91.003 Annual Senior Fellowship Competition

 

Established in 1987 USIP's Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship Program provides scholars, policy analysts, policymakers, and other experts with opportunities to spend time in residence at the Institute, reflecting and writing on important conflict management and international peace and security challenges. The main objective of the program is to increase our understanding of violent conflict and the paths towards peace. The program’s overall priority is to support the best scholars and experts in the field to undertake innovative projects that contribute to the theory and practice of peacebuilding.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 91.003 Agency: United States Institute of Peace Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements or Contracts) Not Applicable. United States Institute of Peace ACT; Department of Defense Act , Executive Order Authorization Act of 1985 , Title XVII, Section 1701 , Public Law 98-525, 98 Stat. 2492,2649 , 22 U.S.C 1701. Fellowship applications are vetted through a rigorous, multi-stage review that includes consideration by independent experts and professional staff at the Institute. The final authority for decisions regarding Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship awards rests with the Institute's Board of Directors. Citizens of any country may apply. Non-U.S. Citizens without permanent resident status must obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa to participate in the Fellowship Program. J-1 status requires recipients to reside in their home country for two years following the fellowship before applying for the H or L visa, or for permanent residency in the United States.

There is no specific educational degree requirement for Senior Fellowship candidates. Fellows come from a variety of professional backgrounds and from early, middle, and late stages of their careers.

Joint applications (two or more applicants for a single project) will not be accepted.

The following examples suggest the range of eligible candidates:

* Government and Nongovernment Pracitioners in international security, peacebuilding, and public affairs, such as diplomats, negotiators, mediators, government policymakers and administrators, military officials, officials and professional staff of international organizations, international lawyers, community leaders, businesspersons, labor leaders, clergy, and leaders in health and humanitarian affairs;
* Scholars and Researchers, such as college and university professors, policy analysts in governmental or non-government research organizations, and independent consultants and writers;
* Media and Communications Specialists such as journalists, editors, and producers in print, television, radio, and other communications media. Resume/curriculum vitae. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Components of the Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship Application

I. General Information: This page contains the name of the applicant and project title.

II. Project and Person Summary: The title and brief summary of the proposed project. The applicant must describe why it is important and its relevance to the Institute's mandate. Thye must also provide a brief autobiographical statement.

III. Project Description: This section contains 5 mandatory sections and 1 optional section.
1. Subject and Significance
2. Methods and Design
3. USIP Mandate Fulfillment
4. Products
5. Work Plan
6. Bibliography (Optional)

IV. Curriculum Vitae/Resume: Provide us with a CV/resume of no more than 5 pages, in 12-point font.

V. Family and Visa Status

VI. Estimated Fellowship Costs

VII. Reference Letters Senior Fellow applications are vetted through a rigorous, multi-stage review that includes consideration by independent experts and professional staff at the Institute. The final authority for decisions regarding Senior Fellowship awards rests with the Institute's Board of Directors. Jan 01, 2010 to Sep 08, 2010: The Senior Fellowship application deadline is September 8 (or the next business day if the date falls on a weekend or U.S. holiday). Approximately 6 months. Not Applicable. Fellows may request an extension for a renewal of funding past the end-date of the Fellowship. The extension must be approved by the Associate Vice President of the Fellowship Program and the duration of the entire Fellowship period must not exceed 24 months. Selection of Senior Fellows is based on the following criteria:
* Project Significance. Does this project tackle an important topic of relevance to the USIP mandate and the field of international peace, conflict and security studies?
* Project Design. Is the project soundly conceived? Does it identify a key problem to be analyzed and does it have a clear methodology?
* Implementation. Can the project be completed according to the proposed design, timetable, and budget? What is the likelihood of the completion of a publishable book or report during or soon after the fellowship period?
* Track Record and Reputation. Does the candidate have a good track record and reputation for finishing projects on time? What is the candidate's standing in the field?
* Potential as a Fellow. What is the applicant's potential for participating in the Institute's collegial life and outreach efforts?. Fellowship funds are used to support the work of outstanding practitioners, scholars, and other professionals to conduct cutting-edge research that result in publishable manuscripts for consideration by the Institute Press. Topic areas of interest to the Institute include, but are not restricted to, the origins of conflict, the role played by religious, ethnic, economic, political, social, and environmental factors in generating or accelerating conflict within, between, or among states; international conflict management; diplomacy; negotiation theory; Track Two (unofficial) diplomacy; methods of third-party dispute settlement; international law; international organizations and collective security; deterrence and balance of power; arms control; psychological theories about international conflict; the role of nonviolence and nonviolent sanctions; moral and ethical thought about conflict and conflict management; the role of peacekeeping, humanitarian intervention, and postconflict peace building; and theories about relationships among political institutions, human rights, and conflict. Priority is given to proposals deemed likely to make timely and significant contributions to the understanding and resolution of ongoing and emerging conflicts and other challenges to international peace and security.

Senior Fellowships usually last for ten months, starting in October, but shorter-term fellowships are also available. While completing their proposed project, Fellows consult with staff about ongoing programs, speak publicly about their work, and consult with the media, Congress, and others in the foreign policy establishment about topical issues related to their areas of expertise. Fellowship awards may not be granted for projects that constitute policy making for a government agency or private organization, focus to any substantial degree on conflicts within U.S. domestic society, or adopt a partisan, advocacy, or activist stance. No reports are required. No audits are required for this program. The Fellow must retain all contractual documents from the start date of the fellowship until the end of the tax year following the completion of the fellowship. Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Fellowships are typically ten months in duration, but shorter-term fellowships are also available. Funds are released according to the schedule negotiated between USIP and the Fellow and/or institution. All funds must be spent or obligated within the established fellowship period. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Stipends are awarded as fixed lump-sum payments; however, for the convenience of the fellows, the stipends are paid in equal installments at the end of each month. See Regional Agency Offices. Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program, United States Institute of Peace, 1200 17th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, jrprogram@usip.org. (202) 429-3862. Shira B. Lowinger, United States Institute of Peace, 1200 17th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, District of Columbia 20036 Email: slowinger@usip.org Phone: (202) 429-3862. http://www.usip.org 95-1300-0-1-153. (Cooperative Agreements) FY 09 $895,100; FY 10 est $929,500; and FY 11 Estimate Not Available No Data Available. Federal Register No. 3155-01. Not Applicable.