Deadline: 1 March 2017
EF’s US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange (SEE) has launched its fifth round of its new initiative to enable individual US and Russian social experts to build cross-border collaborative projects that address common social challenges and result in benefits for both countries.
The SEE “Independent Professionals Project Initiative” establishes and strengthens partnerships between US and Russian experts and host organizations in their counterpart countries by means of collaborative projects that focus on one or more of SEE’s thematic areas. Competitively selected candidates travel to an organization in the host country for 7 to 14 days to conduct activities related to their proposed project.
Over the course of project implementation in the host country, participants gain new skills and expand their professional networks. Upon their return home, independent professionals strengthen professional practice in their home institutions and benefit their own communities through implementation of activities directed at relevant home country constituencies making use of insights gained abroad. Implementation of all activities, including the realization of tangible and measurable results in the host and home countries, must take place between June 1 and September 1, 2017.
Thematic Areas
Projects must address at least one of the socially-oriented thematic areas listed below. Projects may combine multiple thematic areas:
- Social support and protection of citizens (e.g., children, women or vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities or the elderly)
- Protection of flora and fauna and promotion of animal welfare
- Promotion of philanthropy and volunteerism
- Youth development, extracurricular and alternative education
- Public health and promotion of healthy lifestyles
- Preservation of national identities, cultures, languages and traditions of indigenous peoples
- Social and cultural adaptation and integration of migrants
- Medical and social rehabilitation and/or social and economic reintegration of persons engaged in the illicit use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances
- Promotion of economic and labor mobility
Funding Information
The award includes funds earmarked for participant travel and logistics while visiting the counterpart country and additional “Project Funds” of up to $2,500 to support the implementation of project activities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered eligible, candidates must:
- Be a citizen of the Russian Federation or the United States
- Have a proven academic and/or professional track-record in the thematic area/s of interest
- Demonstrate a general professional proficiency in both the English and Russian languages
- Develop a project that is not politically motivated and does not include political activity, focus on public policy reform, or the changing of public opinion
- Be primarily affiliated with organizations and/or institutions that work on issues within EF priority areas
- Have not previously participated as an SEE Invited Professional, Independent Professional, Special Exchange Participant or as an Emerging Professional or Advanced Practitioner Fellow
- Be prepared to travel to the host country in early June – mid July, 2017.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit an application form available on the given website.
Eligible Countries: United States & Russia
For more information, please visit US-Russia SEE.