Deadline: 12-Jul-2026
This year-long peacebuilding fellowship supports early- and mid-career professionals from Asia and the Pacific who are working to address conflict, strengthen dialogue, and advance locally grounded peacebuilding solutions. The programme includes leadership development, virtual learning seminars, a two-week professional exchange in the United States, and a $2,500 professional development grant. Three fellows will be selected to participate in the programme, which is designed for candidates aged 40 or younger with at least three years of professional experience.
Overview of the Peacebuilding Fellowship
The fellowship supports early- and mid-career peacebuilders from Asia and the Pacific through leadership development, professional exchange, and project-based learning.
It is designed to help professionals respond to complex subnational conflict dynamics by strengthening their knowledge, networks, and practical skills.
The programme aims to develop leaders who can bridge divides, foster dialogue, and support locally grounded solutions for peace and conflict transformation.
Key Focus Areas
The fellowship focuses on peacebuilding, leadership, and conflict transformation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Key focus areas include:
- Peacebuilding leadership
- Subnational conflict dynamics
- Conflict transformation
- Dialogue and bridge-building
- Locally grounded peace solutions
- Professional exchange
- Leadership development
- Regional peacebuilding networks
- Research and practice in peacebuilding
- Civil society engagement
- Policy and practitioner learning
- Self-designed professional development projects
Purpose of the Fellowship
The purpose of the fellowship is to support emerging and mid-career peacebuilding leaders who are committed to advancing peace in Asia and the Pacific.
The programme helps fellows build stronger professional networks, engage with experts, deepen their understanding of conflict and peacebuilding practice, and design a project or professional development goal that supports their long-term work.
It is especially relevant for professionals working in environments affected by social division, local conflict, political tension, violence, displacement, or fragile community relations.
Number of Fellows Selected
Three fellows will be selected for the year-long programme.
The small cohort structure allows fellows to receive focused learning, peer exchange, and direct engagement with practitioners, policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows will receive access to leadership development, professional exchange, and project support.
Key benefits include:
- Year-long fellowship participation
- Virtual learning seminars
- Leadership development support
- Professional exchange opportunities
- Two-week study tour in the United States
- Engagement with practitioners, policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders
- $2,500 professional development grant
- Support for a self-designed project or professional goal
- Expanded regional and international peacebuilding networks
U.S. Study Tour and Professional Exchange
The fellowship includes a two-week study tour and professional exchange in the United States.
The study tour will take place in:
- San Francisco Bay Area
- New York City
- Washington, D.C.
During the exchange, fellows will engage with a range of peacebuilding, policy, academic, and civil society actors. This experience is designed to expose fellows to different approaches to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, leadership, and public policy.
Professional Development Grant
Each fellow will receive a $2,500 professional development grant.
The grant is intended to support a self-designed project or professional goal. Fellows may use this support to strengthen their peacebuilding work, advance research or practice, develop a professional initiative, or deepen their leadership capacity.
The project or professional goal should be clearly connected to peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific region.
Who is Eligible?
Eligibility is limited to early- and mid-career professionals from countries where The Asia Foundation has had a presence.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be 40 years old or younger during the programme year
- Be from an eligible country in Asia or the Pacific
- Have at least three years of professional experience
- Demonstrate leadership potential
- Be fluent in English
- Be able to secure a U.S. visa
- Be committed to participating in the full programme schedule
- Show passion for advancing peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific region
- Be involved in peacebuilding through research, practice, policy, community engagement, or related professional work
Special visa-related requirements apply for candidates from Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Laos.
Suitable Applicants
The fellowship is suitable for professionals working on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, social cohesion, dialogue, governance, human rights, youth leadership, research, civil society, or community-based conflict transformation.
Potential applicants may include:
- Peacebuilding practitioners
- Civil society professionals
- Researchers working on peace and conflict
- Community dialogue facilitators
- Conflict transformation professionals
- Youth peace leaders
- Policy-focused professionals
- Human rights or governance practitioners
- Professionals working on subnational conflict
- Leaders supporting locally driven peace initiatives
Why It Matters
The fellowship matters because conflict dynamics in Asia and the Pacific are becoming increasingly complex and locally specific.
Many peacebuilding challenges require leaders who understand local contexts, can build trust across divided communities, and can connect research, policy, and practice. This fellowship supports those leaders by giving them access to learning, networks, professional exchange, and project support.
By investing in early- and mid-career peace-carebuilders, the programme helps strengthen the next generation of leaders working toward dialogue, inclusion, and sustainable peace.
How the Fellowship Works
The fellowship combines online learning, international exchange, professional networking, and project-based development.
Step 1: Apply for the Fellowship
Interested candidates must submit an application that demonstrates their eligibility, professional experience, leadership potential, and commitment to peacebuilding in Asia and the Pacific.
The application should clearly explain the applicant’s current work, motivation, and professional goals.
Step 2: Demonstrate Peacebuilding Commitment
Applicants should show how their work contributes to peacebuilding, conflict transformation, dialogue, social cohesion, or related fields.
They should explain how the fellowship will strengthen their ability to advance locally grounded peace solutions.
Step 3: Confirm Programme Availability
Applicants must be able to commit to the required programme dates.
This includes participation in virtual learning seminars, fellowship activities, and the two-week U.S. study tour and professional exchange.
Step 4: Confirm U.S. Visa Eligibility
Applicants must be able to secure a U.S. visa.
Candidates from Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Laos should pay close attention to any special visa-related requirements that apply to them.
Step 5: Participate in Virtual Learning Seminars
Selected fellows will join virtual learning seminars through The Asia Foundation’s Leadership & Exchange programmes.
These sessions are designed to build leadership skills, deepen knowledge, and support professional exchange among fellows.
Step 6: Join the U.S. Study Tour
Fellows will participate in a two-week study tour and professional exchange in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
They will meet practitioners, policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders to explore peacebuilding, leadership, and conflict transformation from multiple perspectives.
Step 7: Design and Advance a Professional Goal
Fellows will use the $2,500 professional development grant to support a self-designed project or professional goal.
This should align with their peacebuilding work and contribute to their growth as leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting general or unfocused applications.
Common mistakes include:
- Not clearly explaining peacebuilding experience
- Failing to show leadership potential
- Applying without meeting the age requirement
- Not demonstrating at least three years of professional experience
- Providing a weak connection to Asia-Pacific peacebuilding
- Not explaining how the fellowship supports future work
- Overlooking U.S. visa requirements
- Failing to confirm availability for programme dates
- Submitting a vague self-designed project or professional goal
- Not showing how the applicant can bridge divides or foster dialogue
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be personal, specific, and clearly linked to peacebuilding impact.
Applicants should:
- Describe their current peacebuilding work clearly
- Explain their role in addressing conflict or social division
- Show leadership potential through practical examples
- Connect their work to subnational conflict dynamics where relevant
- Demonstrate commitment to locally grounded peace solutions
- Present a clear professional development goal
- Explain how the $2,500 grant will support their growth
- Show readiness for international exchange and virtual learning
- Confirm ability to participate fully in the programme
- Highlight how the fellowship will strengthen long-term peacebuilding impact
FAQ
1. What is the peacebuilding fellowship about?
The fellowship supports early- and mid-career peacebuilders from Asia and the Pacific through leadership development, professional exchange, virtual learning, and a self-designed project.
2. Who can apply?
Applicants must be 40 years old or younger during the programme year, come from a country where The Asia Foundation has had a presence, have at least three years of professional experience, demonstrate leadership potential, and be fluent in English.
3. How many fellows will be selected?
Three fellows will be selected for the year-long programme.
4. What does the fellowship include?
The fellowship includes virtual learning seminars, leadership development, a two-week study tour and professional exchange in the United States, engagement with practitioners and policymakers, and a $2,500 professional development grant.
5. Where does the U.S. study tour take place?
The two-week study tour and professional exchange takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
6. Is a U.S. visa required?
Yes. Applicants must be able to secure a U.S. visa. Special requirements apply for candidates from Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Laos.
7. What can the $2,500 grant support?
The $2,500 professional development grant supports a self-designed project or professional goal connected to the fellow’s peacebuilding work, research, leadership development, or professional growth.
Conclusion
This year-long peacebuilding fellowship provides a valuable opportunity for early- and mid-career leaders from Asia and the Pacific to strengthen their skills, networks, and practical impact.
Through virtual learning, a U.S. professional exchange, and a $2,500 development grant, the programme supports professionals working to bridge divides, foster dialogue, and advance locally grounded peacebuilding solutions. Strong applicants should clearly demonstrate leadership potential, peacebuilding experience, regional commitment, and readiness to use the fellowship for long-term impact.
For more information, visit The Asia Foundation.
