Where We Work > Program List
Professional Fellows for Governance and Society, South and Central Asia
COUNTRIES: India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
DURATION: 09/30/2013 - 03/31/2026
FUNDER: U.S. Department of State
CONTACT: nicole.rouhani@worldlearning.org
DURATION: 09/30/2013 - 03/31/2026
FUNDER: U.S. Department of State
CONTACT: nicole.rouhani@worldlearning.org
Program Description
The Professional Fellows for Governance and Society, South and Central Asia program brings young professionals from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to the U.S. to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices in legislative process and policymaking.
The Professional Fellows for Governance and Society program, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by World Learning, is a two-way exchange initiative designed to strengthen practical cooperation between the United States and key countries in South and Central Asia.
Through the program, mid-career professionals from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal travel to the United States to engage directly with American peers across sectors such as education, technology, entrepreneurship, and public service innovation. Fellows contribute their expertise and perspectives while providing a valuable opportunity for U.S. organizations to exchange ideas, expand their international partnerships, and enhance their own leadership and innovation capacity in a global context.
In a reciprocal phase, selected American participants travel to partner countries to build on these relationships, working together with their counterparts on projects of shared professional interest. These exchanges contribute to a broader network of collaboration that strengthens U.S. ties to a region vital for America’s economic growth, security, and long-term competitiveness.
The U.S.-based portion of the program concludes at the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C., where visiting fellows from across the world convene to share insights, identify future initiatives, and reinforce a spirit of practical cooperation with American institutions.
Program Goals
- Foster strong, enduring professional relationships between American communities and emerging leaders in South and Central Asia.
- Support American leadership globally by expanding professional networks, increasing access to emerging markets and ideas, and reinforcing partnerships that advance U.S. prosperity and security.
- Promote the exchange of practical strategies in fields that contribute to economic vitality and institutional resilience, such as education, entrepreneurship, technology, and service delivery.
Program Components
- Selection and pre-departure orientation for fellows from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
- A four-week professional exchange program in the United States focused on placements with U.S. organizations, leadership development, and practical collaboration.
- The Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C., providing an opportunity for international fellows to consolidate experiences, network with U.S. and international peers, and identify future areas of cooperation.
- An outbound exchange phase where selected American professionals travel to partner countries to deepen professional relationships and expand cooperation on mutually beneficial initiatives.
- Regional workshops and follow-on activities aimed at sustaining long-term partnerships.
By connecting American professionals and institutions with emerging leaders across South and Central Asia, the program strengthens America’s economic and strategic position, supports innovation and leadership at home, and contributes to a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future for the United States.
