Deadline: 5 January 2017
Applications are open for Emerging Civil Society Leaders (ECSL) Program, under the Afghan Civic Engagement Program (ACEP), a five-year program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), implemented by Counterpart International Ltd. (Counterpart) in partnership with Internews Network, the Aga Khan Foundation USA, and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL).
The goal of ACEP is to promote civil society and media engagement that enables Afghan citizens to influence policy, monitor government accountability, and serve as an advocate for political reform.
The ECSL Program inspires, empowers, and connects civil society emerging leaders from across Afghanistan. The program facilitates idea exchange among participants and within the broader civil society community of Afghanistan by bringing together like-minded individuals who are working to create positive change within their communities and the country.
Program participants are selected from diverse backgrounds, fostering the development of a support network and stimulating discussion of both the triumphs and challenges they may face as leaders working in their different capacities to bring about social change. The program participants are comprised of young civil society activists, both women and men, who most years represent all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
Objectives
The program aims to achieve this goal through five program areas: regular CSO engagement with government;
- increase CSO and media thematic expertise in democracy and governance;
- expand civic engagement;
- improve access to independent news and public affairs information;
- increase CSO organizational capacity.
Capacity Development Events
Events will include sessions on, but will not be limited to the following subject areas:
- Advocacy
- Community Mobilization
- Gender Issues
- Gender Mainstreaming Programs and Projects
- Public Speaking
- Leadership and Management
- Proposal Writing
- Anti-corruption
- Countering Trafficking in Persons
- Human Rights
- Peacebuilding
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants interested in the 2017 ECSL program, must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be an Afghan citizen, who is currently residing in Afghanistan;
- Be aged between 20 and 35 years;
- Work or study in the private sector or non-governmental organization. Civil servants and government officials are not eligible;
- Be a civil society activist, with a minimum of two years of experience of working in civic activism, community mobilization, advocacy or similar;
- To have been involved in voluntary work for the betterment of their community, district, province or youth in Afghanistan for at least a year;
- Have strong communication skills in both spoken or written Dari or Pashtu;
- Be computer literate and familiar with using email, internet, and word processing software;
- Be willing and able to travel independently to Kabul at least five times in a year;
- Be willing and able to travel independently within the province where they reside to attend various ACEP organized events and activities (security permitting);
- Be willing and able to attend a two-week international study tour.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to submit the all documents through email.
Eligible Country: Afghanistan
For more information, please visit Emerging Civil Society Leaders Program Afghanistan.