[UgaBYTES] Call for Applications, The Open Society Fellowship which supports individuals seeking innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges

[Mwathi Francis]

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/fellowship/focus_areas
The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals seeking innovative and
unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. The
fellowship funds work that will enrich public understanding of those
challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within
the Open Society Institute and in the world.

A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been
recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer
a new advocacy strategy. Fellows should take advantage of the
considerable intellectual and logistical resources of the Open Society
Institute and expect to contribute meaningfully to OSI's thinking in
return.
In evaluating each proposal, the selection committee weighs three factors:
the applicant, the topic of the project, and the work product.

Proposals are accepted year round, but those received by January 8, 2010,
will be evaluated by March 24, 2010. Those received by April 28, 2010, will
be evaluated by
July 21, 2010.

The Applicant
The Open Society Fellowship chooses its fellows from a diverse pool of
applicants that includes journalists, activists, academics, and
practitioners in a variety of fields. Applicants should possess a deep
understanding of their chosen subject area and a track record of
professional accomplishment.

The fellowship seeks “idea entrepreneurs” from across the world who are
ready to challenge conventional wisdom. Successful applicants will be eager
to exploit the many resources offered by OSI and be prepared to
engage constructively with the global OSI community. Ideal fellows are
specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and
possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit.
The Topic of the Project
The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies
whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Among OSI's core areas
of concern are human rights, government transparency,
the promotion of civil society and social inclusion. Project themes
should cut across these areas of interest. Applicants are encouraged to
explore this website to acquaint themselves with the panoply of themes
and geographic areas that fall within OSI's purview. Examples
include:

Global migration and the rights of displaced minorities
The role of cultural expression and cultural movements in promoting open
societies
Organized crime, corruption, and state failure
The economic crisis and its impact on open societies
How authoritarian societies use ideology to legitimize their rule
The interdependence of security, the rule of law and civil society in
post-conflict settings
How to enlist a broad range of constituencies�€"e.g. labor, immigrants,
religious groups, and women�€"to advance causes central to the open society,
including human rights, good governance, and transparency
Movement-building and state repression in societies affected by global
warming
The impact of new technologies on citizen access to information and justice
The relationship between political marginalization of minority groups and
political violence
Privatization and government accountability
Open Society Fellows are currently investigating the role of new
technologies in authoritarian societies, modes of AIDS transmission on two
continents, the fraught relationship between a war-torn society and
its diaspora in the United States, and the mixed results of
international advocacy for Darfur.
What these projects share is a zeal for problem-solving, the confidence to
test hypotheses against observed reality, and an impatience with
conventional or clichéd thinking.
Applicants who are uncertain whether their topic fits within OSI's
organizational interests are invited to submit a brief letter of inquiry,
accompanied by a CV, before proceeding with the
online application process. That letter of inquiry should be addressed
to: OSFellows(at)sorosny.org.
The Work Product
Successful projects should push the boundaries of current thinking and carry
lessons that can be applied to a variety of settings. Applicants should
carefully consider the impact they want their work to
have and the audiences they wish to reach. They should then think
creatively about the activities and work products that will reach these
audiences most effectively.
Fellows may produce a variety of work products, including publications such
as books, reports, or blogs; innovative public-education projects; or the
launch of new campaigns or
organizations. They may also engage in activities such as hosting panel
discussions, traveling to conferences, participating in policy debates,
and aggressively promoting their ideas in public venues.
Fellowship projects can include photography, outreach and advocacy around
documentary film, and other forms of cultural
production. Applicants in the arts must demonstrate rigorous and
original thinking about the nexus of cultural expression and social
change.
Fellowship Expectations
At the heart of the fellowship is the Open Society Institute itself. Fellows
are invited to join the rich and diverse OSI community, a global network of
activists and institutions dedicated to defending civil
society and improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable citizens.
Fellows are expected to take full advantage of OSI's expansive reach and
work to bring new people and fresh ideas into the organization's ambit. The
program anticipates that most fellows will spend a portion of
their fellowship term at one of the organization's main offices, in New
York, Washington, London, Brussels, or Budapest, or at an OSI regional
foundation.
While in residence, they are strongly encouraged to
organize and participate in conferences and program events and may be
asked to run a seminar involving OSI staff and outside colleagues.
Ultimately, fellows should sharpen the organization's thinking, question
its assumptions, and broaden its understanding of pivotal social
problems.
In order to facilitate these interactions, proficiency in spoken English is
required.
Fellowship Placement and Term
OSI considers applicants from all parts of the world. Most fellows spend a
portion of their term in one or more OSI offices. Fellows may work out of
multiple OSI offices during their term.

Fellows who wish to work on their project in a country in which they do not
have citizenship must satisfy and comply with applicable visa requirements.
OSI helps fellows obtain necessary visas and covers all
associated costs.

Fellowships are awarded for one year. In some cases OSI considers requests
for shorter or longer durations. Preference is given to applications for
full-time fellowships, but OSI also considers
applicants who can only work part-time on their projects.
Fellowship Support
For a full-time fellow based in the U.S., the stipend ranges from $60,000 to
$100,000. For fellows based in other countries, appropriate adjustments will
be made to reflect the economic circumstances and costs
of living in those countries. Stipends are based on several factors
including work experience, seniority, prior earnings, and the proportion
of time committed to the fellowship. The stipend does not necessarily
equal the applicant's current salary. In certain cases, fellows will
receive additional financial support to enable them to meet the
residency expectation.

In most cases, OSI provides fellows with communications support to convey
their work to a broader audience and influence current debates. OSI also
integrates fellows into its networks of individual and
organizational partners and grantees.

OSI may cover additional project expenses such as travel (including airfare
and hotel), visa costs, part-time research assistance, conference fees and
health insurance. Fellowship expenses should not
include operational or programmatic costs, such as employees and
physical infrastructure. The purpose of the fellowship is to support
individual fellows; therefore OSI will only cover individual expenses.

The fellowship does not fund enrollment for degree or non-degree study at
academic institutions, including dissertation research.
Please note that under federal tax rules applicable to U.S. private
foundations, OSI cannot support lobbying activities. Projects that include
lobbying activities will not be funded. If you're unsure whether
your project activities constitute lobbying, please review the Tax
Law Lobbying Rules before submitting an application.
Application and Selection
All interested applicants should complete the online application form at
https://oas.soros.org/oas and submit supporting materials for consideration.
Please read the FAQs
before applying. Applicants may submit a project proposal or other
materials in a language other than English, as long as they also submit
an English translation. Certified translations are strongly recommended.
Once the initial information has been entered, applicants receive login
details and an ID number that allows them to make additions and revisions to
the form until materials are submitted. The ID number
should be quoted in any correspondence.
Applicants may mail their hard-copy materials to:
Open Society Fellowship
Open Society Institute
400 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019

Note: Only applicants without Internet access may send an application by
post. A PDF application form can be downloaded below. All others must apply
online.
Applications are reviewed year round. Fellowship staff evaluate applications
in consultation with OSI colleagues and outside experts. Reviewers consider
whether the applicant's background,
track record, and depth of expertise give reason to believe that the
project will be successfully completed and whether the applicant offers
persuasive evidence that the fellowship project will significantly
inform and challenge the Open Society community.
A small number of applicants are selected as finalists. These finalists are
considered by an outside selection committee, which meets three to four
times a year. Applicants seeking a timely response to
their proposals should keep in mind the following deadline:

Applications received by January 8, 2010, will be evaluated by March 24,
2010.
Applications received by April 28, 2010, will be evaluated by July 21,
2010.
OSI considers applications subject to funding availability.

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/fellowship/focus_areas


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