WHO IS A GOOD FIT FOR THE TCI FELLOWSHIP?
The TCI Fellow(s) should be an early career lawyer, scientist, or advocate in the field of human or environmental rights and must already be working or willing to work closely with a Host Organization. In keeping with our September 2021 Report “Re-envisioning Technical Support and What Constitutes “Expertise,” TCI recognizes the importance of valuing a range of expertise and skills which have traditionally been ignored. We also recognize the importance of valuing the knowledge and lived experience of affected communities and advocates (particularly those who have been historically marginalized such as Black people, people of color, Indigenous peoples, women, etc.) who may not possess academic credentials deemed valid by the Global North but whose work is essential to the advancement of legal, scientific, and business and human rights advocacy. As such, we are open to supporting Fellows with this kind of knowledge, expertise, and lived experience.
Fellows cannot have already been a TCI Fellow in the past as the TCI Fellowship grant is non-renewable.
WHICH HOST ORGANIZATION IS A GOOD FIT FOR THE TCI FELLOWSHIP?
Host Organizations are groups that currently are or previously have been TCI’s grantee partners whose recruitment of and partnership with Fellow(s) will advance their collective work and the career of their Fellow(s). They are committed to providing bilateral exchange, career development opportunities, and effective mentorship to their Fellows. Host Organizations must be able to support Fellow(s) to pursue their unique projects that address real-life problems while ensuring the alignment between the Fellow’s project and the needs and strategies of the Host Organization. Host Organizations must also have experience and skills supporting individuals with their visa application, relevant travel documents, and other arrangements if required.
Host Organizations can have an existing Fellow or Fellowship Program and are not required to host an open recruitment. Existing Fellows that receive TCI funding will become joint TCI Fellows for the duration of the grant.
Fellowships can be in-person or remote so long as Fellows are able to maintain a close relationship with and benefit from effective mentorship and collaboration with their Host Organization.
LENGTH OF FELLOWSHIP AND SIZE OF GRANT
The TCI Fellowship Program provides a one-or-two-year grant but Host Organizations have the authority and flexibility to design the length of the project and their Fellow hosting period based on their individual needs and capacity to do so.
Fellowship funding (averaging between USD$20,000 and $40,000) is determined on a case-by-case basis. The funding can complement existing Fellowship funds that a Host Organization is devoting to a Fellow(s). It can also be allocated as the main resource to effectively host a Fellow..
APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
Fellowship grants are provided by invitation only with Host Organizations acting as the applicant and awardee of the funds. TCI accepts Fellowship grant applications with preference between February and May. Off-cycle requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis to address needs on the ground.
Initial Conversation: Meetings and/or Concept Note submission to determine Host Organization’s Fellowship goals and TCI’s alignment, which may lead to additional requests for information.
Application Period: Open for three (3) weeks starting from when a selected Host Organization receives an official invitation to apply from TCI. Invitation to apply does not ensure grant recommendation.
Fellowship Grant Recommendation: Around mid-to-late March (for the February application period) and June (for the May application period), TCI will notify Host Organization of our decision regarding the application.
TCI/Fellow Engagement: We will share all Fellows on the TCI website and will require a biography and a photo. Engagement with TCI is heavily dependent on the capacity and needs of Fellows and Host Organizations but can include meeting (in person or virtually), monthly or quarterly reporting, sharing photos and videos, or email check-ins. TCI will occasionally share resources, invitations, and job listings with either Fellows or Host Organizations.
For the duration of the grant all Fellows are required to attend the bi-annual TCI Fellowship Conference and the pre-TCI Fellowship Conference Gathering with the TCI Team (in person or virtually). Fellows will receive ample notice for the event.