2014 Open Society Fellowship

Deadline: February 1, 2014

The Open Society Foundation is accepting proposals for the 2014 Open Society Fellowships. Individuals from across the world are invited to apply. The fellowship supports individuals pursuing innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. It funds projects that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within the Open Society Foundations and in the world.

A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer a new advocacy strategy. Project themes should cut across at least two areas of interest to the Open Society Foundations. Among these are human rights, government transparency, access to information and to justice, and the promotion of civil society and social inclusion.

Fellowship Requirements

Fellows are expected to take full advantage of the foundations’ expansive reach and work to bring new people and fresh ideas into the organization’s ambit. Successful projects should push the boundaries of current thinking and carry lessons that can be applied to a variety of settings. Fellows may produce a variety of work products, including publications such as books, reports, or blogs; innovative public-education projects; or the launch of new campaigns or organizations. They may also engage in activities such as hosting panel discussions, traveling to conferences, participating in policy debates, and aggressively promoting their ideas in public venues.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Open Society Fellowship accepts proposals from anywhere in the world.
• Applicants should possess a deep understanding of their chosen subject and a track record of professional accomplishment. Past and current fellows have included journalists, activists, academics, and practitioners in a variety of fields.
• Successful applicants will be eager to exploit the many resources offered by the Open Society Foundations and be prepared to engage constructively with our global network.
• Ideal fellows are specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit. Proficiency in spoken English is required.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The fellowship does not fund enrollment for degree or non-degree study at academic institutions, including dissertation research.
• This is a fellowship for individuals only; proposals from two or more applicants will not be accepted.

Guidelines

Interested applicants should first download and review the fellowship guidelines at left. The online application system can be accessed at oas.soros.org/oas.

Applicants who are uncertain whether their topic fits within the Foundations’ focus areas are invited to submit a brief letter of inquiry, accompanied by a CV, before proceeding with the online application process. That letter of inquiry should be addressed to [email protected]

For more information, click here.