The U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP) supports a new generation of collaborative, innovative, and values-driven Jordanian leaders who drive success and growth in their economy and civil society, while strengthening ties between the United States and Jordan.
Selected fellows with demonstrated high potential in eight key economic and social development disciplines will participate in leadership training in Jordan, travel to the US for a tailored practicum and cultural experience with a U.S. host organization, and engage in follow on projects in their home communities in Jordan.
The eight UJLEP disciplines are: business and entrepreneurship; civil society; community engagement; women’s empowerment; diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA); civic participation; public health; and environment and climate change.
Goals
- Young, diverse, and high-potential Jordanian professionals build skills to become creative, collaborative, and values-driven leaders.
- Jordanian leaders increase and practice technical and leadership skills through a transformative U.S. exchange experience and better understand the value of U.S.-Jordan cooperation.
- Build a sustainable network of Jordanian leaders working to expand the economy and civil society of their country and help others understand the value of bilateral cooperation.
Leadership Training in Jordan: Fellows participate in in-person trainings in Amman over eight weeks where they will identify their core values, engage in experiential activities, and start developing peer networks for their U.S. Exchange experience.
U.S. Exchange Experience: Over four weeks, Fellows are immersed in U.S. communities and culture through tailored practicums at U.S. host organizations, visits to entities working in the program disciplines, exposure to volunteer work, and cultural activities to deepen their leadership and technical skills in their chosen disciplines.
Action Projects: Following their exchange, fellows develop innovative Community Action Projects to put into practice what they learned during the practicum and impact in their home communities.
Graduation conference: Upon the conclusion of their Fellowship, Fellows convene for a graduation conference with diverse stakeholders in the U.S. and Jordan to to showcase their Action Projects’ results and impact and receive their certificates.
UJLEP Alumni Network and Conferences: After their Fellowships, Alumni continue to build the skills and connections developed during their time in the United States through access to ongoing professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities with support from the U.S. Department of State and affiliated partners.
Community-Based Initiatives (Small Grants Program): Alumni of the Fellowship are eligible to apply for small grants for projects designed by Fellowship Alumni and their U.S. Hosts.
Benefits
The program covers the cost of most expenses associated with:
- J-1 visa support
- Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the U.S.
- Accommodation will be in a form of homestays with American families
- Monthly allowance to cover transportation, meals, and other living expenses while in the U.S. and
- Accident and sickness health benefits
Eligibilities
Competition for the UJLEP Program is merit-based and open to emerging civil society and community Jordanian leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Age 21-35;
- Citizen of Jordan;
- Currently living and studying/working in Jordan at the time of application;
- Has a minimum of one-year of professional experience (work, internship, volunteer or initiatives) in one of the eight UJLEP disciplines: Business and entrepreneurship; civil society; community engagement; women’s empowerment; diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA); civic participation; public health; and environment and climate change), at the time of application;
- Able to begin the UJLEP Program in the United States in 2023;
- Able to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa;
- Committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program and implementing a community-based project; and,
- Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.
- Finalists should be able to fulfill most communication goals, even on unfamiliar topics. They should understand the main ideas of both concrete and abstract writing and they should be able to interact with proficient speakers fairly easily.
Eligible Regions: Jordan
Application Process
- The UJLEP application is currently open. The deadline to submit your application is February 03, 2023.
- This is the official application for the first US-Jordan Leadership Exchange Programs (UJLEP) for Young Jordanian Leaders, all applicants must complete their application through this system
- Apply by the given link
Application Deadline: February 3, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
