Echidna Global Scholars Program 2027 in USA | Fully Funded

The Echidna Global Scholars Program is a fully funded fellowship for education leaders and mid-career professionals from the Global South, including Ethiopia. Organized by The Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education (CUE), the program aims to enhance leadership, research, and policy-influencing abilities to advance women’s and girls’ education in underdeveloped nations. The fellowship duration is 6 months, structured in four phases: Kickoff and Research Design Retreat (April 2027), Pre-residency in the scholar's home country (June-July 2027), Residency in Washington, D.C., USA (August-December 2027), and a two-year Post-residency phase in the home country.

This is a fully funded fellowship. Scholars receive a total stipend of $26,500 USD to cover living costs during the pre-residency and residency periods. The program also covers visa process costs, expenses for the kickoff and research design retreat, single-occupancy housing for the four-month residency period, round-trip travel costs, and a limited health insurance plan. The stipend is subject to U.S. tax withholding and reporting.

Applicants must be from a country in the Global South (Ethiopia is eligible) and have substantial experience, connections, and a clear intent to return to their home country. A Master’s degree or above in economics, public policy, education, development, or a comparable social science or humanities field is required. Candidates must have ten or more years of work experience in government, non-governmental, community, or civil society groups, or in research and academia. A deep understanding of education development issues and gender is essential, along with collaboration skills, receptiveness to criticism, and adaptability. Proficiency in English is mandatory. Applicants requiring visa sponsorship must demonstrate English proficiency as required by the U.S. Department of State and obtain a J-1 visa before the residency period.

Required documents include a CV or resume detailing education, professional experience, publications, fellowships, honors, awards, funded research, or foundation support. A completed Echidna Global Scholars Program Application is also required, which includes a written questionnaire and a 3–5 page research proposal for a uniquely developed project. Letters of recommendation, additional writing samples, and transcripts are not required at the initial application stage but may be requested from shortlisted candidates. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application process is online. Applicants must submit their application through the official Brookings iCIMS application system. Prepare your CV/resume and complete the Echidna Global Scholars Program Application, uploading the written questionnaire and research proposal in the 'Writing sample' section. Save your documents using the format Last Name_First Name_document name (e.g., Doe_Jane_CV). Ensure all details are correct, then review and submit your application before the deadline. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Scholars will collaborate closely with Brookings experts to assess regional educational difficulties and propose workable solutions. The program emphasizes leadership development, strategic impact capacity building, networking, and publishing research on Brookings’ multimedia platforms. The program culminates in a virtual symposium on gender equality in and through education research and policy.