2027/2028 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship - NED
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is accepting applications for the 2027–2028 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship. The programme brings democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders and scholars to Washington, D.C. for five months of independent research, professional exchange and project development. Applicants in Nigeria can apply through its worldwide recruitment, provided they meet the relevant track requirements. Applications are due by 5 January 2027; recommendation letters have a separate deadline of 12 January 2027.
Opportunity Summary
| Provider | National Endowment for Democracy (NED) |
|---|---|
| Opportunity type | Fellowships |
| Cycle | 2027-2028 |
| Host country | United States |
| Study level | Practitioner and scholarly fellowship tracks |
| Duration | Five months in residence |
| Funding | Five-month fellowship providing a monthly living stipend, basic health insurance, roundtrip travel to Washington, D.C., an equipped office and limited professional travel support. Payments cover furnished accommodation and living costs. Fellows must cover their dependents’ travel and stay; no stipend amount is stated. |
| Application deadline | Application deadline: January 5, 2027. Letters of recommendation are due no later than January 12, 2027. |
About the Opportunity
Based at NED’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, the fellowship supports work on democracy in a particular country or region. Practitioners develop strategies and techniques for strengthening democracy, while scholars undertake original research for publication. Projects may address political, social, economic, legal or cultural aspects of democratic development and should reflect the applicant’s expertise. A comparison with democracy in the United States is not required. Fellows engage with counterparts, participate in programme activities and explore the wider relevance of their work across regions. Each fellow must complete a project-related written or audiovisual product, such as a report, toolkit, article, podcast or video. The fellowship culminates in a formal presentation. Final products may be in English or another language, although application materials must be in English.
Funding and Benefits
- A monthly living stipend calculated to cover a short-term furnished rental apartment, food, local transport and other necessities. No stipend amount is stated.
- Basic health insurance and return travel to and from Washington, D.C. at the beginning and end of the fellowship.
- A fully equipped office and a limited budget for long-distance telephone calls and professional travel within the United States.
- Research, writing, editorial and outreach support, alongside seminars, roundtables and professional exchanges.
- Dependants’ return travel and living costs are not covered; fellows bringing family members must meet those expenses.
Who Can Apply?
- All applicants must demonstrate English proficiency and propose a project concerning democratic development.
- Applicants must be available for five months in residence in Washington, D.C. and cannot hold another job or fellowship during that period.
- Practitioner applicants must be mid-career professionals with substantial practical experience promoting democracy or human rights in their country of origin or interest. There are no specific degree requirements or age limits for this track.
- Scholarly applicants must hold a doctorate or academic equivalent at application, have a proven publication record and have developed a detailed research outline.
- Former Reagan-Fascell fellows cannot apply for a repeat fellowship.
- Applicants cannot have participated in a J-1 research scholar programme during the 24 months immediately preceding their Reagan-Fascell fellowship.
What Nigerian Applicants Should Know
- Nigeria is not explicitly named in the eligibility text. Nigerian applicants may apply under worldwide recruitment, subject to track-specific requirements; the programme primarily targets practitioners from developing, aspiring and non-democratic countries.
- This is a residential fellowship, not a remote opportunity that can be completed from Nigeria.
- Prospective fellows who are neither US citizens nor US permanent residents must obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa. Accompanying family members must obtain J-2 visas. NED describes J-1 sponsorship, but sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval.
- NED states that sponsored J-1 fellows are typically subject to a two-year home-country return requirement before applying for an H visa, L visa or US permanent residence. Applicants should not assume the fellowship provides a route to remaining in the United States.
Required Documents
- Project proposal for the practitioner or scholarly track.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Résumé or CV and biography.
- All application materials must be submitted in English.
How to Apply
- Create an account through NED’s online fellowship application portal.
- Complete the applicant information and submit the project proposal, résumé or CV, and biography by 5 January 2027.
- Ensure recommendation letters are submitted no later than 12 January 2027.
Visit the official application page
Application Tips
Preparation advice: choose the track that matches your experience and propose a focused project achievable within five months. Explain the democratic challenge, your relevant expertise and the practical value of the intended output. Contact referees early because their letters have a separate deadline. Keep your application in your own voice: NED prohibits wholesale copying and pasting of AI-generated answers. Limited AI assistance with ideas, editing or translation is acceptable only where it does not overly affect the writing style or content.
Information checked 8 November 2026.
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