US Embassy calls for applicants for Community Solutions Program

The US Embassy Dhaka on Thursday announced the call for applications for the 2021-2022 Community Solutions Program (CSP). 

The CSP is a year-long professional development programme for community leaders working on complex economic, environmental, political, and social challenges in their communities, said a press release. 

The programme includes a four-month fellowship in the United States with a US community-based organisation, government office, or legislative body.

It also includes customised in-person and online learning and coaching for each CSP fellow before, during, and after the U.S. experience from the Community Leadership Institute.

Through training provided by the Community Leadership Institute, tailored, hands-on learning experiences, and the customised US-based fellowship, CSP fellows gain valuable experience in US-based community work, increase skills and knowledge, strengthen their capacity for leadership and development in their home countries, the press release added.

"They also serve as ambassadors for mutual understanding, bringing years of experience to community development in the United States while creating action plans for community-based initiatives in Bangladesh," the press release read.

To be eligible for the Community Solutions Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be between the ages of 25 and 38 as of January 1, 2021;
• Be a citizen of Bangladesh or another CSP eligible country;
• If an applicant is a Bangladeshi citizen, they must be living and working in Bangladesh. Citizens of another CSP eligible country, must be living and working in their home country to qualify to apply for the CSP.  Individuals with refugee status working on behalf of their home community could be given special consideration;
• At least two years of experience working on community development, either as a full-time or part-time employee or volunteer;
• High level of proficiency in spoken and written English at the time of application

Selection for the Community Solutions Program is merit-based on the following criteria: Professional or volunteer work on substantive community development projects; knowledge of and experience in one or more of the CSP focus areas (Environmental Issues, Tolerance and Conflict Resolution, Transparency and Accountability, and Women and Gender Issues); leadership experience and potential; professional and program goals and intercultural and English language skills.

Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm, October 28, 2020. More information about the programme can be found at:  https://www.irex.org/project/community-solutions