(May 2019)
NGO professionals around the world spend a good part of their life helping others, but do they really get time for themselves?
NGO professionals are entangled in tedious tasks like fundraising, organizational management, meetings with donors, planning and implementing projects, making field visits, undertaking research, motivating and communicating with people and constantly making efforts to bring about social change.
With so much hands-on work, they often find it difficult to get enough time to participate in any skill-development courses for their own good.
As important agents of change, NGO professionals are required to frequently update their skills, gather knowledge and develop their networking abilities for effective work results. This is possible only if they are able to give enough time for themselves in participating in new training programs, international courses, and fellowships to update their skills and knowledge.
So the first step for NGO professional interested in developing their skills is to promise themselves to manage their work in such a manner that you are able to give some time, at least once in a year, to take a break and attend a short-term course, training program or a fellowship opportunity.
Now the second important question is where are these short-term courses, training programs or fellowship opportunities that you can attend? Well, you may not be aware but every year, there are hundreds of international agencies sponsoring such courses and programs especially for those involved in developmental activities.
These courses, programs, and fellowship opportunities are carefully designed for NGO professionals especially from developing countries for building their capacities, improving their skills and increasing their networks. They are mostly held abroad so that NGO professionals can interact with like-minded people, receive mentoring support and expose themselves to other ideas of social change.
In most cases, the organizers provide scholarships for eligible candidates to apply and receive support to travel and attend these programs. There may also be events where only partial or no sponsorship is offered but since the cost of participating in them is not very high, you can always approach other donor agencies to support your participation.
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These programs can be on different topics so you need to make sure that the program you wish to attend is within the same area of work you are doing. You have high chances of getting financial support to attend it if your work interests match up with the subject area of the program.
Before we can take a look at what type of open opportunities are available for NGO professionals like you, we will first go through some important tips you may need to understand before applying successfully to these opportunities.
1. Identify Your Goals and Objectives
You are planning to attend an international short-term course or a fellowship program, so you need to be very clear about your goals and objectives. Just because it is an opportunity, you should not applying for it. You need to think whether or not this program will add value to your current or future work. If the program is relevant to the area of work you are doing, you have better chances of participating and learning from it.
2. Are you really Eligible?
If you come across a sponsored program offering you to apply, make sure that you go through the eligibility criteria. Every course or a fellowship program has eligibility criteria so that only the deserving candidates benefit from it. Eligibility criteria can put restrictions on the age (only people from a certain age group can apply) or country or even gender. Additional criteria can include professional qualifications and experience. You can go through it and if it is really applicable to you, you can go ahead with the application.
If you have any doubt about the criteria, you can always contact the sponsoring agency and seek clarification.
Filter Funding Opportunities by Country and Areas of Interest
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3. Attend an Information Session
Some organizers of these programs offer information sessions for interested applicants to understand more about their programs and how you can apply to them. These information sessions can be in form webinars (online seminars) or even one-to-one video conferences. You can attend these and seek clarifications on how to apply and attend the programs.
4. Your Personal Statement
Every application for such programs or fellowships asks for a personal statement from the applicant. The personal statement is about yourself and how the program you are applying for will create an impact for you and your work. You need to present your pitch so that the organizers are convinced to support your participation. Make sure that the ideas you present here are realistic and achievable.
5. Recommendations
Many organizers will request recommendations from people who know you. These recommendations be very useful for your application. Make sure that your recommenders are familiar with your work and they can provide a good background to the work you are doing.
Now we will go through some of the open short-term courses, programs and fellowship opportunities currently open for applications (May 2019).
Human Rights Advocates Program for Activists working with NGOs on Social Issues
A comprehensive program of advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic coursework provides advocates the opportunity to hone practical skills, develop a deeper understanding of human rights, and foster mutually beneficial relationships with organizations and individuals in their respective fields…[more]
Sample Proposals from Successful Grantees
As a fundsforNGOs Premium Member, you can view hundreds of sample proposals from successful grantees from around the world. Learn about new project ideas, success stories and lessons learned from other NGOs. Join Premium Today…[more]
£30,000 Fellowship Program for Social Changemakers
This fellowship program is offering £30,000 and £5000 travel allowance for participation aimed at creating a positive social impact of digital identity solutions around the world…[more]
Learn Best Practices and Build Organizational Capacity
This fellowship is for mid-career professionals committed to social change. From this program, they learn best practices, build organizational capacity and return home to create a network of global leaders…[more]
A Fellowship for Women Leaders influencing Policy Decisions
This signature fellowship for women leaders will provide expert training, networking with other participants and mentoring from current and former female heads of state with the Council of Women World Leaders…[more]
This Fellowship offers funding to dynamic leaders of social change
A fellowship program to provide funding to individuals who are dynamic leaders of social change working on innovative ideas…[more]
Downloadable PDF Ebooks on How to Raise Funds and more
fundsforNGOs Premium Members can download PDF Ebooks on how to raise funds, how to write proposals, how to identify and contact relevant donor agencies, how to undertake strategic planning and many other topics. Join Premium Today!…[more]
Fellowship to study Peace and Conflict Resolution
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is inviting professionals from around the world to receive fellowships to study at one of the Rotary Peace Centers. Through training, study, and practice, Rotary Peace Fellows become leaders and catalysts for peace and conflict resolution…[more]
Fellowship for telling powerful stories on Environment and Conservation
This program is geared towards supporting filmmakers around the world who are involved in addressing pressing environmental or conservation issues through strong, creative storytelling that is both unique and appealing to a large audience…[more]
Training workshop focused on children and the international refugee crisis.
A training workshop to report on refugee and migrant children and families with greater knowledge, depth, and skills, offered by the Cart Center…[more]
Harnessing the Power of Arts and Culture to Create Positive Social Change
In this fellowship program, the Singapore International Foundation seeks to support the Arts for Good ecosystem by fostering a community practice that harnesses the power of arts and culture to create positive social change…[more]
Get Early Funding Grant Alerts
Join fundsforNGOs Premium Member and get early funding grant alerts by email. With early grant alerts, you can prepare yourself better to submit a winning proposal. Early grant alerts empower you with special intelligence to apply for the best opportunities. Join Premium Today…[more]
SI Leader Lab 2019 – Connecting Advocates of Gender Equality
This Swedish Institute (SI) Leader Lab Program aims to grow as a leader, develop their advocacy skills and share knowledge in a network of inspirational peers. SI Leader Lab is a programme for advocates of gender equality who wish to grow in their role while exploring new tools and forms for collaboration…[more]
Japan Foundation Asia Center’s Asia Center Fellowship Program
The Japan Foundation Asia Center is accepting applications for the second round of its Asia Center Fellowship Program which is designed to encourage joint or cooperative projects that cross national cultural borders among individuals…[more]
Tomorrow’s Leader Fellowship in Germany
This fellowship opportunity is open for citizens of five countries. This fellowship programme is under the patronage of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and is financed by the Federal Foreign Office. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants up to 50 German Chancellor Fellowships every year…[more]
World Peace Initiative Foundation’s Applicants for International Peace Training Program
World Peace Initiative Foundation is currently seeking applications for its International Peace Training to be held on 2-15 December 2019 at Himmawan, Thailand. Objectives Do you believe that a happy life and an individual highest achievement can go together? Well, this opportunity can be for YOU…[more]
Filter Funding Opportunities by Country and Areas of Interest
As a fundsforNGOs Premium Member, you can filter funding opportunities by country and area/s of interest. You can also set email alerts based on your country of preference. Plus all other relevant global opportunities displayed to you in a calendar overview. Join Premium Today…[more]
Fellowship for Global Leaders working in the Communications and Marketing Field
This fellowship is for emerging global leaders working in the communications and marketing field to learn best practices and build organizational capacity…[more]
Fellowship for those treating kidney disease of children in developing countries
The International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) is inviting applicants for its Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship, who treat children with kidney disease in developing countries and the hard to reach areas of the world…[more]
A five-day workshop in Laos on agriculture-related entrepreneurship
The U.S. Embassy Vientiane has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a five-day workshop in Laos on agriculture-related entrepreneurship (agri-biz) for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), pending the availability of FY2019 funds…[more]
A Virtual Training Program to build skills, access tools and grow your base of supporters
GlobalGiving is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for its September 2019 Accelerator program in order to build skills, access tools, and grow their base of supporters to achieve crowdfunding success…[more]
Welcome Trust announces Senior Research Fellowships Program to Support Independent Researchers
Welcome Trust has announced the Senior Research Fellowships Program 2019 to support independent researchers who want to tackle the most important questions in science and who are leaders in their field…[more]
Sample Proposals from Successful Grantees
As a fundsforNGOs Premium Member, you can view hundreds of sample proposals from successful grantees from around the world. Learn about new project ideas, success stories and lessons learned from other NGOs. Join Premium Today…[more]
2019 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship Award on Gender and Reconciliation
Global Reconciliation has announced the call for nominations for the 2019 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship. The Fellowship is the premier award in the world recognising effective achievements in reconciliation. This year, the theme of the Fellowship is Gender and Reconciliation. The award carries with it an AUD $10,000 prize…[more]
Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment is now open for Applications
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking applications for its the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE) to support 20 mid-career professionals (Fellows) from select countries who are committed to advancing inclusive employment for individuals with disabilities…[more]
Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship Program 2019
Applications are open for Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship Program 2019 that provide mentoring and support for outstanding journalists dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in their target regions…[more]
The Commonwealth Fund’s inviting Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice
The Commonwealth Fund’s is currently inviting applicants for its Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice to provide a unique opportunity for mid-career health services researchers and practitioners in select countries only…[more]
Downloadable PDF Ebooks on How to Raise Funds and more
fundsforNGOs Premium Members can download PDF Ebooks on how to raise funds, how to write proposals, how to identify and contact relevant donor agencies, how to undertake strategic planning and many other topics. Join Premium Today!…[more]
- Australia: Council Fellowships to Support Outstanding Australian Artists
India: India Fellow 2019 Program engaging Youth in Nation Building, India Fellow 2019 Program engaging Youth in Nation Building - Kosovo: Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence Programme
- Mongolia – U.S. Embassy in Mongolia accepting Applications for 2019-2020 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
- United Kingdom – 2019 John Smith Trust Fellowship Programme is now open
- United States: 2020 Roddenberry Fellowship Program, Apply for Leadership in Government Fellowship
- Zimbabwe – Teach for Zimbabwe: An Incredible Opportunity for Fellows to Enhance their Leadership Skills