Deadline: February 3, 2023
Applications are now open for the first cohort of the US-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP). This fellowship supports a new generation of collaborative, innovative, and values-driven Jordanian leaders who drive success and growth in their economy and civil society, while strengthening ties between the United States and Jordan.
U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP) is a three-year program designed to support a new generation of collaborative, creative and values-driven Jordanian leaders who drive success and growth in their economy and civil society while strengthening ties between the U.S. and Jordan. To build skills essential to collaboration and interdisciplinarity, creative problem-solving and innovation, and equity and inclusion.
Upon returning from the USA, UJLEP Alumni will be part of a sustainable Alumni Network providing the supporting infrastructure for their continued leadership journey. Alumni will have the opportunity to network across cohort years to develop new network connections, exchange technical expertise in their disciplines, and explore collaborations. Alumni will have the chance to partner with other alumni and with their U.S. host organizations in a small grants program for community-based solutions to local and regional issues, under which young specialists from the U.S. host organizations will come to Jordan for an abbreviated reciprocal exchange.
Disciplines
Selected fellows with demonstrated high potential in eight key economic and social development disciplines will participate in leadership training in Jordan, travel to the US for a tailored practicum and cultural experience with a U.S. host organization, and engage in follow on projects in their home communities in Jordan.
The eight UJLEP disciplines are:
- Business and entrepreneurship;
- Civil society;
- Community engagement;
- Women’s empowerment;
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA);
- Civic participation;
- Public health; and
- Environment and climate change.
Program Components
- Leadership Training in Jordan: Fellows participate in in-person trainings in Amman over eight weeks where they will identify their core values, engage in experiential activities, and start developing peer networks for their U.S. Exchange experience.
- U.S. Exchange Experience: Over four weeks, Fellows are immersed in U.S. communities and culture through tailored practicums at U.S. host organizations, visits to entities working in the program disciplines, exposure to volunteer work, and cultural activities to deepen their leadership and technical skills in their chosen disciplines.
- Action Projects: Following their exchange, fellows develop innovative Community Action Projects to put into practice what they learned during the practicum and impact in their home communities.
- Graduation conference: Upon the conclusion of their Fellowship, Fellows convene for a graduation conference with diverse stakeholders in the U.S. and Jordan to to showcase their Action Projects’ results and impact and receive their certificates.
- UJLEP Alumni Network and Conferences: After their Fellowships, Alumni continue to build the skills and connections developed during their time in the United States through access to ongoing professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities with support from the U.S. Department of State and affiliated partners.
- Community-Based Initiatives (Small Grants Program): Alumni of the Fellowship are eligible to apply for small grants for projects designed by Fellowship Alumni and their U.S. Hosts.
Benefits
The program covers the cost of most expenses associated with:
- J-1 visa support
- Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the U.S.
- Accommodation will be in a form of homestays with American families
- Monthly allowance to cover transportation, meals, and other living expenses while in the U.S. and
- Accident and sickness health benefits
Eligibility
Competition for the UJLEP Program is merit-based and open to emerging civil society and community Jordanian leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Age 21-35;
- Citizen of Jordan;
- Currently living and studying/working in Jordan at the time of application;
- Has a minimum of one-year of professional experience (work, internship, volunteer or initiatives) in one of the eight UJLEP disciplines: Business and entrepreneurship; civil society; community engagement; women’s empowerment; diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA); civic participation; public health; and environment and climate change), at the time of application;
- Able to begin the UJLEP Program in the United States in 2023;
- Able to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa;
- Committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program and implementing a community-based project; and,
- Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.
- Finalists should be able to fulfill most communication goals, even on unfamiliar topics. They should understand the main ideas of both concrete and abstract writing and they should be able to interact with proficient speakers fairly easily.
Application
For more information, visit IREX.
