Deadline for Applications: July 27, 2018
The Franklin Fellows Program is a unique and innovative program that taps citizens’ knowledge and enables approved organizations to promote public service by their professionals. Mid-career and more senior Franklin Fellows work on issues of vital importance to the United States, such as trade and financial policy, entrepreneurship, counterterrorism, regional issues, human rights, and trans-national diseases. Fellows are not compensated by the Department of State. Rather, their employers or other organization sponsor them, or they sponsor themselves. They return to their home organizations and communities with a much-enhanced knowledge of foreign and development policy and government operations and culture. If your organization has an international focus, allowing your employees to spend a sabbatical year as a Franklin Fellow can be an ideal way to develop their talent and position your organization to excel.
What is the Franklin Fellows Program?
Franklin Fellows are senior and mid-level professionals who serve a one-year unpaid fellowship at the Department of State or at USAID.
Working as experts and consultants on a wide range of issues and subjects, Franklin Fellows contribute their knowledge, experience, and specialized skills. While at State or USAID, Franklin Fellows gain first-hand insight into the world of foreign policy and development.
Franklin Fellows must be American citizens, with a minimum five years’ experience, and able to get a security clearance.
The Franklin Fellowship is not a path to employment at the Department of State or USAID.
After their year in Government, most “sponsored” Fellows return to their academic institutions, private-sector companies, and non-governmental organizations. The Franklin Fellowship is ideal as a sabbatical year for academics, or as an executive development program for the private sector, NGOs, and state and local government.
Some Fellows are “self-nominated” who use the Fellowship as an investment in their future, developing skills and rounding out their experience.
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