The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program will be accepting applications for the Fall 2020 cohort between February 1 and March 31, 2020!

Supporting the professional development and capacity building of young leaders

working on good governance, economic empowerment, civil society promotion,

and sustainable development.

The Professional Fellows Program is a two-way, global exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, as well as build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from foreign countries and the United States.  The Professional Fellows Program brings emerging leaders from around the world to the United States for intensive five-to-six week fellowships designed to broaden their professional skills and expertise.  Professional Fellows are selected via an open, merit-based application process.  An integral part of the two-way program is for American participants who have hosted foreign fellows to travel overseas for participant-driven reciprocal programs.

What do Professional Fellows do in the United States?

Fellows are placed in non-profit organizations, private businesses, and local government offices across the country for individually-tailored professional development experiences.  The fellows build a broad network with Americans and other foreign fellows, and develop a deeper understanding of U.S. society.  Participants also develop individual action plans to address a challenge in their community or region to be implemented when they return home.

Program themes for 2020 are: civic engagement, economic empowerment, governance and society, and sustainable development and the environment.

The themes, participating countries, and the links to the application pages are as follows:

Theme: Civic Engagement

Implementing Partner: University of Montana

Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam

Application Dates: February 1  –  March 31, 2020

Program home/ application links page: http://www.umt.edu/mansfield/internationalprograms/yseali-civic-engagement/default.php

Theme: Economic Empowerment

Implementing Partner: American Councils

Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam

Application Dates: February 1  – March 31, 2020

Program Home Page: http://professionalfellows.americancouncils.org/

Application link:  https://ais.americancouncils.org/pfp

Theme: Governance and Society

Implementing Partner: American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL)

Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam

Application Dates: February 1  – March 31, 2020

Program home https://www.acypl.org/what-we-do/professional-fellows/

Application link: https://webportalapp.com/appform/login/acypl_yseali_pfp_application_fall_2020

Theme: Sustainable Development and the Environment

Implementing Partner: International City/County Management Association (ICMA)

Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam

Application Dates: February 1 – March 31, 2020

Program Home Page: https://icma.org/programs-and-projects/yseali-professional-fellows-program

Application link: https://icma.submittable.com/submit/f8822011-7848-4940-8977-513c27133ca1/fall-2020-yseali-professional-fellows-program-sustainable-development-and-the-e