Final Program Report: Democracy Fellows Program

The program aimed to develop a cadre of experienced technical experts committed to careers in democracy and governance. The program's overall goal was to identify, place, and supervise junior, mid-level, and senior experts in assignments that support USAID's efforts to promote and strengthen the evolution of democratic practices and institutions in transitional or emerging democracies. From September 2005 through September 2012, World Learning successfully implemented the Democracy Fellows Program, providing important field experience to 29 professionals. During their fellowships, these World Learning Democracy Fellows developed and strengthened their expertise in international democracy and governance, and provided crucial assistance and expertise to USAID democracy and governance teams, and to local democracy organizations and institutions. The Democracy Fellows traveled to 56 countries, including the Dominican Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, and others. They demonstrated their value to the USAID units where they were assigned, and developed professional reputations as highly capable technical experts in the field of international democracy and governance. USAID sponsoring units offered 24 fellowship extensions to World Learning's Democracy Fellows, with many receiving multiple extensions and serving in USAID for as many as four years. After completing their service, nearly every former fellow found opportunities for full-time employment in international democracy and governance and related career fields. Ten individuals who served as World Learning Democracy Fellows later joined the U.S. government, working with USAID offices such as the Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Bureau (DCHA) and its Office of Democracy and Governance. Two former Democracy Fellows have served as PSC or direct hire Democracy and Governance staff members in USAID Missions following their fellowships. The program ensured that each Washington-based Democracy Fellowship included meaningful opportunities for the fellow to gain substantial practical field experience in democracy, rule of law, human rights, monitoring and evaluation, civil society, new media, and related work in emerging democracies. The overseas work accomplished by Washington-based Democracy Fellows has been of considerable importance to USAID Missions, and to the accomplishment of field support functions of USAID's democracy and governance units in Washington. The Democracy Fellows Program was a collaborative effort between World Learning and USAID, with the goal of developing a cadre of experienced technical experts committed to careers in democracy and governance. The program's success is evident in the number of fellowship extensions offered, the professional reputations developed by the Democracy Fellows, and the opportunities found by former fellows in international democracy and governance and related career fields.