural skills.
• Applicant has appropriate academic and professional background and experience.

4. Where are fellowships served?

Most fellows work in, and as a part of, USAID missions and offices overseas or in Washington, DC. Because individual USAID units request fellows at various times during the year, we cannot be more specific about which USAID missions or offices will sponsor fellowships during the coming year, or what specific duties those assignments might entail. In addition, the Democracy Fellows Program occasionally recruits for NGO Fellows for placement either with the requesting organizations or in the field.

5. What stipends and benefits do Fellows receive?

Initial stipends are intended to be wage-neutral to the fellow, providing neither financial gain nor loss from previous earnings. USAID determines the skill level needed for each fellowship, which determines the stipend range for that particular fellowship. Individual stipends are based on the fellows documented salary history, education, and experience and are awarded with a fixed range for each fellowship level.  The approximate stipend ranges for 2009 are: for junior fellows $39K to $79K; for mid level fellows $67K to $114K; and for senior fellows $94K to $126K.
In addition to the stipend, the fellowship award package also provides allowances such as individual or family health insurance reimbursement plan; optional illness and evacuation insurance coverage; as well as travel to the annual Democracy Fellows conference; and other program-related travel.

Democracy Fellowships are not considered US Government employment and fellows do not receive civil service or Foreign Service employment or retirement benefits. The DFP is not able to guarantee travel or other allowances for dependents or others; these are additional benefits that are mission-funded and decided on an individual fellowship basis.

6. What is the difference between a junior-level, mid-level, and senior-level fellowship?

• A junior-level fellow will have a graduate degree and between 0 and 5 years of related professional experience.
• A mid-level fellow will have a graduate degree and between 5 and 10 years of related professional experience.
• A senior-level fellow will have a graduate degree and at least 10 years of related professional experience.
  

7. How long does a Democracy Fellowship last?

Fellowships are usually awarded for a 1-year term, although somewhat shorter or longer terms may be possible depending upon USAID's needs. The DFP may extend fellowships, subject to available. Discussions about extensions normally take place during the second half of a given fellowship. Although nearly all Democracy Fellows have extended, there is no guarantee that any particular fellowship will be renewed.

8. What is the timeline for applying to the program?

• Applications are accepted and processed on a continuing basis. They can be requested by e-mail or downloaded from this website. Only complete applications will be considered. We will notify you of acceptance into the DFP's pool of eligible candidates within one month of receiving your completed application. Applications are considered active for approximately one calendar year from their date of receipt.
• Acceptance into the DFP's candidate pool does not guarantee the award of a fellowship; it only indicates eligibility for future fellowships.
• Awards of fellowships. Individual fellowships are awarded periodically throughout the year as the DFP nominates and USAID selects candidates who best meet the qualifications for specific fellowships. Selection is based on the needs of the sponsoring USAID unit or NGO. Where applicable, fellowships are not awarded until USAID has issued the proposed fellow a security clearance. The DFP conducts a program orientation for new fellows before they begin their fellowships.

9. Can you describe the nomination and selection process?

Upon acceptance as a candidate for the program, World Learning retains your application in its pool of eligible candidates for one year. As an interested USAID office decides to sponsor a fellowship, DFP staff review all eligible and available individuals in the program's candidate pool to identify those who are most suitable and whose backgrounds and qualifications are most appropriate to the needs and interests of the USAID unit. This review is designed to secure the best match between the available candidates and the particular requirements and preferences of the sponsoring USAID office. Selection criteria for any particular fellowship reflect the nature and location of that fellowship, and might include foreign language, academic credentials, or previous professional experience in a certain field, region, or country.

World Learning typically nominates between 3 and 5 qualified candidates for any particular fellowship. USAID, in collaboration with World Learning, will then select a single "finalist" for that fellowship. Please note that this process can take several weeks or even months.

Some particularly competitive candidates may be nominated for more than one potential fellowship during the period their applications are active. Other candidates, although eligible, may never be nominated for a specific fellowship.

10. What happens after USAID selects the finalist for a specific fellowship?

After the individual finalist is notified, s/he completes the paperwork necessary to obtain a national security clearance (when required by the fellowship), and, in coordination with the DFP and the sponsoring USAID unit, drafts a workplan for the fellowship. This plan is based on the activities and scope of work that USAID had previously identified for the fellowship. The finalist's proposed workplan outlines the activities, outcomes and impacts that the finalist will pursue during the fellowship and how the proposed activities will meet USAID's expectations and goals for the fellowship. The workplan is intended to help insure that the finalist's expectations match USAID's expectations on the scope of the fellowship. After all parties have concurred in the fellowship workplan, and the proposed fellow has received a security clearance (a process which can take two to four months), World Learning makes a formal offer, and a Fellowship Agreement is signed. At this point, the finalist becomes a Democracy Fellow and a specific start date is determined. The DFP conducts an orientation for each fellow at the start of her/his program.

11. If I specify a particular country, am I still eligible for fellowships in other locations?

Unless they request otherwise, applicants will be considered for all opportunities for which they qualify. If a particular country or region is of special interest, please note it on the application. However, this will not limit consideration for fellowships in other regions of the world, as long as other criteria for the fellowship (e.g. language, experience, etc.) are met.

12. Can you tell me about some of the current fellowships?

Democracy Fellows currently work with USAID missions and offices overseas or in Washington, DC, in areas such as conflict resolution, the rule of law, and the development of technical indicators. Each fellowship focuses on different aspects of USAID democracy programming (e.g., civil society, judicial administration, elections systems, governance, democratization strategies, etc.) including the design and/or implementation of USAID programs. Please understand, however, that geographic locations and subject areas vary from year to year according to USAID's needs. To learn about the current Democracy Fellows, see the "Current Fellows" section of this website.