Deadline: July 29, 2024
Applications are open for the Asia Foundation Development Fellows Program 2025. The Asia Foundation Development Fellows program is a dynamic and multifaceted learning program designed for highly talented Asian individuals under age 40 to enhance their leadership skills, Asian development knowledge, professional networks, and international exposure. The program reflects the Foundation’s nearly seven-decade tradition of investing in the region’s most promising future leaders.
In recognition of the growing urgency of the global climate crisis, the 2025 Asia Foundation Development Fellows Program will focus on Climate Action. Eligibility will require candidates to demonstrate a career background or vocation focused on addressing climate change and a proven commitment to working toward achieving a resilient, sustainable future. The program will remain designed to develop leadership skills and include a multidisciplinary cohort. Fellows may come from various professional backgrounds, including but not limited to environmental sciences, sustainability, climate and conservation, community engagement and activism, and environmental policy and law. They may also be journalists, conflict and fragility specialists, women’s rights activists, or any field whose work intersects climate issues. No professional background is ineligible if a candidate can demonstrate the intersection of their work with climate action.
The Asia Foundation Development Fellows program is comprised of the following components:
- Spring 2025: Leadership Training Program and Study Tour (Nepal, February 17 to 28, 2025)
- Fall 2025: Leadership Dialogue and Exchange Program (United States, October 6 to 17, 2025)
Benefits
- Professional Development Award: An award of up to US$5,000 will be made available to each selected Fellow. This cash award will allow Fellows the opportunity to design individualized plans to further their leadership skills and relevant professional experience in areas of particular importance to their career growth. Each Fellow will be asked to develop a personalized yearlong work plan involving enrollment in specialized training programs or short courses, language study, travel to attend key regional forums or workshops, or engagement in other enrichment activities.
- Executive Coaching & Mentoring: The Asia Foundation lends valuable perspectives to the field of leadership development, with a proven program history and record of commitment throughout Asia and the Pacific. Building on the Foundation’s regional network and local capacity, the program offers mentorship-matching support tailored to the background and professional interests of each of the Fellows. Additionally, Fellows are offered a fixed number of one-on-one executive coaching sessions throughout their fellowship year.
Eligibility
Asia Foundation Development Fellows must:
- Have a demonstrable record of experience and accomplishment related to climate action and a proven commitment to working toward achieving a resilient, sustainable future. No professional background is ineligible if a candidate can demonstrate the intersection of their work with climate action.
- Be thoughtful, committed, respected, and inspirational leaders in their professional fields and community.
- Be under 40 years of age by January 1, 2025.
- 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.
- Be able to secure a visa for travel to the United States.
- Be resident nationals or citizens of the following countries and regions: Afghanistan, Australia*, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
*For applicants from Australia, this is a First Peoples Identified role only open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The filling of this position is intended to constitute a special measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and from: s 27 of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT), s 57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1996 (NT), s 105 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), s 65 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA), ss 25 and 26 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas), s 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and s 8(4) of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), s 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA). This appointment is only available to Aboriginal or Torres Strait people who are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and are accepted by their community as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Application
Review the Application Instructions and Guidelines and complete each component of the application:
- Personal information
- Written submission
- CV
- Short video submission
- Letters of recommendation (handled online)
The application deadline is Monday, July 29, 2024, at 11:59 PM UTC-4.
For more information, visit Asia Foundation Development Fellows.
