About The Program
The Hurford Program seeks to build the leadership skills, enhance the organizational talents, and harness the potential of emerging democracy leaders from around the world. Through the Hurford program, two young activists per year spend three months at NED, during which they expand their global network, learn lessons from activists from democracy movements around the world, and contribute to the development of the World Movement for Democracy and the World Youth Movement for Democracy in particular. Fellows will be expected to organize online discussion to generate active engagement among youth activists around the world. Hurford Youth Fellows will engage in strategic meetings; conduct research; and organize and lead presentations, and information-sharing sessions on the following specific democracy themes:
Defending Democratic Space
Freedoms are increasingly restricted for people who wish to voice their concerns, come together, and address those concerns by engaging stakeholders. In both physical and digital spaces, they face limitations on where they can meet, how they can interact, and what they can say or do. This is particularly
true under authoritarian regimes, but also under new and established democracies where minority views are marginalized. As a result, citizens have less influence in political processes that impact their lives and are unable to hold their governments accountable. CLICK HERE to learn more about the World Movement for Democracy’s initiatives, activities, and alerts that support ‘Defending Democratic Space.’
Promoting Inclusive Governance
The World Movement aims to strengthen inclusive democratic governance with an emphasis on empowering emerging leaders that are committed to democratic principles. As part of this effort, the World Movement facilitates engagement among emerging leaders from civil society and political parties; exploring constructive ways to enhance their political participation; building effective partnerships between civil society, government, and the private sector; and sustaining democratic movements that influence policy making and institutional reforms. CLICK HERE to learn more about the World Movement for Democracy’s initiatives, activities, and alerts that support ‘Promoting Inclusive Governance.’
Strengthening Democratic Leadership
The next generation of democratic leadership plays a crucial role in sustaining and advancing democracy. The World Movement believes in the importance of inter-generational dialogue and facilitates exchange of ideas and experiences between seasoned leaders and emerging leaders. CLICK HERE to learn more about the World Movement for Democracy’s initiatives, activities, and news and alerts that support ‘Strengthening Democratic Leadership.’
Specifically, each fellow will engage in the following activities:
Each fellow will also make at least one formal presentation of their work during their fellowship.
Presentations may be open to the public or geared to a more select audience and will typically focus on the fellow’s research topic.
Upon the successful completion of each fellowship at NED, the fellow will serve as a regional/country focal point, working with the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network to remain involved and take the lead in World Youth Movement activities.
Eligibility: Applicants interested in the Hurford Youth Fellows Program must be no older than 30 years of age. They must demonstrate strong interest in democratic activism and in the advancement of democracy in their respective communities, as well as worldwide. Youth affiliated with civil society organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
Please Note: The Hurford Youth Fellows Program is open to applicants from any country. It does not provide scholarship funds or any other type of financial aid to university or graduate students, nor is it designed to support postdoctoral research. The program is not an educational program offering academic courses leading toward a degree. In addition, it does not provide financial support to those seeking to complete professional training programs, attend conferences, or pursue internships at other organizations.
English Language Requirement: A working knowledge of English is an important prerequisite for participation in the program for general communication purposes. All application materials must be submitted in English.
Selection Process: Fellows will be selected by the World Movement Secretariat staff, NED regional program staff, the World Youth Movement’s Leadership Board, and the Hurford Youth Fellowship
Alumni Network following an application process. Selection will be based on a set of criteria including demonstrated activism or interest in the advancement of democracy, a desire to network with others, and a clear explanation of how the fellowship will benefit their own efforts for advancing democracy.
Residency Requirements: Fellows are expected to work full-time on their fellowship projects at the NED office in Washington, D.C. Fellows may not hold any other fellowships or be otherwise employed during the fellowship period without the express permission of World Movement Secretariat staff. Additional fellowships or work opportunities that coincide with the fellowship period must be brought to the attention of World Movement Secretariat staff prior to the candidate’s acceptance of a Hurford Fellowship. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of the fellowship.
Hurford Youth fellowships are not designed to support extensive fieldwork outside the Washington, D.C., area. The program recognizes the importance of establishing ties with counterparts elsewhere in the United States and abroad and understands that professional obligations may sometimes necessitate domestic or international travel. However, no funds will be available to support fellows’ professional travel. Fellows are expected to be in residence at the NED for the entirety of the fellowship period in order to take full advantage of the professional resources available in D.C.
Fellowship Support and Services: Each fellow will receive a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C. Stipends take into account the cost of living in Washington, D.C. Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, including internet and email access, and a limited budget for fellowship-related long-distance phone calls.
The World Movement Secretariat staff plays a vital role in helping fellows realize their fellowship objectives by collaborating with them on their fellowship projects and engaging them in ongoing discussions about their work. NED houses a Democracy Resource Center (DRC), which includes a library with some 20,000 works, including books, journals, grantee reports, and other publications on democracy. The DRC’s expert staff members assist fellows with their research interests. Fellows may enjoy access to other local libraries as needed.
Cost of Living and Dependents: Applicants should bear in mind that the cost of living (housing, furniture, food, and other essential living expenses) in the Washington metropolitan area is very high and that fellowship stipends are not calculated to cover the financial needs of a family. Fellows who wish to bring family members with them to Washington, D.C. will be expected to cover the costs of their dependents’ roundtrip travel and stay within the United States. The program does not ordinarily cover costs associated with dependents’ health insurance. Please note that all dependents traveling to the Unites States on a J-2 dependent visa will be required to have basic health insurance coverage for the full period of their stay.
Visa Issues: Prior to their arrival in the United States, prospective fellows who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States must secure a J-1 exchange visitor visa. The International Forum for Democratic Studies assists fellows with the documentation needed to obtain visas.
Office Location and Contact Information: The National Endowment for Democracy is based in downtown Washington, D.C., at 1025 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20004. Centrally located near the White House, the U.S. Congress, the National Mall, and the Smithsonian Institution, our office building sits above Metro Center, one of the major subway stations of the Washington metropolitan area.
For further information, please contact:
World Movement for Democracy Secretariat
National Endowment for Democracy
1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004
USA
Tel.: +1-202-378-9700
E-mail: youthfellows@ned.org
Website : www.movedemocracy.org
Fellowship Term
March 1 – May 31, 2021
APPLICATION DEADLINE: All application materials must be submitted by 1 July, 2020.
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION: Applicants are asked to submit the following:
All application materials should be uploaded in the application portal.
*If you applied last year, you will need to create a new profile using a new email address.
PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS: The Applicant Form has four sections: (1) Personal
Information; (2) Project Proposal; (3) Curriculum Vitae/Résumé; and (4) Two Letters of Recommendation. Each applicant must complete the entire Form. Please note that incomplete application forms will not be reviewed.
Project Proposal: Your project proposal is the most important part of your fellowship application.
It should be clear, concise, and comprehensible to individuals outside your own field or concentration. Your proposal must correspond to one of the following three Democracy themes:
Defending Democratic Space Freedoms are increasingly restricted for people who wish to voice their concerns, come together, and address those concerns by engaging stakeholders. In both physical and digital spaces, they face limitations on where they can meet, how they can interact, and what they can say or do. This is particularly true under authoritarian regimes, but also under new and established democracies where minority views are marginalized. As a result, citizens have less influence in political processes that impact their
lives and are unable to hold their governments accountable. CLICK HERE to learn more about the World Movement for Democracy’s initiatives, activities, and alerts that support ‘Defending Democratic Space.’
Promoting Inclusive Governance
The World Movement aims to strengthen inclusive democratic governance with an emphasis on empowering emerging leaders that are committed to democratic principles. As part of this effort, the World Movement facilitates engagement among emerging leaders from civil society and political parties; exploring constructive ways to enhance their political participation; building effective partnerships between civil society, government, and the private sector; and sustaining democratic movements that influence policy making and institutional reforms. CLICK HERE to learn more about the
World Movement for Democracy’s initiatives, activities, and alerts that support ‘Promoting Inclusive Governance.’
Strengthening Democratic Leadership
The next generation of democratic leadership plays a crucial role in sustaining and advancing democracy. The World Movement believes in the importance of inter-generational dialogue and facilitates exchange of ideas and experiences between seasoned leaders and emerging leaders. CLICK HERE to learn more about the World Movement for Democracy’s initiatives, activities, and news and alerts that support ‘Strengthening Democratic Leadership.’
Your proposal, in no more than 1200 words, should describe steps you will take to organize and complete your fellowship projects (online discussions, research, strategic meetings). In your proposal, please ensure that you respond to the following specific questions:
Strong proposals will exhibit the following characteristics:
A clear focus and rationale, with practical relevance for strengthening the participation of youth in democracies.
The outline of a well-defined approaches to your selected theme, with tangible benefits to colleagues and counterparts in your field.
A concentration on two or more regions. Remember this is a global fellowship where you are expected to learn from other democracy movements and cultivate relationships with your peers around the world.
Curriculum Vitae/Résumé: Please prepare a curriculum vitae or résumé and upload it in section
4 of the application portal. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should highlight your relevant professional experience, educational background, community service, and/or extra-curricular activities.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REFEREES
Thank you for agreeing to write a letter of recommendation for an applicant to the Hurford Youth Fellows Program at the World Movement for Democracy. Your frank appraisal of the applicant and their fellowship project proposal will greatly help us in our selection process. For more information on the Hurford Youth Fellows Program, please go to www.movedemocracy.org
Letter of Recommendation Guidelines
We would greatly appreciate your candid comments on the following:
Submit your letter of recommendation:
Once the applicant identifies their referees and provides their email addresses within the application portal, an automated email will be sent to the referee’s email address. The automated email will give the referees login credentials to access the application portal in order to upload the letters of recommendation.
Letters of recommendation must be submitted in English or accompanied by an English translation.
Please format your letter as a MS Word Document (.doc) or Adobe PDF (.pdf). Please note that letters of recommendation should not be shared with applicants.
Deadline: The deadline to submit your letter of recommendation is 1 July, 2020.
For any technical problems, please email youthfellows@ned.org
For questions or further information, please contact:
World Movement for Democracy Secretariat
National Endowment for Democracy
1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004
Tel.: 202-378-9700
E-mail: youthfellows@ned.org
Website: www.movedemocracy.org
Read More Details About this Fellowship On the Movement for Democracy Website https://www.movedemocracy.org/strengthening-democratic-leadership/hurford-youth-fellowship
Application Link https://www.nedfellowships.org/Start/Hurford
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