Deadline: 11 June 2017
Are you Syrian and working to promote peaceful values and diversity, counter violence, bridge divides, connect Syrians with the world, change how people view Syria, and create sustainable work opportunities? Apply below to receive a 9-month fellowship that helps you develop a concrete initiative that introduces technology and communications more strategically in your work.
Applications are currently open for Digital Steps Fellowship to support Syrian organisations or initiatives to gain digital skills that will help increase their impact.
The fellowship program lasts 9 months, starting in July 2017 and ending in March 2018.
Program Structure
Fellows will be supported in the following 4 ways:
- Training: Fellows will come together for a joint, week-long training course on participatory methodologies, user-centered design, strategic communications, creative methods and conflict sensitivity.
- Mentorship: Each organisation or initiative will be assigned a lead mentor who provides project management support, technical advice and hands-on problem solving. The lead mentors are the glue that hold together the rest of the Fellowship components.
- Coaching: Each organisation or initiative will be paired with four coaches who have have skills or experience relevant to their work. Coaches will offer four one-hour calls over the course of the Fellowship to explore questions and share advice.
- Financial support: Fellows will receive financial support to cover some of the technical implementation costs of their initiative. The exact funding amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific needs of an initiative.
Priorities
Initiatives proposed for the fellowship should meet one of the following aims:
- promoting peaceful values and diversity among Syrian communities, and countering sectarian division and violence
- improving relations between host communities and displaced Syrians
- challenging stereotypes and dominant narratives about the Syrian crisis, and sharing the experiences and perspectives of displaced Syrians with the wider world
- networking and facilitating access of Syrians to local and international platforms
- supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities for Syrians
Program Benefits
Each fellowship team will have a budget of up to 4000 GBP. Once selected, teams will agree the exact costs to be covered by this funding with their lead mentor.
Eligibility Criteria
Fellowships are awarded to organisations or initiatives working for Syria.
- Fellows do not need to be based inside Syria, but must be working on issues relating to Syria.
- Civil society organisations, creative enterprises and social enterprises all qualify.
- Organisations or initiatives should apply with a team of two people.
- These two people must have the ability to legally travel to Beirut (with financial support from the program).
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated according to the following selection criteria:
- Demonstrates in-depth understanding of the Syrian context and ability to link to ongoing processes and stakeholders;
- Is willing to engage in participatory design with relevant stakeholders;
- Articulates theory of change for use of technology and communications;
- Demonstrates team capacities to implement proposed initiative;
- Will benefit from the training and support provided through the Fellowship (not only financial support);
- Demonstrates ability to achieve meaningful milestone for the initiative within Fellowship timeframe.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, please visit Digital Steps Fellowship for Syria.