Program Overview

 

1.       Executive Summary

-          This opportunity is designed to bring young foreign professionals to the United States for four week-long fellowships in organizations related to their field of work, followed by American counterparts who will travel overseas for reciprocal fellowships.

 

-          Projects should take place over the course of one to two years, and engage up-and-coming and mid-level government or civil society professionals who will effect positive change in their institutions and 2  communities through the following initiatives

 

2.      Legislative Fellows Program

 

-          The Legislative Fellows Program will engage professionals who are actively involved in the legislative process and/or policy-making through their work in government, civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups, political parties, or election monitoring organizations.

 

-          During their time in the United States, the participants will examine the relationship between civil society and government, and the issue of public corruption and accountability. Participants will observe the role of their U.S. counterparts in various levels of the U.S. government, through placements in Congressional offices (including state/district offices), state legislatures, city councils/local government bodies, advocacy groups or other relevant organizations across the United States, engage in dialogue, and develop plans for projects that support more responsive social and political institutions.

 

-          U.S. participants will be selected from staff members at the various fellowship sites who will act as primary hosts/mentors to the foreign fellows during their U.S. stay, including staff of the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, city councils/local governments, and advocacy groups.

 

-          After the U.S.-based fellowships are completed, these American participants will travel overseas to their counterparts‟ home countries for on-site consultancies and joint programming with foreign participants and their colleagues, and, if appropriate and feasible, arrange fellowship placements for U.S. participants to learn from their counterparts and share their professional expertise.

 

-          This programming could also include outreach activities, engaging the local media and giving presentations to wider audiences.

 

 

 

3.      Purpose and Program Description

1)      provide participants from eligible countries an opportunity to gain knowledge of U.S. practices and techniques in their field of expertise; explore governance principles and practices in both public and civil society institutions in the United States, and gain a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, and people;

 

2)       provide U.S. participants the opportunity to share their professional expertise with counterparts in eligible countries and gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures, and people of other countries;

 

3)      promote mutual understanding and lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships between key professionals and organizations in the United States and their counterparts in eligible countries. As a result of the program it is expected that participants from both the U.S. and foreign countries will effect positive change in their workplaces and communities and develop long-term engagement between their home organizations and foreign counterparts.

 

4.      Participants.

1)      “Participants” are defined as those who travel under grant funding from their country of origin to a designated exchange country. It is acceptable for there to be more foreign participants than American participants under this program model; however, applicants are encouraged to include approximately as many American as foreign participants to emphasize that this program is reciprocal in nature.

 

2)      Foreign Participants

-          should be selected through a merit-based, competitive process.  Because of the nature of this program, all selected participants must be highly proficient in written and oral English, self-directed, able to work effectively in a cross-cultural setting, and have demonstrated leadership abilities.

-          They should be up-and-coming and

. mid-level government  or civil society professionals with experience

. and current employment related to one of the designated areas.

 

3)      U.S. Participants

-          should include professionals with relevant expertise from the government and civil society organizations where the foreign participants are placed. While U.S. participants are not required to have foreign language ability or previous country-specific experience, it is highly encouraged.

 

 

 

 

5.      Partner Organizations

-          Proposal must identify the U.S.-based and foreign-based organizations and individuals with whom they are proposing to collaborate and describe previous cooperative activities,

-          if any. Successful proposals will include qualified and established partner organizations/offices in each of the regions where participants are being recruited.

 

6.      Roles and Responsibilities of Organizations

1)      University of Kentucky

-          One of the great resources the IPPMI has is access to the expertise, facilities and resources of the University of Kentucky.  We will take advantage of UK’s beautiful setting, convenient meeting rooms and classrooms as well as Lexington itself. 

-          Lexington is located within a day’s drive of 2/3 of the United States population.

            http://www.visitlex.com/about/

 

2)     Martin School

-          The Martin School will utilize its numerous connections with former alumni, key board members, legislators and government officials across the state and the nation.  Placements will be sought for ECA fellows with congressional offices and congressional agencies such as the U.S. GAO, Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, Kentucky’s Personnel Cabinet, LFUCG Vice-Mayor and City Council and Kentucky legislators. 

-          Additionally, the Martin School has established a relationship with Representatives Ben Chandler to host an international fellow. Martin School employees will work out the specific details of the job-shadowing placements.

-          www.martin.uky.edu

 

3)     IPPMI

-          Communication is one of the IPPMI’s main roles.  IPPMI and Martin School staff will coordinate the internships, travel, housing, food and other essential needs, as well as coordinate with embassies regarding visa applications for participants. 

-          IPPMI staff will communicate with international partner organizations regarding needs, expectations and general logistics and lastly, the IPPMI will select American participants to travel abroad.

-          www.martin.uky.edu/IPPMI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)     Cambodian, Indonesian. Mongolia, Taiwan Partner Organizations

-          Our international partners are responsible for

1) engaging in participant selection,

2) pre-departure orientation,

3) help with coordination of visas and placements for American participants. 

-          Additionally, international partners will arrange housing, transportation, food and other essentials during the Americans’ stay.

 

7.      Facilitate the participation of the foreign professional participants in two Professional Exchanges Congresses.

-          At the conclusion of each round of U.S.-based fellowships, the grantee will coordinate with ECA and other grant recipients in implementing a three-day Congress in Washington,DC, for all FY 2011 professional exchange participants from foreign countries.

-          The Professional Exchanges Congress is intended to provide the participants:

 

8.      Projected Timeline.

 

 

Exchanges:	Dates:	Number of Participants	Participant Countries
Exchange 1	April 8th  –May 5th, 2012 (4weeks)	10	Foreign Participants
Exchange 2	August 12th -25th, 2012 (2weeks)	7	U.S. Participants
Exchange 3	October 14th – November 10th, 2012 (4 weeks)	10	Foreign Participants
Exchange 4	December 2nd  – December 15th, 2012 (2 weeks)	7	U.S. Participants