HURFORD YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: July 31, 2022

The Hurford Youth Fellowship Program seeks to build the leadership skills and harness the potential of young democracy activists from around the world. Through the Program, young activists spend three months at the World Movement’s Secretariat, during which they expand their global connections, share experiences with other activists from democracy movements around the world, and contribute to the development of the World Movement for Democracy. Hurford Youth Fellows engage in strategic meetings; conduct research; and organize and lead presentations, online discussions, and information-sharing sessions on key democracy issues.
Upon the successful completion of each fellowship, the fellows serve as a regional/country focal point, working with the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network to remain involved and take the lead in youth-related activities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants interested in the Hurford Youth Fellows Program must be no older than 30
years of age. They must demonstrate strong interest in democratic activism and in the advancement
of democracy in their respective communities, as well as worldwide. Youth affiliated with civil society
organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
Please Note: The Hurford Youth Fellows Program is open to applicants from any country. It does
not provide scholarship funds or any other type of financial aid to university or graduate students,
nor is it designed to support postdoctoral research. The program is not an educational program offering academic courses leading toward a degree. In addition, it does not provide financial support
to those seeking to complete professional training programs, attend conferences, or pursue internships at other organizations.
English Language Requirement: A working knowledge of English is an important prerequisite
for participation in the program for general communication purposes. All application materials must
be submitted in English.

Application Procedure

Applicants are asked to submit the following:
– Applicant Form;
– C.V./Resume; and
– Two Letters of Recommendation
All application materials should be uploaded in the application portal.
*If you applied last year, you must create a new profile using a new email address.

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS: The Applicant Form has four sections: (1) Personal
Information; (2) Project Proposal; (3) Curriculum Vitae/Résumé; and (4) Two Letters of Recommendation. Each applicant must complete the entire Form. Please note that incomplete application
forms will not be reviewed.
Project Proposal: Your project proposal is the most important part of your fellowship application.
It should be clear, concise, and comprehensible to individuals outside your own field or concentration. Your proposal must correspond to one of the following three Democracy themes:
Defending Democratic Space
Freedoms are increasingly restricted for people who wish to voice their concerns, come together, and address those concerns by engaging stakeholders. In both physical and digital
spaces, they face limitations on where they can meet, how they can interact, and what they
can say or do. This is particularly true under authoritarian regimes, but also under new and
established democracies where minority views are marginalized. As a result, citizens have
less influence in political processes that impact their lives and are unable to hold their governments accountable.
Promoting Inclusive Governance
The World Movement aims to strengthen inclusive democratic governance with an emphasis on empowering emerging leaders that are committed to democratic principles. As part of
this effort, the World Movement facilitates engagement among emerging leaders from civil
society and political parties; exploring constructive ways to enhance their political participation; building effective partner-ships between civil society, government, and the private
sector; and sustaining democratic movements that influence policy making and institutional reforms.
Strengthening Democratic Leadership
The next generation of democratic leadership plays a crucial role in sustaining and advancing democracy. The World Movement believes in the importance of inter- generational dialogue and facilitates exchange of ideas and experiences between seasoned leaders and
emerging leaders.

Your proposal, in no more than 1200 words, should describe steps you will take to organize and
complete your fellowship projects (online discussions, research, strategic meetings). Fellows are expected to use participatory research methods to conduct a project that aims to offer solutions and new
ideas to emerging democratic challenges under the three concentrations referred to above. Fellows
are expected to develop new resources and identify, compile, present, and creatively share project materials. In your proposal, please ensure that you respond to the following specific questions:

1. Of the three democracy themes outlined above, what is your proposed research topic for your
   fellowship project?
2. What are three specific questions you will seek to answer under your research topic?
3. How would your research and project products (white paper, research essay, video series,
   toolkit, etc.) advance democracy activities and initiates in your respective region and around
   the globe?
4. How would you contribute to the further development of the World Movement for Democracy’s Youth activities?
   Strong proposals will exhibit the following characteristics:

• A clear focus and rationale, with practical relevance for strengthening the participation of
  youth in democracies.
• The outline of well-defined approaches to your selected theme, with tangible benefits to colleagues and counterparts in your field.
• A concentration on two or more regions. Remember this is a global fellowship where you are
  expected to learn from other democracy movements and cultivate relationships with your peers
  around the world.
  Curriculum Vitae/Résumé: Please prepare a curriculum vitae or résumé and upload it in section
  4 of the application portal. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should highlight your relevant professional experience, educational background, community service, and/or extra-curricular activities.

Selection Process

Fellows will be selected by the World Movement Secretariat staff, NED regional
program staff, and the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network following an application process.
Selection will be based on a set of criteria including demonstrated activism or interest in the advancement of democracy, a desire to network with others, and a clear explanation of how the fellowship will benefit their own efforts for advancing democracy.

Application Registration deadline: 31st July, 2022

To Apply: Click here

Official Website: Click here