William Carrick 23 September 2020
https://www.cfr.org/fellowships/international-affairs-fellowship-india
International Affairs Fellowship in India
Application Deadline
October 31, 2020
The Program
The International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) in India, with a grant contributed by Bharti, seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between rising generations of leaders and thinkers in the United States and India. The program provides for one to four mid-career U.S. professionals who have had little or no substantial prior experience in India, the opportunity to spend three to twelve months conducting research and working in India. Fellows are drawn from academia, business, government, journalism, NGOs, and think tanks. While there, fellows develop a new professional network as well as gain fresh insights and perspectives into the country and the opportunities and challenges that confront the region. CFR will work with its network of contacts to assist selected fellows in finding suitable host organizations that best match the fellow’s proposed work in India. Possible placements include but are not limited to CFR’s local partner, the Centre for Policy Research; the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses; or the Institute for Financial Management and Research.
The program gave me access to meet with leaders and senior officials in almost every field and I took full advantage of building a deeper understanding of India. It’s hard to imagine a better opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the most consequential countries in the world.
Luke A. Bronin, Mayor of Hartford, State of Connecticut (2008–2009 IAF in India)
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must be mid-career professionals.
- Applicants must possess a strong record of professional achievement.
Although the program is intended primarily for those without substantial prior experience in India, exceptions have been made when an applicant has demonstrated that the fellowship would add a significant new dimension to his or her career.
Fellowship Award
The duration of the fellowship is between three and twelve months. The program awards a stipend of $90,000 for a period of twelve months (or a prorated amount if the duration is shorter) as well as a modest travel allowance. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.
Please note that 2021-2022 fellowship selection will be contingent on health conditions allowing travel to, and residence in, the host country.
The IAF in India proved exceptionally valuable in the succeeding ten years, helping me to advance both the strategic partnership between the U.S. and India and in developing my understanding of the evolving outer-space domain.
Selection Process
Selection as an IAF in India is based on a combination of the following criteria:
- scholarly qualifications
- professional experience
- firm grounding in foreign policy
- merits and feasibility of a project proposal that relates to U.S.-India relations
- character and personal qualities conducive to promoting cross-cultural communication and cooperation
The selection process is highly competitive. Based on the overall application, the selection committee chooses one to four candidates to be fellows. CFR will work with the selected fellows to place them in suitable host organizations.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the program’s eligibility requirements can apply online between July 1 and October 31 on an annual basis.
Alumni
A list of former fellows can be found online by visiting the Historical Roster of CFR’s International Affairs Fellows in India.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact:
212.434.9740
fellowships@cfr.org