The U.S.-Philippines Alliance Fellowship Program 2020, East-West Center, USA

The East-West Center (EWC), in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, is accepting applications from Filipino scholars and analysts who wish to conduct an analysis along the following themes: national security, international relations, and international trade and investment in the Indo-Pacific. Applicants must be nationals of the Philippines and eligible to receive a fellowship stipend. Fluency in English is required. Applicants should be pursuing a Master’s degree, PhD, or already have a graduate degree. While applications from candidates of all backgrounds and career levels will be considered, emphasis will be given to:

• Early career applicants who would benefit in their academic or professional careers from such an opportunity,
• Those who have not yet had the opportunity to operate in Washington D.C. and engage with the D.C.-based academic and policy making communities, and
• Projects which would greatly benefit from the resources afforded by a residency in Washington D.C.

To facilitate this research and allow participants to engage with the resources and experts of the U.S. policy community in Washington, D.C., the fellowship will finance residencies for 2 fellows for a period of 2-3 months at the East-West Center in Washington (EWCW).

The fellowship includes a monthly stipend of US$3,000 while in residence in Washington; office space and computer and relevant office resources; and round trip economy airfare to Washington, D.C. from the Philippines. Fellow(s) should begin residency in approximately May 2020 with details to be determined between EWCW and selected Fellow(s). Fellows are responsible for securing their own housing and medical insurance coverage during their term of residency (EWCW will provide suggestions for accommodation options). 

Application Requirements and Materials

The application DEADLINE is March 20, 2020 (11:59PM EST). Applications must include the following in order to be considered:

• A completed online application form,
• A full CV,
• Two letters of reference, and
• A 3- to 5-page (double spaced) policy-relevant research proposal

The proposal must:

• Discuss the policy problem or issue to be examined and a tentative hypothesis and arguments,
• Make the case that the proposed project can be completed in two-three months, and
• Explain how a fellowship in Washington, D.C. would further this research (For example: by interviewing government officials/policy experts, access to archives at local institutions etc.)

Optional elements:

• Brief description of any plans for field research or conference attendance in the United States outside of D.C., and how it would enhance the project
• A brief bibliography of the relevant literature

Selection Process and Criteria

All completed applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by a selection committee, external to the EWC. Applications missing any part of the required package will not be considered. Decision letters are expected to be sent in early April 2020. The final number of fellows selected will be subject to fiscal resources available. The strength of the proposal is the most significant factor for selection; particularly, the relevancy of the topic to issues of contemporary U.S.-Indo-Pacific relations or Indo-Pacific policy, and demonstrated ability to undertake independent research.

Fellows’ Responsibilities

Each of the Fellows will be expected to produce policy-relevant analysis and publications on his or her approved research topic. These will be published in the EWCW’s Asia Pacific Bulletin series to ensure the dissemination of the Fellows’ ideas to key stakeholders such as government officials, scholars, policy analysts, and the media. Fellows will also be encouraged to publish their research in longer EWC publications such as the AsiaPacific Issues or Policy Studies series. At the close of this program, the Fellows will present their findings in a public seminar as part of the EWCW’s Indo-Pacific Seminar series. Upon returning to the Philippines, Fellows are also expected to present their analysis to key stakeholders through a public forum or media engagement.

While in residence, Fellows will actively participate in briefings with experts and officials organized by the EWCW. Briefings will be customized for the research topic themes of each fellowship group. Such briefings could encompass the Embassy of the Philippines, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of State, and will include the offices/officials involved in U.S.-Philippines relations, key experts at think tanks and universities, as well as key members/staff in the U.S. Congress. Relevant site visits will be planned for the fellows during their residency in Washington, D.C. 

Additional Details for Non-U.S. Residents

Due to East-West Center funding regulations for The U.S.-Philippines Alliance Fellowship, non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are selected as fellows will need to be on East-West Center J-1 visa sponsorship during their residency. Acceptance of the fellowship will subject fellows to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or the 'two-year home country residency requirement' before the fellow may apply for a change of status in the United States, permanent residency, or an H, L, or K visa. Please note the J-1 Visa Requirements have been recently updated and include: (1) evidence of J-status appropriate health/repatriation insurance enrollment for the period, (2) evidence of English-language proficiency, and (3) a separate SEVIS I-901 fee.

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.