Fully Funded Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) brings democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders and scholars from around the world to Washington, D.C. for a five-month fellowship at its International Forum for Democratic Studies. Fellows work on an independent project about democracy in a particular country or region, on either a practitioner track or a scholarly track. A monthly living stipend, health insurance and roundtrip travel are covered.

What you get:

• A monthly stipend for living expenses, calculated to cover a short-term furnished rental apartment plus food, local transportation and other necessities
• Basic health insurance
• Roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C. at the start and end of the fellowship
• A fully equipped office, plus a limited budget for long-distance calls and professional travel within the United States
• Research, writing, editorial and outreach support from program staff, including help preparing your public presentation
• Seminars, roundtables, field trips and contacts across government, civil society, academia and the media in Washington and beyond

What you'll do:

• Spend five months in residence at NED's International Forum for Democratic Studies in Washington, D.C.
• Work on a project on the political, social, economic, legal or cultural aspects of democratic development in a particular country or region
• Develop a tailored plan of action with NED staff on a key democratic issue, such as authoritarian influence, digital technology or transnational repression
• Complete a product, such as an article, report, handbook, toolkit, podcast or video, in English or any other language
• Give a formal presentation at the end of the fellowship

Key dates:

• Applications close January 5, 2027
• Letters of recommendation due no later than January 12, 2027
• The fellowship lasts five months, in residence in Washington, D.C., during the 2027 to 2028 fellowship year

More information:

• Apply through NED's online fellowship portal at nedfellowships.org, which asks you to create an account first
• The application asks for applicant information, a project proposal for your track, letters of recommendation, a resume or CV and a biography, all in English
• NED publishes guidelines on generative AI: limited use for ideas, editing and translation is fine, while copying AI-generated answers wholesale is prohibited
• Projects are not expected to include a study of, or comparison with, democracy in the United States
• Questions go to fellowships@ned.org

• Proficiency in English
• A proposed project on the political, social, economic, legal or cultural aspects of democratic development
• Available to work in residence in Washington, D.C. for the full five months, holding no other fellowship or job during that time
• Practitioner track: substantial practical experience promoting democracy or human rights in your country of origin or interest, typically mid-career; no degree requirement
• Scholarly track: a doctorate (Ph.D. or academic equivalent) at the time of application, a proven publication record and a detailed research outline
• No age limit is set
• Former Reagan-Fascell fellows cannot apply again
• You cannot have taken part in a J-1 research scholar program in the 24 months before the fellowship