IREX Community Solutions Program 2027: Fully Funded Fellowship in the USA for Community Leaders

The Community Solutions Program (CSP) is a professional leadership development program run by IREX for experienced community leaders from eligible countries across Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. Participants complete a three- to four-month U.S.-based exchange in 2027 (Orientation August 2–5, practicum August 9–October 29, End-of-Program Workshop November 1–4), including a 12-week hands-on practicum with a U.S. host organization. The program provides Innovation and Applied Skills Labs focused on regional economic development and emerging technologies, and participants then return home to implement a nine-month SCALE-Up Project adapting U.S. models to their own communities. What you get • Three-month hands-on professional practicum with a U.S. host organization • Regional field visits exposing participants to innovative U.S. models of economic development • Innovation and Applied Skills Labs providing practical skill building in leadership and management • Training on emerging technologies and their application to key industries and workforce opportunities • Professional connections with U.S. professionals in economic development • J-1 visa support • Round-trip travel from home city to the U.S. • Monthly allowance to cover housing, meals, and living expenses while in the U.S. • Accident and sickness health coverage • Accessibility accommodations (ADA accessible rooms, JAWS software, live captioning, sign language interpreting, mobility assistance as needed) • Opportunity to implement a nine-month SCALE-Up Project adapting U.S. models to home community How to apply 1. Review the program requirements and detailed application instructions on the official application website to ensure eligibility 2. Complete and submit the application through the provided link 3. If selected as semi-finalist without required TOEFL score, take an Institutional TOEFL or comparable approved English proficiency assessment 4. If you have additional questions, email apply.csp@irex.org

• Between 27 and 39 years old at time of application • Citizen of an eligible country (Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, or Western Hemisphere regions listed) • At least five years of experience working on community issues with demonstrable measurable benefits to local communities • Living and working in your home country at time of application, not residing or working outside your country • Meet country-of-residence requirements described in full application materials • High level of proficiency in spoken and written English • Semi-finalists without valid TOEFL score of 520+ (or 213+ computer-based) must take Institutional TOEFL or comparable approved English proficiency assessment • Able to begin the CSP program in the United States in 2027 and participate in the approximately three- to four-month U.S.-based exchange • Not a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. • Have not applied for U.S. permanent residency within the past three years • Eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa • If participated in prior U.S. Government-sponsored exchange program, must have fulfilled two-year home residency requirement • Committed to returning to home country for minimum of two years after completing the program • Committed to implementing a community-based SCALE-Up Project after the U.S. exchange • Meet any additional eligibility criteria established in final application materials