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Community Solutions Program: Opportunities for Partners

Community Solutions Program: Opportunities for Partners

Host Interest Form

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The Community Solutions Program is seeking U.S.-based organizations to host a CSP Fellow for a fully funded 4-month Practicum from August 12 – November 27, 2024. To express your interest in hosting a Fellow for a U.S.-based Practicum, please complete the Host Interest Form. If you would like to set up a meeting to learn more about this opportunity, please email csp@irex.org.

Benefits of Hosting a CSP Fellow:

  • Share your organization’s expertise, skills, and resources with an international young civil society leader
  • Support internationalization in your organization and community
  • Learn from Fellows’ unique perspectives on challenges and practices in their home communities
  • Develop employees’ professional capacities by mentoring and supervising a Fellow
  • Join a network of global civil society leaders
  • Participate in fully funded program events including opening and closing activities
  • Travel to support domestic and international program activities

Hosting Organization Requirements:

  • Be a U.S.-based organization (public institution, government office, social incubator, business, or non-profit)
  • Be willing to engage with a CSP Fellow(s) on substantive work for 32-hours per week (telework permitted 2-days/week)
  • Be able to designate a host collaborator and peer collaborator for a Fellow’s professional development and support
  • Share a commitment to diversity and inclusion and a passion for international exchange
  • Promote cross-border and/or domestic initiatives related to one or multiple CSP Program Themes (Environmental Issues, Democracy and Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Women and Gender Issues)

The Placement Process

  • Step 1: After your organization submits a Host Interest Form, a member of our team will review your organization’s mission and goals to determine if we have a Fellow with similar goals and expertise. If you would like to set up a meeting to learn more about this opportunity, please email csp@irex.org
  • Step 2: If a potential match is identified, a member of our team will contact you with the Fellow’s information, including their resume and a short profile.
  • Step 3: You will have a chance to review the Fellow’s background, as well as the CSP Host Letter of Agreement before formally confirming your interest in serving as a practicum host.
  • Step 4: If you wish to continue as a practicum host, we will request that you conduct a short introductory call with your matched Fellow to learn more about what the Fellow hopes to achieve and explore what sorts of professional development opportunities you can provide as a host partner.
  • Step 5: Finally, you will participate in a virtual host orientation course on Canvas where you will explore the various aspects of CSP and consult resources to prepare you for hosting a Fellow.

Opportunities to Engage with the CSP Network

  • Host a fellow at your U.S.-based organization: Host a fellow at your organization for a 32-hour per week practicum from August to November. IREX seeks community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, grassroots organizations, government offices, legislative bodies, and private entities that actively engage in community development projects within the United States and are passionate about global connections and cross-cultural idea exchange.
  • Serve as a volunteer U.S. Community Liaison: Become a connector in your U.S. community to help fellows navigate their new city, establish mutual understanding, and arrange events that connect fellows, host organization representatives, and local community members.
  • Host a fellow in your home: Host a fellow in your home for a unique cultural exchange experience.
  • Support the recruitment and selection of our next cohort of CSP fellows: Share the Community Solutions application with your networks to help us find the next cohort of fellows and/or serve on the Selection Committee to review applications and interviews of potential fellows.

Why Partner with CSP?

Connect with innovative global civil society leaders: Community Solutions fellows are emerging experts and leaders in their fields, who are motivated to contribute to and learn from U.S. organizations. Hosts can cultivate long-lasting global networks, share knowledge and expertise, and collaborate to create practical and innovative solutions to shared challenges with likeminded leaders around the world.

Expand your professional network and help propel civil society initiatives across the globe: Hosting and mentoring a CSP Fellow leads­­ to new contacts and long-term international collaboration.  U.S. host organizations may apply for the Collaboration for Community Impact Grant Program which will enable them to travel to a CSP Fellow's home country to work on community-based projects.

Gain diverse perspectives and relevant expertise: Host organizations benefit from the diverse experiences and cultural backgrounds of CSP leaders who arrive with fresh perspectives and unique expertise that matches host organization’s mission and activities.  

Enhance your organization’s visibility: Outstanding organizations receive free promotion through IREX to a network of over 400 U.S.-based organizations and over 700 global community leaders.

Contribute to global civil society development: Your investment of time, expertise, and ideas, supports Fellows’ ability to address pressing civil society challenges in their communities.

No costs: Through funding by the U.S. Department of State, IREX provides complete financial support for CSP Fellows including travel, monthly stipend, lodging, insurance, English language testing, and monitoring and support for CSP Fellow activities throughout the duration of the program.

Additional Information

Contact

For general questions about the program, please email csp@irex.org. A member of our team will follow up with additional information.