The Open Society University Network (OSUN) ‘s Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative is seeking applications for its Afghan Challenge Fund Initiative (ACF), which provides fellowships to newly arrived Afghans in the USA, Canada, & the United Kingdom whose research, teaching, and public work have put them in critical danger & whose continued activity is valuable for the future of their country & society.

Applicants must seek out a host institution, and host institutions must seek out applicants to apply. Only applications with a host and an applicant will be considered. In addition, applicants and host institutions must currently reside in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom to be eligible to apply.

• Organized by: Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative of Open Society University Network
• Application Deadline: January 15, 2023

The ACF seeks to defend and extend the intellectual, professional, and activist contributions of Afghan scholars, as well as to amplify their public voice, with a particular emphasis on human rights, democracy and constitutionalism, media and journalism, religious pluralism, development economics, drug policy, gender and women, civic education, literature, culture, and the arts.

Fellowship Categories:

1. The Fund for Higher Education (e.g., universities, research institutes, & think tanks)
2. The Fund for Civil Society (e.g., NGOs, artistic, journalistic & cultural institutions, such as those listed above, that support democratic & civil societies)

Fund:

Individual fellowships will be awarded through collaborative applications from candidates and their proposed hosts under this initiative. They will be assessed by ACF employees, who will be guided by an independent panel of academics and civil society professionals. Fellowship applications that demonstrate promises by host institutions to long-term employment with the host or a similar institution following the fellowship time will be prioritized.

• While the exact amount may differ, they anticipate that each ACF fellowship grant will provide up to $40,000 in financing and access to professional development opportunities and other TSI-organized initiatives.
• The host, the candidate, and the ACF staff will confer to decide on the precise fellowship configuration.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Open to newly arrived Afghans in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom whose research, teaching, and public work have put them in critical danger & whose continued activity is valuable for the future of their country & society.
• To be eligible for an ACF award, host institutions must commit to funding a significant amount of the fellowship, preferably at least 50% of the costs required for the fellow’s salary and perks during the fellowship year.

Application Requirements:

• A fellow integration plan 
• A budget request
• CV
• Copy of candidate’s passport, visa, or ID
• Contact information of 2 personal/professional references

How to apply?

Please complete the application form online through the Apply Now button below. All relevant questions must be answered, and all requested documents must be submitted to be considered.  

Apply Now

To learn more about Afghan Challenge Fund by Open Society University Network (OSUN), please refer to Open Society University Network OSUN’s website.

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