About this Program
The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship 2025 is a five-month, fully funded exchange program for activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars to spend five months in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The exchange program in Washington D.C. allows fellows to conduct independent research on global democratic developments and study in a particular country or region. The fellowship also offers the opportunity to learn advanced skills and expertise from the International Forum for Democratic Studies, a leading center for analysis of democratic transitions worldwide.
The program is open to practitioners from developing or aspiring democracies, non-democratic countries, and established democracies. The fellowship program includes educational and recreational events, such as seminars, roundtable conferences, field trips, sports, museum trips, movies, and happy hours.
The Reagan-Fascell NED fellowship deals with specific democracy-related projects, focusing on the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural dimensions of democratic development. The projects may be based on a wide range of methodologies and approaches. The fellowship also offers other financial benefits, eligibility, and procedures for successful application.
Duration of Fellowship
- 5 months
Eligible Countries and Participants
The basic eligibility criteria are the same for both practitioners as well as scholars. However, some requirements are different for both of them. Candidates must be residents of an eligible country.
- The applicants must be proficient in English.
- The applicant must propose a project that will focus on the political, social, economic legal, or cultural sides of the democratic countries.
- The applicants must ensure their availability at the residence in Washington D.C. during their 5 months of the fellowship program.
Eligibility for Practitioners Track:
- The applicant must be a mid-career professional.
- The applicant must have practical experience promoting democracy or human rights in the country or region.
Eligibility for Scholars:
- The applicants must have completed the PhD or equivalent academic degree at the time of application.
- The applicants must have a record of publications in their respective fields.
- The applicants must formulate a detailed outline of the research project for the fellowship program.