Asia Foundation Development Fellows 2020 (Fully Funded)
Applications for the 2020 Asia Foundation Development Fellows Program accepted August 19 – October 7, 2019.
The Asia Foundation Development Fellows: Emerging Leadership for Asia’s Future program provides highly qualified, young professionals from Asia with an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and gain in-depth knowledge of Asia’s critical development challenges. The year-long professional advancement program draws on The Asia
Foundation’s extensive 18-country network and deep expertise working with innovative leaders and communities across the region. The program is designed to be a multifaceted experience, involving intensive learning modules–short courses, conferences, and study tours in Asia and the US–to enhance leadership skills, Asian development knowledge, professional networks, and international exposure.
2020 PROGRAM DATES
The 2020 program will be conducted in Laos, Singapore, and the USA (San Francisco, and Washington DC) and includes a flexible small grant award of US $5,000.
August 19, 2019: Application opens
October 7, 2019 (Monday, 11:59pm PDT [UTC-7]): Application deadline
January 2020: Selection finalized
March 21 – April 2, 2020: Laos – Leadership Dialogue and Exchange, Part 1
April 3-5, 2020: Singapore – Forum on Leadership for Asia’s Future: At the Frontlines of Change Development Fellows Alumni Gathering
September 12-26, 2020: USA – Leadership Dialogue and Exchange, Part 2
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Asia Foundation Development Fellows must:
- Have a demonstrable record of experience and accomplishment related to The Asia Foundation’s fields of expertise: governance and law, economic development, women’s empowerment, environment, and regional cooperation;
- Be thoughtful, committed, respected and inspirational leaders within their professional fields and within their larger community;
- Be under 40 years of age by January 1, 2020;
- Be conversant in English (TOEFL exam results are not required);
- Be available and able to participate in all program components on the program dates specified; and
- Be resident nationals or citizens of the following countries where The Asia Foundation has programs: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Laos; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Timor-Leste; and, Vietnam.
Selection Process
The program is highly competitive. Staff from The Asia Foundation will evaluate each application thoroughly and narrow down the pool of applicants. Final selections will be conducted by a distinguished committee with expertise on Asia’s needs and development conditions. Fellows will be chosen without regard to gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background, marital status, or financial need. All submitted application information will be treated as confidential unless stated otherwise in the application. The identities of nominees will also remain confidential throughout the final selection process.
Please direct any inquiries to the Asia Foundation Development Fellows staff at development.fellows@asiafoundation.org.