Deadline: June 26, 2016
The Call for Applications for the 2016 UNAOC Fellowship Program is now open to candidates from Europe, North America, the Middle East and North Africa. The UNAOC Fellowship Program aims at fostering intercultural exchange and interfaith understanding by engaging with emerging leaders and young professionals from Europe, North-America (EUNA), the Middle East and North-Africa (MENA).
About the Fellowship
The main objective of the Fellowship Program is to challenge cultural stereotypes and develop cross-cultural partnerships between peoples from different faiths and cultures. During two weeks, the EUNA cohort and the MENA cohort will visit each other’s region and interact with a wide range of local actors and partners. In 2016, the Fellowship Program will also focus on Education as a tool to prevent of radicalization and xenophobia.
Framed around two-week exchange trips between EUNA and MENA countries, the Program sends participants from each geographic area to their counterparts’ region. The Fellowship provides participants with a first hand exposure to diversity and with the opportunity to experience cultural immersion while interacting with a wide range of local actors and partners.
Eligibility
Candidates from Europe and North America (EUNA) and from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) can now apply until Sunday June 26th 2016 to participate in the 2016 edition of the UNAOC Fellowship Program.
General Criteria
- Applicants must be have to be nationals of EUNA or MENA countries and be between 25 and 38 years old.
- Fellows will be selected based on gender balanced, region balanced – with a ratio of participants per country of origin – and professionally balanced.
- Candidates also have to demonstrate a strong interest in learning from and engaging with the cultural diversity of the societies they are going to discover.
- Candidates have to show a level of professional accomplishment in intercultural dialogue and in the theme chosen by UNAOC, through their involvement politics, civil society, media, local community organizations, faith based associations, grassroots initiatives, academia, think-tanks, arts, and any other fields relevant to the objectives of the Fellowship Program.
For Candidates from MENA Countries
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- From the Middle East or North Africa.
- Born between January 1st 1978 and December 31st 1991
- Fluent in English
- Be directly involved, at a professional and/or personal level in the field of Education through their work in politics, civil society, media, religious associations, community initiatives, official institutions, academia, think-tanks, arts, and any other fields relevant to the Fellowship Program’s objectives.
- In possession of a passport valid at least 9 months beyond October 2016 (July 2017 and beyond)
- Available to travel for a period of 18 days in October or November 2016 as scheduled by UNAOC. Final dates will be confirmed 4 weeks before departure.
- Must not have participated in any of UNAOC programs before.
The jury will make sure that the final selection is:
- Gender balanced
- Region balanced between participants from North Africa and the Middle East
- Limited to two participants per country
- Professionally balanced with no more than a third of participants working in the same sector or industry.
For Candidates from EUNA Countries
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- From the U.S., Canada, or a European country
- Born between January 1st 1978 and December 31st 1991
- Fluent in English
- Be directly involved, at a professional and/or personal level in the field of Education through their work in politics, civil society, media, religious associations, community initiatives, official institutions, academia, think-tanks, arts, and any other fields relevant to the Fellowship Program’s objectives.
- In possession of a passport valid at least 6 months beyond October 2016 (April 2017 and beyond)
- Available to travel for a period of 18 days in October or November 2016 as scheduled by UNAOC. Final dates will be confirmed 4 weeks before departure.
- Must not have participated in any of UNAOC programs before.
The jury will also make sure that the final selection is:
- Gender balanced
- Region balanced with one participant from North America for two participants from Europe
- Limited to two participants per European country and to three participants per North American country
- Professionally balanced with no more than a third of participants working in the same sector or industry.
Application
- Application for MENA Candidates – MENA Application
- Application for MENA Candidates – EUNA Application
Please note that ONLY selected candidates will be contacted by mid-August 2016.
For more information, visit UNAOC Fellowship.