PRB Policy Communication Fellowship 2021/2022 for Developing Countries

PRB Policy Communication Fellowship: Population Reference Bureau (PRB) and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) are now accepting applications for their 2021-2022 Policy Communication Fellows Program. The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Application Deadline: 10th December 2021.

Eligible Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, India, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia.

About the Award: The PRB Policy Communication Fellows Program seeks to train the next generation of leaders shaping policy in their countries. The fellowship is hosted in partnership with African research and advocacy experts to encourage South-South collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The year-long fellowship program engages participants through a blended learning approach. Fellows are required to attend a weeklong training workshop, complete instructional curricula online, and submit assignments throughout the fellowship.

Eligible Fields of Research: 

• Family planning and/or reproductive health (FP/RH).
• Contraceptive use/behavior.
• Maternal and child health (MCH), specifically family planning/MCH integration.
• Population growth.
• Adolescent reproductive health.
• Poverty, health equity, and connections with reproductive health.
• Gender issues, specifically gender-based violence (GBV), early marriage, and male engagement in family planning.
• Population, health, and environment interrelations.

The goals of the Policy Fellows program are to:

1. Understand the process by which research informs the policy environment.
2. Learn how to communicate research to policy audiences in a way that encourages action.
3. Improve participants’ communication skills using a variety of formats and platforms.

The Policy Fellows program, initiated in the 1980s, has close to 400 alumni. Policy Communication Alumni Fellows are highly respected in the field and actively engaged in advocacy work. The program aims to bridge the gap between research findings and the policy development process. While research often has profound policy implications, it must be communicated effectively to a variety of non-technical audiences in order to have an impact.

Type: Research, Fellowship

Eligibility: 

• All participants must be citizens of developing countries that are supported by USAID population and health funding.
• In addition, participants must be currently enrolled in doctoral programs at reputable academic institutions, and between their 3rd and 5th year of studies.
• PRB gives priority to applicants whose dissertation research is focused on the topic areas noted above and who are in an early stage of their career.
• This program takes place in English, and applicants must demonstrate that they can effectively communicate their research in English through their application materials.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of PRB Policy Communication Fellowship: 

• Fellows will learn, firsthand, local advocacy priorities and policy landscapes and how to tailor their research messages to relevant policy audiences. Fellows are mentored throughout the program on different strategies to effectively communicate their findings to non-technical audiences.
• The Policy Fellows program is committed to providing an enriching, cutting-edge experience for participants that reflects the diverse and constantly evolving landscape of policy and communications.
• PRB covers travel, lodging, and per diem expenses for each Fellow to attend the workshop.
• Policy Communication Assignments: During the 2021-2022 academic year, Fellows will apply the skills learned at the workshop to prepare written assignments and an oral presentation for policy audiences, based on their dissertation research. Throughout the assignments, Fellows will receive individual feedback from policy communication experts on their work.

Duration of Program: 1 year

How to Apply for PRB Policy Communication Fellowship: Applicants must submit the following to PRB and AFIDEP:

• A cover letter stating why you wish to participate in this program.
• An application form. Application-Form-2021-22.pdf
• An updated resume with a full list of educational and other professional activities.
• A two- or three-page summary of the applicant’s dissertation research.
• Two letters of reference sent directly from the person writing the reference (via e-mail).

Application forms, program information, and answers to common Frequently Asked Questions about the program can be found on AFIDEP and PRB’s website.

Completed applications, letters of reference, or questions about the program should be sent via e-mail to: policyfellows2021@afidep.org.

Visit the Program Webpage for Details