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The Echidna Global Scholars Program’s Visiting Fellowship is hosted by the Center for Universal Education (CUE), within the Global Economy and Development program, at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

The Echidna Global Scholars Program (the Program) aims to strengthen the capacity of local leaders to advance gender equality in and through education across the Global South and globally. During a six-month Fellowship at Brookings, spanning a pre-residency and residency phases, Scholars conduct individual research focused on improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people, develop their leadership and evidence-based policy skills, build substantive knowledge on gender and global education issues, and expand their pathways for impact.

The Fellowship consists of three phases:

1. Pre-residency: sets the basis for the research training, leadership, and strategic impact components of the program. With the support of CUE fellows and the gender equality in and through education team, scholars begin an intensive period of in-country data collection and analysis, accompanied by a series of virtual workshops, group working meetings, and individual advisory sessions. Scholars are introduced to the concepts and tools that will be the focus of the leadership development program throughout the Fellowship and begin developing an impact strategy, identifying and engaging with local actors. Time commitment is roughly 15-20 hours a week during this phase.

1. Residency: the residency period in Washington, DC focuses primarily on clarifying Scholars’ focus and expanding their reach and impact. The residency phase is designed to support Scholars as they strengthen skills and practices for analyzing, communicating, and leveraging research for policy contexts and key audiences and engage in a reflective and individualized leadership development program. The residency also seeks to expand Scholars’ networks and promote visibility through Brookings convenings and strategic collaborations, culminating with their participation in the Gender Equality in and through Education Research and Policy Symposium. Over the course of the residency, Scholars will engage in analysis of data collected during the pre-residency phase and will work closely with the CUE team to translate their research into an action-oriented policy brief and strategic commentaries, which will be published and disseminated on Brookings’s multimedia platforms.

1. Post-residency: During the two-year period following residency, the CUE team provides intentional support to alumni as they translate their research into action with through the implementation of impact projects in their home countries. Through impact planning, strategic advisement and leadership development work, CUE supports scholars as they leverage the knowledge, skills, and connections built throughout the Fellowship to catalyze change in their contexts.

In addition, upon completion of the residency, scholars transition into the Echidna Global Scholars Alumni Network (EGSAN), a growing network of educators, researchers, community leaders and policy influencers grounded in diverse lived experiences and united by a shared commitment to gender equality in and through education. The network is a dynamic space that drives collaborative research, shared learning, regional and global convenings, and collective action to advance systemic transformation change globally, regionally and locally.

Since its inception in 2012, the Echidna Global Scholars Program has hosted fourteen cohorts of fellows and supports an alumni network of 48 scholars working in more than 25 different countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

About the Center for Universal Education:

As part of the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution, the Center for Universal Education develops and disseminates effective solutions for quality education and skills development. It offers a forum for research, high-level dialogue, and public debate on a range of issues relevant to education, with a particular focus on the Global South. CUE envisions a world where all children and youth have the holistic skills they need to succeed in the 21st century and plays a critical role in influencing the development of policy related to global education, promoting actionable strategies for governments, civil society and private enterprise.

The Echidna Global Scholars Program is part of CUE’s broader efforts to catalyze and sustain collaborative action to achieve quality education for all, seeking to build the evidence base on policies and practices supporting gender equality in and through education in countries throughout the Global South. Given the Echidna Global Scholars’ understanding of the complex dynamics within their own communities, they are often best suited to craft strategies and solutions that address context-specific barriers and engage local decision-makers to transform systems for long-term change. To that end, the research and impact projects of the Echidna Global Scholars contribute to an important process of evidence-informed systems transformation and policy development. Moreover, the capacity and professional development they undergo during the Fellowship helps to strengthen a leadership pipeline for education leaders around the world.

Responsibilities

Once selected to participate in the Fellowship, Echidna Global Scholars will spend approximately two months in pre-residency, working remotely from their home countries, followed by four months in residency at The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. During this time, Scholars will work with the Center for Universal Education to complete a uniquely developed research project and strategy for policy impact designed to increase the evidence base and improve learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and/or gender non-conforming people in their countries.

Following their time in residence in Washington DC, Scholars will be supported in the implementation of activities in their local context that build on the findings of their research and will join the alumni network.

The Fellowship is a full-time, exclusive commitment during the residency period (roughly 40 hours/week) and a substantial part-time commitment during the pre-residency period (roughly 15-20 hours/week). The Program expects Echidna Global Scholars to:

• Conduct professional, in-depth research, write an evidence-based policy paper, and present their research and policy recommendations at Brookings organized events.
• Participate in individual and collective capacity strengthening and capacity sharing activities, including the leadership development program, as well as individual and group workshops and reflections.
• Develop a post-residency project proposal with the intent of expanding the impact of their research upon return to their home country.
• Interact professionally with other Brookings scholars and community members and be active participants in Brookings events (organizational meetings, informal discussions, seminars, presentations, private and public events), particularly those of CUE and the Global Economy and Development program.
• Engage with key actors from the extended research, practice, and policy community within their home countries, in and around Washington, DC, and globally, by participating in additional meetings and conferences, and networking with the broader education, gender, and global development community.

Qualifications

Education/Experience Requirements:

The Program selects professionals with substantial experience in and ties to the Global South, a clear intent to return to the Global South after completing the period of residency at Brookings, and a passion and demonstrated commitment to improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people in and through education.

Applicants should have a background in education, gender and/or women’s studies, international or global development, public policy, economics, or a related social sciences or humanities area, with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in research/academia, non-governmental, community or civil society organizations, or government. Candidates with experience in both academic or government settings and community organizations are especially encouraged to apply.

A Master’s degree is required.

Knowledge/Skills Requirements:

Successful applicants will have an in-depth understanding of education, development, and gender issues, strong analytical and writing skills, the ability to care for and collaborate with others, openness to give and receive feedback, and the capacity and desire to learn with speed and flexibility.

All Echidna Global Scholars must demonstrate proficiency in English.

Priority areas for 2026:

The Echidna Global Scholars Program welcomes applications from leaders in gender equality in and through education from across the geographic Global South. Applicants working in the following areas will be given special consideration for the Program in 2026:

Geographic priorities: West Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Southwest Asia and North Africa.

Context priorities: Countries and regions marked by conflict and crisis, as well as those with high levels of gender-based violence, child marriage, early childbearing, and low levels of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Targeted actors and communities of interest: Socio-economically, culturally, and/or politically marginalized girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people; children or young people experiencing homelessness; indigenous, migrant, displaced, or nomadic populations; out of school children and youth; and LGBTQ+ youth.

Research priorities: Echidna Global Scholars’ research topics must be focused on education priorities for girls, young women, and/or gender non-conforming people, as they are relevant in their specific contexts, and build off a gender transformative framework, seeking to actively challenge discriminatory social norms and/or strengthen the agency of girls, young women, and/or gender non-conforming people. Special priority will be given to research that focuses on ensuring learning and skill development (as opposed to a primary or sole focus on access/enrollment/attainment); improving life outcomes, for example by supporting transitions to higher education and employment; research that employs intersectional feminist and/or decolonial methodologies and moves beyond disciplinary or practitioner silos; and research that focuses on the following key questions for education systems transformation:

• What are the most important barriers to receiving a high-quality education, and how do those barriers differ for girls, women and gender non-conforming people?
• How do these barriers interact with the combined or intersectional effects of inequality in education?
• What are the most effective policies or programs to address those barriers both locally and globally?
• How do compounding and systemic issues (for e.g., conflict, climate change, political and/or religious contexts) change what we know about the barriers for these populations and the solutions for addressing them?

Applicants who have not worked explicitly on gender equality and education previously are welcome to apply but should include an explanation of how this focus on improving learning opportunities and outcomes for girls, young women and gender non-conforming people can be integrated successfully into their current and future work.

Additional Information

Benefits: Please note that this position is a short-term fellowship at Brookings (it is not an employee position). Applicants selected for the Fellowship will receive a stipend totaling $26,500 USD to support living costs during the pre-residency and residency periods (subject to U.S. tax withholding and reporting). In addition, CUE will cover the costs associated with the visa process, single-occupancy housing for the 4-month residency period, round-trip travel expenses, and a limited health insurance plan.

Program Requirements: Echidna Global Scholars must be able to participate fully in the pre-residency activities (15-20 hours/week), including the completion of pre-arrival data collection, and be available for a full-time, on-site affiliation with the Brookings Institution for the entire duration of the residency.

Term of Program: The research project must take place within a 6-month timeframe of pre-residency and residency work. Data collection and initial analysis must be completed by the scholar at home prior to the start of the residency at Brookings in Washington, D.C. Analysis and writing must be completed during the residency. The fellowship will begin on or around June 15, 2026, and end in mid-December 2026. Scholars must also participate in the leadership development component throughout the program, including pre-residency components. Scholars may be invited to apply for seed funding to implement an impact project based on their research findings after the residency. Please note that the timeframe of this Program will not be changed, and the program is subject to grant funding.

Visa Matters: Echidna Global Scholars must obtain a J-1 visa before the Scholar participates in the program’s residency period. Brookings cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa, attainment of visa status, or admittance into the U.S. Brookings will provide support to the Scholar during the visa process, but has no control over the visa process or any travel restrictions enacted by the U.S. government, including but not limited to whether a timely visa interview appointment can be scheduled and/or changes in legislation that would prevent the scholar from entering the U.S.

How to Apply:

All applications must be submitted through the iCIMS application system. Initial application materials must include:

1. A CV or resume which should include your education and professional experience, as well as a list of your publications, and any fellowships, honors, awards, funded research, or foundation support that you have received.
2. The completed Echidna Global Scholars Program Application which includes both a written questionnaire and a research proposal. Click on hyperlink to access document and upload in the “Writing sample” section. Documents must be saved with a format of Last Name_First Name_document name (for example: Doe_Jane_CV).

Note that letters of recommendation, writing samples, and transcripts are NOT required.

**Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Candidates selected for interviews may be asked to submit additional materials and provide references. Incomplete applications and any applications received after the deadline will not be considered. If you require visa sponsorship to participate in this fellowship program, your English proficiency will be verified via an objective assessment as required by the U.S. Department of State.

Timing and Application Deadlines:

• Application deadline: December 15, 2025
• Interviews: January and February 2026
• Selection date: March 6, 2026
• Acceptance date: March 20, 2026
• Fellowship start date: June 15, 2026

There will be an information session for all prospective applicants on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 8-9 am ET. Please register for the session through the following link: Echidna Global Scholars Program Information Session