Deadline: 29-Nov-21
The Asia Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2022 Asia Foundation Development Fellows: Emerging Leadership for Asia’s Future program.
The 2022 fellowship class will be the eighth cohort of this program, which is designed to engage and empower a dynamic community of emerging leaders from across Asia.
About the Fellowship
The Development Fellows program reflects The Asia Foundation’s commitment to investing in the region’s most promising changemakers. Each year, the program brings together a group of accomplished individuals under 40 years of age—NGO and civil society leaders, government officials and policymakers, social entrepreneurs, journalists, environmentalists, and academics—who are deeply committed to building an inclusive, just, and sustainable Asia.
The 2022 program will consist of two intensive modules, including a virtual Leadership Training Program in the spring and a two-week, in-person program in the United States in the fall, allowing Fellows to stay in their current occupations during the fellowship year. The Leadership Training Program will commence in mid-March with 20 hours of intensive leadership training sessions and 10-20 hours of Asian Development Virtual Study Tours between March 19 and April 29 of 2022.
The Leadership Training Program is highly interactive and hands-on, featuring leadership coaches, speakers, assignments, public-speaking development, and sessions focused on self-care and wellness for leaders. The Asian Development Virtual Study Tour will connect Fellows with leading development practitioners and thinkers, policy leaders, and local innovators who will help Fellows explore approaches that deliver positive impact and understand the mechanics of change on the ground.
In October 2022, the Fellows will visit San Francisco and Washington, D.C. for a two-week Leadership Dialogue and Exchange program (subject to Covid-19 restrictions). Additionally, Fellows receive a fixed number of one-on-one executive coaching sessions and a professional development award of U.S. $5,000 to utilize throughout the fellowship year.
Components
- Spring 2022: Leadership Training Program & Study Tour (Virtual): The Leadership Training Program includes 20 hours of intensive leadership training sessions and 10-20 hours of Asian Development Virtual Study Tour sessions held across 6 weeks, between March 19th and April 29th of 2022.
- Forum on Leadership for Asia’s Future (Asia): The biennial Forum on Leadership for Asia’s Future: At the Frontlines of Change presents an invaluable opportunity to gather alumni of the eight current and former cohorts of Asia Foundation Development Fellows and other young and inspirational changemakers from across Asia to discuss shared development challenges, build and deepen networks of support, promote knowledge sharing, recognize achievements, and highlight creative avenues for innovation and collaboration.
- Fall 2022: Leadership Dialogue and Exchange Program: The leadership dialogue and exchange program will be held in the United States between October 9 and October 22, 2022 (subject to Covid-19 restrictions), providing important opportunities for Fellows to extend personal bonds with their cohort and build new international perspectives and networks of support and inspiration. Over this two-week period, the Fellows will take part in a comprehensive series of programs, policy discussions, and unique learning and leadership development opportunities organized in and around San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
- Professional Development Award: An award of up to US$5,000 will be made available to each selected Fellow. This cash award will allow Fellows the opportunity to design individualized plans to further their leadership skills and relevant professional experience in areas of particular importance to their career growth. Each Fellow will be asked to develop a personalized, year-long work plan that can involve such areas as enrollment in specialized training programs or short courses, language study, travel to attend key regional forums or workshops, or engagement in a series of other enrichment activities.
- Executive Coaching & Mentoring: The Asia Foundation lends valuable perspectives to the field of leadership development, with a proven program history and record of commitment throughout Asia. Building on the regional network and local capacity of the Foundation, the program offers mentorship matching support tailored to the background and professional interests of each of the Fellows. Additionally, Fellows are offered a fixed number of one-on-one executive coaching sessions throughout their fellowship year.
- Have a demonstrable record of experience and accomplishment related to The Asia Foundation’s fields of expertise: governance and law, economic development, women’s empowerment, environment, and regional cooperation;
- Be thoughtful, committed, respected and inspirational leaders within their professional fields and within their larger community;
- Be under 40 years of age by January 1, 2022;
- Be conversant in English (TOEFL exam results are not required);
- Be available and able to participate in all program components on the program dates specified; and
- Be resident nationals or citizens of the following countries and region where The Asia Foundation has programs: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Laos; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pacific Islands; Pakistan; Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Timor-Leste; and, Vietnam.
For more information, visit https://asiafoundation.org/2021/10/18/2022-asia-foundation-development-fellows-program-now-accepting-applications/