Echidna Global Scholars Program Visiting Fellowship 2025 (up to $25,000)

The Echidna Global Scholars Program at the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings seeks to catalyze and amplify the impact of local leaders working to advance gender-transformative education across the Global South.

During a six-month fellowship, Echidna Global Scholars conduct individual research focused on improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender-nonconforming people, develop their leadership and evidence-based policy skills, build substantive knowledge on gender and global education issues, and expand their pathways for impact. Upon completion of the fellowship, scholars transition to the Echidna Alumni Network, a growing community of practice aimed at promoting their significant, sustained, and collective influence on gender-transformative education globally and locally.

Since its inception in 2012, the Echidna Global Scholars Program has hosted 10 cohorts of fellows and currently supports an alumni network of 33 scholars from 20 different countries.

Program Phases of Echidna Global Scholars

The Fellowship consists of two phases:

• Pre-residency: sets the basis for the research training, leadership, and strategic impact components of the program. With the support of CUE fellows, scholars begin an intensive period of in-country data collection and analysis, accompanied by a series of virtual workshops, group working meetings, and individual advisory sessions. Scholars are introduced to the concepts and tools that will be the focus of the leadership development program throughout the Fellowship and begin developing an impact strategy, identifying and engaging with local actors. Time commitment is roughly 15-20 hours a week during this phase.
• Residency: the residency period in Washington, DC focuses primarily on expanding Scholars’ reach and impact through publication and dissemination of scholars’ research on Brookings’s multimedia platforms, strategic impact capacity strengthening and sharing, leadership development, and networking. The residency phase is designed to help scholars amplify their impact by strengthening skills and practices for analyzing, communicating, and leveraging research for policy contexts and key audiences. The residency also seeks to expand scholars’ networks and promote visibility through Brookings convenings and strategic collaborations, culminating in the Gender Equality in and through Education Research and Policy Symposium.

In addition, during the two-year period following residency, the CUE team provides intentional support to alumni as they implement action plans in their home countries. Through impact planning, strategic advisement and leadership development work, CUE aims to support scholars as they leverage the knowledge, skills, and connections built throughout the Fellowship to catalyze change in their contexts.=

Benefits of Echidna Global Scholars 

• Applicants selected for the Fellowship will receive a stipend totaling $25,000 USD to support living costs during the pre-residency and residency periods (subject to U.S. tax withholding and reporting).
• In addition, CUE will cover the costs associated with the visa process, single-occupancy housing for the 4-month residency period, round-trip travel expenses, and a limited health insurance plan.

Check: Stamps Scholars Program 2025 to Study in the United States

Eligibility 

• The Program selects professionals with substantial experience in and ties to the Global South, a clear intent to return to the Global South after completing the period of residency at Brookings, and a passion and demonstrated commitment to improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people in and through education.
• Applicants should have a background in education, gender and/or women’s studies, international development, public policy, economics, or a related social sciences or humanities area, with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in research/academia, non-governmental, community or civil society organizations, or government. Candidates with experience in both academic or government settings and community organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
• A Master’s degree is required.
• Successful applicants will have an in-depth understanding of education, development, and gender issues, strong analytical and writing skills, the ability to care for and collaborate with others, openness to give and receive feedback, and the capacity and desire to learn with speed and flexibility.
• All Echidna Global Scholars must demonstrate proficiency in English.

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