The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) incorporated the International Affairs Fellowship in India (IAF-I) in 2008. The first year was sponsored by E.L. Rothschild through the ERANDA Foundation. The IAF-I seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the rising generations of leaders in the United States and India by expanding cultural exchange and enhancing communication between both countries on global issues.
The fellowship support mid-career scholars and professionals from the public and private sectors to advance their analytic capabilities and expand their foreign policy experience in India. CFR awards several fellowships to highly accomplished individuals who have a capacity for independent work and who are eager to undertake serious foreign policy analysis in India. CFR’s Fellowship Affairs Office assists all fellows in finding a suitable affiliation in India.
Eligibility:
- · The IAF-I is only open to U.S. citizens between the ages of twenty-seven and forty-five
- · While a PhD is not a requirement, selected fellows generally hold an advanced degree and possess a strong record of work experience as well as a firm grounding in the field of foreign policy
- · The program does not fund pre or postdoctoral research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects for which substantial progress has been made prior to the fellowship period.
Selection Process:
Selection as an IAF-I is based on a combination of the following criteria: scholarly qualifications, achievements and promise, depth and breadth of professional experience, firm grounding in foreign policy and international relations, and an application proposal that focuses on U.S.-India foreign policy issues. With respect to the proposal, applicants are encouraged to plan a systematic approach to assessing the major substantive and process issues of their planned research. The proposed work will be judged on originality, practicality, potential, likelihood of completion during the fellowship period, and the contribution it will make to the applicant’s individual career development.
Fellowship Award:
The duration of the fellowship is between three and twelve months. The program awards a stipend which covers travel and living expenses in India. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR, and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.
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