Apply
STEP ONE: MAKE YOUR MATCH anytime
To begin, create an account on the USAID online catalog. You can identify a research opportunity in two ways:
- Search the catalog, where you can filter existing opportunities by discipline, country, length of fellowship, and more.
- Bring your own research opportunity to the catalog. The host must be an in-country organization that you designate as your point of contact throughout the fellowship. The host will submit the research fellowship to the catalog. If you are working directly with the host, you may want to suggest that they include "Open to University of Notre Dame students only” at the top of the project description.
If you find an opportunity that matches well with your research, or you see your host’s submitted opportunity appear in the catalog, click the Contact Host button to indicate your interest. You may contact more than one host at this stage.
STEP TWO: APPLY TO YOUR HOST AND DEVELOP A WORK PLAN starting August 2016
Once you have decided upon one opportunity and your host organization accepts you as their choice, your host should send you a letter of invitation that you will use in your final application for the fellowship, and will mark the opportunity as “filled” on the website. The listing will still be viewable in the USAID catalog, but no one else will be able to apply.
Next, develop a work plan with your host (template). This is required for your application, and should be a plan intended to accomplish the goals of both your research and your host’s needs. Through this process, the project description may need to adjust, and this is acceptable as long as the core of the research remains in line with the original host application.
Meanwhile, identify a faculty mentor who will be able to work with you through the application process and for the duration of the fellowship. Discuss the opportunity, as you will need a reference letter for your application.
STEP THREE: PREPARE YOUR FINAL APPLICATION PACKAGE due by November 16, 2016
Your application package must include the following:
- USAID cover form (template)
- CV and cover letter
- letter of invitation from the host
- letter of reference from your faculty mentor
- full project description
- work plan, developed with your host (template)
- proposed cost with an itemized budget (template)*
Submit your application to Grace Munene via email or hard copy (940 Grace Hall). After consultation with faculty and advisors, NDIGD will submit the final roster of applicants to USAID, who will announce the awards in early January 2017.
* Notre Dame is required to provide a 1:1 funds match to USAID. Providing this funding is not a requirement; however, it will be a consideration in the application review and awards process.
IF YOU ARE AWARDED A FELLOWSHIP January through May, 2017
In spring of 2017, you will work with NDIGD in monthly seminars to prepare documents and arrange travel, finalize budgets, prepare to work in a research site abroad, apply for Institutional Review Board approval (if applicable), and learn about the culture in which you’ll be working.
Upon completion of your fellowship, you will be required to submit a final report to NDIGD. The deadline for this report is two months from the date of your return, and a template will be provided.
