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:
- 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.
- 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
