Hurford Youth Fellowship 2025 in Washington DC

Updated: Jun 16

If you're a young activist who's passionate about democracy, then you should consider The Hurford Youth Fellowship program.

The fellowship is hosted by the World Movement for Democracy, with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The Hurford Youth Fellowship is a program designed to build the leadership skills and harness the potential of young democracy activists from around the world.

Here are the key details about the fellowship.

• Host Organizations: The fellowship is hosted by the World Movement for Democracy, with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Hurford Foundation, and the international Forum for Democratic Studies.

• Duration: Fellows spend three months at the World Movement’s Secretariat.

• Location: The program takes place in Washington D.C., USA

• Activities: Fellows engage in strategic meetings, conduct research, organize and lead presentations, online discussions, and information-sharing sessions on key democracy issues, specifically below areas:

Expanding Civic Space for Young People
Countering Disinformation
Building Citizen-Centric Accountability
Delivering Democracy

Hurford Youth Fellowship Benefits

The Hurford Youth Fellowship offers a range of benefits designed to support the fellows both during and after their stay in Washington, D.C. Here are the benefits provided:

1). Monthly Stipend: Fellows receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, which is adjusted to reflect the cost of living in Washington, D.C.

2). Health Insurance: Basic health insurance is provided for the duration of the fellowship.

3). Travel Costs and Visa Assistance: Round trip travel costs to and from Washington, D.C. are covered. The foundation will also help you in obtaining a J-1 exchange visitor visa.

4). Office Space: Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, including internet and email access.

5). Post-Fellowship: After completing the fellowship, the fellows serve as regional/country focal points, working with the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network to remain involved and lead youth-related activities.

6). Resources: Fellows have access to the NED Democracy Resource Center.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Hurford Youth Fellowship are as follows:

Age Limit: Applicants must be no older than 30 years of age.
Interest in Democracy: Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in democratic activism and in the advancement of democracy in their respective communities, as well as worldwide.
Civil Society Involvement: Youth affiliated with civil society organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
Language Proficiency: A working knowledge of English is required.

**Exclusions**: The program does not support university students, postdoctoral research, or other fellowships.

Residency Requirements

Fellows are expected to work full-time on their fellowship projects at the NED office in Washington, D.C. Fellows may not hold any other fellowships or be otherwise employed during the fellowship period without the express permission of World Movement Secretariat staff.

Fellows are expected to be in residence at the NED for the entirety of the fellowship period in order to take full advantage of the professional resources available in D.C.

Application Process

Interest candidates are invited to apply for Hurford Youth Fellowship online through the NED online application portal.

Preparing Your Application Materials

The Applicant Form has four sections:

Personal Information
Project Proposal
Curriculum Vitae/Résumé
Two Letters of Recommendation.

• Your project proposal is the most important part of your fellowship application. It should be clear, concise, and comprehensible to individuals outside your own field or concentration. Your proposal must correspond to one of the following action areas outlined in the Youth Declaration: