Questions
Q: What are the eligibility criteria for a Fellowship?
See How to Apply page.
Back to top
Q: What are the characteristics of a successful application?
Applications must meet all technical criteria for the Democracy Fellows Program 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 a particular fellowship under consideration.
- Applicant demonstrates suitable language and cross-cultural skills.
- Applicant has appropriate academic and professional background and experience.
Back to top
Q: Where are fellowships served?
Most fellows work in, and as a part of, USAID missions and offices overseas or in Washington, DC. We cannot predict which USAID missions or offices will sponsor fellowships during the coming year, or what specific duties those assignments might entail. Please sign up for our mailing list to receive regular updates on specific fellowships available.
Back to top
Q: What is the difference between junior-level, mid-level, and senior-level fellowships?
- A junior-level fellow has a graduate degree and between 0 and 5 years of related professional experience.
- A mid-level fellow has a graduate degree and between 5 and 10 years of related professional experience.
- A senior-level fellow has a graduate degree and at least 10 years of related professional experience
- Academics on sabbatical are excellent candidates for this fellowship. Those individuals restricted from accepting full-time employment with another organization may opt to serve as part-time or short-term consultants, allowing them to retain a relationship to their home institutions.
Back to top
Q: How long does a Democracy Fellowship last?
Full-time Democracy Fellowships are awarded for an initial two-year term, contingent upon continuation of funding and an individual fellow’s first-year performance. The duration of part-time and short-term Democracy Fellowships varies according to the needs of the host office or mission, but short-term fellowships will likely be between three and twelve months in length .
Back to top
Q: What is the timeline for applying to the program?
- Applications are accepted and processed on a continuing basis. IIE will notify you of acceptance into the Democracy Fellows Program’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 Democracy Fellows Program’s candidate pool does not guarantee the award of a fellowship; it only indicates eligibility for future fellowships.
- Fellowships positions become available periodically throughout the year, according to USAID’s needs. For a new position, IIE will consider pre-qualified candidates from the general pool, as well as applicants who apply specifically for the new position, which will be advertised on the program website. All general applicants will receive e-mail updates when a new fellowship position is posted. Non-applicants may apply to receive these updates as well.
- Selection is based on the needs of the sponsoring USAID unit. In most cases, a proposed fellow must be granted a security clearance before his or her fellowship is awarded. The Democracy Fellows Program conducts a program orientation for new fellows before they begin their fellowships.
Back to top
Q: 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. Applicants may specify a particular country or region of special interest. However, this will not limit the applicant’s consideration for fellowships in other regions of the world, as long as other criteria for the fellowship (e.g., language, experience, etc.) are met. If necessary, general applicants will be requested to update their expression of interest in response to a specific fellowship opportunity.
Back to top
Q: 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 civil society strengthening, constitutional development, and impact evaluations. 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. To learn about the current Democracy Fellows, see the "Current Fellows" section of this website.
Back to top
Q: What are the benefits and salary for the fellowship?
Salary is based on experience, education, and documented salary history and is subject to US government restrictions. Full-time fellows are eligible to elect medical, dental, life, and total disability coverange, and are eligible for paid time off programs. Short-term fellows will be paid a daily rate commensurate with experience and are not eligible for benefits or paid time off programs.
Back to top