The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) For Economic Empowerment in The Middle East And North Africa Is a Two-Way Exchange Program Sponsored by The U.S. Department of State.

PFP is designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, and build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders committed to strengthening their communities through social entrepreneurship and workforce development. PFP is a fully funded 6-week program including 1 week of intensive training, a 4-week fellowship at an organization in either Washington D.C. or Austin, TX, and a Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C.

Eligibility Requirements

· 25-40 years of age at time of program

· A citizen and current resident of Morocco

· Fluency in English to work full-time at a U.S. worksite

· A university graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher

· Interested in participating in a reciprocal program for Americans coming to your country

· Currently employed with at least two years’ relevant work experience

· Able to demonstrate leadership and collaborative skills

Who should apply?

· Entrepreneurs and social innovators

· Small & medium sized business owners and managers who are investing in innovative, socially conscious products and programs

· Individuals working in civil society or NGOs with a focus on youth workforce training and development, increasing the role of marginalized populations in the economy, building financial literacy, training in technology use and IT development, and other efforts centered around economic empowerment

· Individuals working at university incubators, accelerators, and job-readiness programs, and programs focusing on business development, financial literacy, sustainable tourism, or economic development

· Individuals working in government agencies/ministries, national policy offices, think tanks, and offices that are working to increase the presence of underrepresented citizens in the economy

Program Elements

· A one-week host family stay

· A one-week business development and social entrepreneurship intensive with university partner

· A one-month fellowship placement in individual businesses or offices in Washington, D.C. or Austin, TX

· 3 days of participation in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C.

· Design and development of a complete proposal for a follow-on projects Program to be carried out in your home country, supported by mini-grants

Why should I apply?

· Learn effective business management practices, such as developing a business plan, financing and accounting, human resource management, marketing, strategic planning, and networking.

· Practice principles of social entrepreneurship and increase the ability to run effective community outreach and public relations campaigns

· Learn best practices in workforce development and gain exposure to innovative tools to increase program effectiveness

· Increase the ability to think “outside the box” and spark creative, innovative approaches to problems, products, and marketplaces

· Acquire new strategies to engage effectively with policymakers and government officials

Covid-19 Contingencies

The in-person, U.S.-based exchange is contingent upon favorable travel conditions. In the event that there are travel restrictions, or other factors which could adversely impact the health, safety, and welfare of program participants, host organizations, and local communities, PFP may postpone or pivot the planned in-person U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming. Apply here: http://www.legacyintl.org/pfp

Submit your application online by January 9, 2023

The Atlas Corps Fellowship: MENA Entrepreneurship Initiative (MENA Entrepreneurship Initiative), a special initiative within the Atlas Corps Fellowship, is supported by the U.S. Government and is specifically looking to recruit emerging business professionals from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia for a 12-month professional fellowship in the United States.

Fellows will increase their business acumen while serving in leading corporations, private companies, b-corps, and organizations that promote entrepreneurship through hands-on experience while developing person-to-person connections to learn effective business practices. This prestigious fellowship includes health insurance, enrollment in Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab, travel costs, and a living stipend.

Requirement:

— Two or more years of relevant experience
— Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
— English proficiency (oral, writing, reading)
— Age 35 or younger

Visit apply.atlascorps.org to learn more and start your application.

 

NEW: TechGirls alumnae are eligible to apply for this opportunity!

TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East together with their professional American counterparts for a mentorship and exchange program.

TechWomen provides participants access to networks, resources, and knowledge to empower them to reach their full potential. During the five-week program, participants engage in project-based mentorships at leading companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, participate in professional development workshops and networking events, and travel to Washington, D.C. for targeted meetings and special events to conclude the program.

Requirements:

TechWomen participants are selected based on the eligibility requirements below. Applications are reviewed by independent selection committees composed of industry leaders and regional experts. Semifinalists will be interviewed by United States Embassy personnel in Morocco.

• Be women with a minimum of two years full-time professional experience in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) and/or a career requiring significant expertise/knowledge/application of technology.
• Have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree/four-year university degree or equivalent.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Be citizens and permanent residents of Morocco
• Have a record of voluntary or public service in their communities
• Have demonstrated entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation
• Have limited or no prior experience in the United States

TechWomen encourages people with diverse backgrounds and skills to apply, including individuals with disabilities.

To apply for the TechWomen program, please complete the online application before January 13, 2023 at https://www.techwomen.org/participants/eligibility-and-application

The Community Solutions Program (CSP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX, provides community leaders from around the world with an intensive professional development exchange program in the United States from August to December 2023.

CSP is a year-long professional leadership development program for people who are working to improve their communities by addressing issues related to the environment, peace and conflict resolution, transparency and accountability, and women and gender. Community leaders will be selected to participate in the program that includes:

· Four-month fellowship in the United States: Community Solutions fellows are matched with host organizations throughout the U.S. where they complete a four-month, hands-on professional experience

· Community Leadership Institute: Community Solutions fellows participate in the Community Leadership Institute, a leadership training program designed to strengthen their leadership and management skills. The Institute includes face-to-face trainings, online courses, professional coaching, and networking

· Community-based initiatives: While in the U.S. and with the support of their U.S. host organization, Community Solutions fellows design and plan a community development initiative or project to carry out after they return home. Once the fellows depart the U.S., they put these projects into action in their home communities

Requirements:

· Be between the ages of 25-38 as of January 1, 2023

· Have at least two years of experience working on community development, either as a full-time or part-time employee or volunteer

· Be Moroccans residing in Morocco

· Have a high level of proficiency in spoken and written English. Semifinalists will be required to take or submit recent scores for a TOEFL or IELTS English language test

For more information about the program and to apply, check the website http://bit.ly/csp2023apply

The Leadership Development Fellowship (LDF), funded by the U.S. Department of State’s U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and implemented by World Learning. The LDF Fellowship engages emerging leaders across sectors in the Middle East and North Africa in five stages over one-year of an application-based leadership development fellowship to advance civic engagement and social entrepreneurship by providing skills, resources, and support networks to analyze complex challenges, re-examine interventions, and to seek inventive ways to make positive social and economic changes in local communities.

The LDF Fellowship seeks emerging leaders who are innovators and problem-solvers, currently engaged in civic engagement or social entrepreneurship, can work in a cross-cultural setting, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and will commit to applying the learning and skills built during the LDF Fellowship. Emerging leaders with an established track record in civic engagement or social entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply.

The LDF Fellowship will take place over 12 months and include 5 stages:

1. Stage One: Fellowship begins with two weeks of in-person workshops and trainings with World Learning and Duke University focused on: studying the systems that contribute to societal challenges; building effective partnerships for social change; and developing inclusive and equitable interventions.
2. Stage Two:Fellows refine interventions and complete exercises that provide local focus on systems analysis, inclusive interventions, building partnerships, and other acquired tools and knowledge from Stage One.
3. Stage Three:Fellows spend three weeks in the United States as part of the English Track (for high-proficiency English speakers), or in Lebanon as part of the Arabic Track (for high-proficiency Arabic speakers), to gain academic and local insights into civic engagement and social entrepreneurship and to report and reflect on the findings of their Stage Two activities.
4. Stage Four: Over six months, Fellows apply the lessons of the LDF Fellowship and report on results to strengthen their ongoing civic and social entrepreneurial activities. During this stage, Fellows may apply for small grants or technical assistance.
5. Stage Five:In the twelfth month, the Fellows reconvene for three days to learn and share the impact of their LDF experience.

Requirements:

For the English Track, which includes a visit to the U.S. as part of Stage Three, applicants must be able to function comfortably in English-speaking academic and professional environments.

• Age: Applicants must be between 28 and 35 years of age.
• Professional Experience: Applicants must have at least five years of professional work experience in a relevant field.
• Civic Engagement and/or Social Entrepreneurship Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of five years of relevant Civic Engagement and/or Social Entrepreneurship experience.
• Academic Background: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree.
• Arabic Fluency: Applicants in both tracks must able to function comfortably in Arabic-speaking academic and professional environments.
• Full Participation:Applicants must be willing and able to participate fully in all five stages of the LDF Fellows will travel out of the MENA region for two weeks at the beginning of the LDF Fellowship, for three weeks to either the U.S. or Lebanon during Stage Three, and again for three days at the end of the LDF Fellowship.
• Application: Applicants must have the capacity and ability to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the LDF

 

This program is a United States Department of State-funded exchange designed to strengthen the knowledge, leadership capacity, and professional skills of political and policy professionals who are in a position to effect positive change in their institutions and communities. It is a two-way exchange program, each year alternating between a Moroccan and an American delegation visiting the other’s country.

Requirements:

• Be a young Moroccan political leader (appointed or elected), ages 25 to 40
• Have sufficient experience to carry on a substantive discussion with their American counterparts.
• Have strong English language skills
• Be a mid-level professionals with leadership potential in government, the private sector, or civil society with experience and current employment related to the legislative process and governance

For more information, please contact RabatExchanges@state.gov

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program provides funding for Moroccan professionals and academics to pursue educational opportunities in the U.S. Program funding is provided by the U.S. Congress through an annual appropriation to the U.S. Department of State. Foreign governments, colleges and universities and private foundations also provide direct and indirect support.

The competition for Fulbright Program grants is merit-based. The Fulbright Program’s application process is lengthy and rigorous, and prospective applicants are encouraged to consider carefully their intentions, goals, future plans and prospective projects before applying for a Fulbright grant.

Candidates are selected based on a variety of factors that may include (but are not limited to):

• Academic qualifications
• Academic or programs goals while in the U.S.
• Personal leadership ability
• English language abilities
• Commitment to returning to Morocco to share new skills and expertise with others

In Morocco, the Fulbright Program is administered by MACECE, the official binational Fulbright Commission

Morocco American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE)
Address: 7 Rue Agadir Rabat, Morocco 10010
Tel: (+212) 537. 76.4 1.09 / 537.76.04.68
Fax: (+212) 537.76.88.52
E-mail: info@macece.ma
Website: http://www.macece.ma

Details on all Fulbright Programs for Moroccans are listed under the “Grants/Grants for Moroccans” tab on MACECE webpage.