Deadline: December 1, 2026
Applications are open for the Echidna Global Scholars Visiting Fellowship 2027. The Echidna Global Scholars Program at the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings seeks to catalyze and amplify the impact of local leaders working to advance gender-transformative education across the Global South.
During a six-month fellowship, Echidna Global Scholars conduct individual research focused on improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender-nonconforming people, develop their leadership and evidence-based policy skills, build substantive knowledge on gender and global education issues, and expand their pathways for impact.
Program Phases
The Fellowship consists of four phases:
- Kickoff and research design retreat (April 2027): Sets the basis for the research training, leadership, and strategic impact components of the program. Time commitment is one week, during which the scholars will meet with the CUE Gender Equality in and through Education (GEE) team in person to refine their research proposal, identifying a policy problem, designing a research study, and planning their data collection.
- Pre-residency (June-July 2027): With the support of the CUE GEE team, scholars begin an intensive period of in-country data collection and analysis, accompanied by a series of virtual workshops, group working meetings, and individual advisory sessions. Scholars are introduced to the concepts and tools that will be the focus of the leadership development program throughout the Fellowship and begin developing an impact strategy, identifying and engaging with local actors. Time commitment is roughly 15-20 hours a week during this phase.
- Residency (August-December 2027): The residency period in Washington, D.C. focuses primarily on clarifying Scholars’ focus and expanding their reach and impact. The residency phase is designed to support Scholars as they strengthen skills and practices for analyzing, communicating, and leveraging research for policy contexts and key audiences and engage in a reflective and individualized leadership development program. The residency also seeks to expand Scholars’ networks and promote visibility through Brookings convenings and strategic collaborations. Over the course of the residency, Scholars will engage in analysis of data collected during the pre-residency phase and will work closely with the CUE GEE team to translate their research into an action-oriented policy brief and strategic commentaries, which will be published and disseminated on Brookings’s multimedia platforms.
- Post-residency (2028-2029): During the post-residency, scholars will participate in the Gender Equality in and through Education Research and Policy Symposium. Over the two-year period following residency, the CUE team provides intentional support to alumni as they translate their research into action through the implementation of impact projects in their home countries. Through impact planning, strategic advisement and leadership development work, CUE supports scholars as they leverage the knowledge, skills, and connections built throughout the Fellowship to catalyze change in their contexts.
Benefits
- Applicants selected for the Fellowship will receive a stipend totaling $26,500 USD to support living costs during the pre-residency and residency periods (subject to U.S. tax withholding and reporting).
- In addition, CUE will cover the costs associated with the visa process, costs associated with the kick-off and research design retreat, single-occupancy housing for the 4-month residency period, round-trip travel expenses, and a limited health insurance plan.
Eligibility
- The Program selects professionals with substantial experience in and ties to the Global South, a clear intent to return to the Global South after completing the period of residency at Brookings, and a passion and demonstrated commitment to advancing gender equality in and through education.
- Applicants should have a background in education, gender and/or women’s studies, international or global development, public policy, economics, or a related social sciences or humanities area, with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in research/academia, non-governmental, community or civil society organizations, or government. Candidates with experience in both academic or government settings and community organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
- A Master’s degree is required.
- Successful applicants will have an in-depth understanding of education, development, and gender issues, strong analytical and writing skills, the ability to care for and collaborate with others, openness to give and receive feedback, and the capacity and desire to learn with speed and flexibility.
- All Echidna Global Scholars must demonstrate proficiency in English.
Application
Application materials must include BOTH attachments:
- A CV or resume which should include your education and professional experience, as well as a list of your publications, and any fellowships, honors, awards, funded research, or foundation support that you have received.
- The completed Echidna Global Scholars Program Application, which includes both a written questionnaire and a research proposal. Click on hyperlink to access document and upload in the “Writing sample” section. Documents must be saved with a format of Last Name_First Name_document name (for example: Doe_Jane_CV).
Note that letters of recommendation, writing samples, and transcripts are NOT required.
For more information, visit Echidna Global Scholars Visiting Fellowship.
