Deadline: March 25, 2019
Are you an NGO leader based in Africa? The NGO Leadership Transition Fellowship Program (LTFP) In Africa 2019 is open for applications. ARNOVA and AROCSA, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, have established the Fellowship Program for senior civil society/NGO leaders who are contemplating or have decided to move on from their existing NGO. This program seeks to help that leader develop a succession plan within the organization, contemplate a personal transition plan and also preserve their knowledge and experience.
The objectives of the LTFP in Africa are to:
- Contribute to the process of establishing a supportive infrastructure for leadership transition within the NGO movement in Africa
- Promote the creation of leadership spaces for the next generation of leaders in African civil society to grow and strive
- Increase the documentation of leadership experiences/reflections and renewal processes within civil society in Africa
This program will start September 1, 2019 and end on November 30, 2019
Fellowship Components
- Leadership Succession Planning Retreats: ARNOVA will organize a two-day retreat in the US in September to enable better understanding of the following: 1) each fellow’s transition needs; 2) what stage they and their organizations are, in thinking and planning for their transition; and 3) agreement on timing and output of the fellowship. The retreat would also enable creation of peer learning and mentoring community within each LTFP cohort that will enable them to support one another through difficult times in their transition plan. The program will end with AROCSA organizing a three-day retreat in Africa to capture lessons learned, plan next steps and connect with academic institutions in Africa.
- Semester-long fellowship placements at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Indianapolis, Indiana, which will serve as host institutions. Fellows will be assigned a faculty mentor at the host university to assist research, publication and networking.
- Regional report-back seminar: At the end of the fellowship program and after returning to their countries, AROCSA and ARNOVA organize a feedback and experience-sharing seminar, where all the fellows will be invited to present their learning experiences in panels and take questions from an intergenerational and cross-sector audience comprising leaders in the social sector
- Mentorship: For a year after the fellowship, the Fellow will commit to adopting a mentee, or serve a CSO in an advisory capacity so that there is transference of knowledge and provision of support. This structured mentorship program can be applied to an existing mentorship relationship or CSO advisory role
Benefits
- Stipend: $9,000 covering living support for the three months during the fall semester at a US university
- Housing: one single furnished bedroom in a 4-bedroom apartment shared with three other fellows for three months in Indianapolis
- Health insurance through Indiana University for three months in Indianapolis
- SEVIS fee
- Economy class return ticket from home country to the US for the semester at Indiana University in Indianapolis
- Up to $1000 travel funds to attend the AROCSA conference in July 2020 and closing retreat
- Costs related to attending the opening retreat in the program
- Costs related to attending the 2019 ARNOVA North American annual conference
Eligibility
- Executive Director of an NGO in Africa, and from Africa that is seeking to transition away from their NGO in the next 2-3 years
- Approval from the board to take a sabbatical from work from September – November 2019
- Eligible to receive a J1 visa to the United States. Once an offer is made, participation may not be deferred
- Medical fitness certified by qualified medical doctor
* If you know someone that would fit the eligibility profile and would make an excellent candidate for this position, please send your nomination and contact information to the AROCSA Coordinator, Anastesia Okaomee at aokaomee@arnova.org, and we will provide them with an application.
Application
Applicants are required to apply for the Fellowship through the electronic application below. Applications must include the following:
- Completed electronic application forms
- Copy of current passport (if you have a need or questions regarding children under the age of 18 or dependant/spouse, please contact the AROCSA Coordinator, Anastesia Okaomee at aokaomee@arnova.org. Once selected, current passports for approved additional visitors would be needed immediately for timely visa processing)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Two letters of recommendation (including one from the NGO Board Chair indicating that the board is aware and approves of the applicant’s participation in the fellowship)
- A 3-5 page (double space, 12pt font with one inch margins) personal statement that includes, but not limited to, the reason for participating in the fellowship and anticipated fellowship objectives that the applicant seeks to achieve
*If selected, you will be required to complete and document a comprehensive assessment of your health status. To view the medical form and familiarize yourself with required medical examinations, please click here.
For more information, visit LTFP in Africa.
