CEE Program 2025 for Civil Society Leaders (Fully Funded Opportunity)

Applications are currently being accepted for the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program.

The CEE Program constitutes a vibrant worldwide network of innovators collaborating with communities to tackle pressing issues of the 21st Century. CEE provides committed visionaries with the knowledge, abilities, and support to craft cross-sector strategies and foster vibrant and involved communities across more than 100 countries.

CEE offers a transformative leadership development opportunity, spanning a year and tailored to empower civil society leaders aged 21-27.

The program aims to leverage networks, relationships, and information for the betterment of society, particularly focusing on topics such as civic dialogue and peacebuilding, open and participatory government, women and gender, environmental sustainability, and youth engagement.
Fellowship components comprise:

Three-month Practicum in the United States: IREX pairs CEE fellows with civil society organizations across the United States. Assigned supervisors and peers guide fellows through a hands-on professional practicum lasting three months.
Leadership and Civic Engagement Academy: CEE fellows delve into program themes via an interactive curriculum, involving service learning, in-person trainings, mentorship, professional coaching, and integration into a global network.
Community Engagement Project (CEP): With the support of their U.S. host organization and mentors, CEE fellows develop and organize a community engagement project to implement when they return home. After leaving the U.S., fellows carry out these projects in their local communities.
Community Engagement Project (CEP) Exchange: Chosen U.S. hosts and CEE specialists will travel to a CEE alumnus’ country to collaboratively aid in the fellow’s project implementation and bring back insights to enhance communities either in the United States or their home country.

Eligibility Requirements:

Competition for the CEE Program is merit-based and open to emerging civil society and community leaders who meet the following criteria:
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Aged 21-27.
Citizens of one of the eligible countries listed below.
Currently residing and employed in their home country at the time of application.
Individuals residing in another country with refugee status, actively working for their home community, may receive special consideration.
Have at least two years of professional or volunteer experience addressing community or civil society issues at the time of application.
Engaged in a community engagement initiative within their home country, either professionally or as a volunteer, demonstrating a clear intention and ambition to pursue a career supporting civil society or within the civil society sector.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Available to commence the CEE Program in the United States in 2025.
Eligible to obtain a U.S. J-1 Visa.
Committed to returning to their home country upon program completion and executing a community-based project.
Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.

Semifinalists will need to take a Duolingo English language test.
Finalists should possess the ability to effectively communicate, even on unfamiliar topics.

They should grasp the main concepts of both concrete and abstract writing and interact comfortably with proficient speakers.

Countries Eligible by Region
Africa:

Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar,Cameroon, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe,Democratic Republic of the Congo
Financial Assistance

J-1 Visa Assistance
Round-trip transportation from participants’ hometown to the U.S.
Monthly stipend for housing, meals, and additional living costs during the U.S. stay.
Health insurance covering accidents and illnesses.

Application Details

The 2025 CEE program application is now open. Deadline for submission is July 2, 2024.
For any inquiries regarding the application process, please consult the CEE Program Frequently Asked Questions document or contact. [email protected] via email.
To Apply click Here