Professional Fellows Program (PFP)

The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by American Councils for International Education.

The Professional Fellows Program for Europe and Eurasia is a two-way, global exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, as well as build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from foreign countries and the United States. PFP participants are placed in intensive 5-6 week fellowships in non-profit organizations and government offices across the United States for an individually tailored professional development experience.

PFP goals under the Governance & Society theme are to:

  • Strengthen understanding of the U.S. legislative and governance process;

  • Enhance appreciation of the role civil society plays in shaping public policy and holding government accountable;

  • Create partnerships between institutions in the U.S. and Georgia;

  • Establish a common language to develop practical solutions for shared problems and concerns.

Important Facts: Georgian fellows of the 2024-25 (Fall/Spring) program will be selected through a competitive application process. All interested candidates should apply online at: ais.americancouncils.org/pfp. Semifinalists will be selected based on their applications and then interviews will be conducted at the American Councils’ office in Tbilisi. The final decision upon finalists will be made by the independent committee members at the American Councils D.C. office.

Selected fellows will spend five weeks across the United States in state legislatures, city halls, or non-profit organizations, immersing themselves in the daily operations of state governance, government oversight, and citizen participation.

Program Dates:  In-person fellowship in the U.S. will take place in May – June 2025.

Program Costs: The PFP program provides round-trip international and domestic transportation, visa fee and processing costs, health and accident insurance, and a modest stipend. Housing and meals will be provided for program participants with U.S. host families.

To be eligible for PFP, applicants must:

  • Be a citizen and resident of Georgia. Applicants living outside of Georgia or on a long-term program will not be considered eligible to apply.

  • Be an emerging leader in government or civil society organizations with demonstrated expertise in the sector.

  • Be currently employed with at least two years of relevant professional experience at the time of application.

  • Be between 25 and 35 years old at the start of the program, applicants must be born on/after May 1st, 1990, and May 1st, 2000.

  • Be self-directed and able to work effectively in a cross-cultural setting.

  • Be able to identify an objective/project of their own selection that the applicant would like to implement in their home workplace or community.

  • Have demonstrated proficiency in both written and oral English.

  • Have demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills.

    The application deadline is April 30, 2024 (4:00 PM Eastern Time).

If you have questions, please, contact PFP Coordinator – Nino Jibuti:

E-mail: georgia-pfp@americancouncils.org

Website: www.professionalfellows.org

For inspiration, read the PFP alumni blogs.

 Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’, Global Leaders Division. The Professional Fellows Program brings emerging leaders in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship to the United States for intensive fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise. Participants spend approximately one month in the United States, during which the receive hands-on exposure to national legislative offices, state legislatures, local government offices, businesses, and non-profit organizations through carefully designed full-time fellowships.

  • If you are selected as a finalist, American Councils and the Department of State will cover all costs associated with your international travel, visa, and basic living costs in the US. There are no required costs to Fellows.

  • Fellows are selected through a competitive nationwide search that involves a merit-based selection process. This includes an extensive written application and in-person interview. The selection of finalists is determined in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy.

  • Please see eligibility requirements on page one of this flier and on the application at https://ais.americancouncils.org/pfp. These are firm requirements, and no exceptions will be made.

  • Apply online at www.ais.americancouncils.org/pfp

  • PFP Fellows are housed in U.S. host families, university housing, extended stay hotels, or some combination of these options. At a minimum, all Fellows will be provided a home hospitality experience such as dinner within American family, a cultural excursion, a short-term homestay, or other relevant activity to encourage cultural exchange.

  • American Councils will match Fellows with placement organizations in the US. While Fellows may express a preference early in the process for a particular type of office, please note that American Councils has final say overall sites and Fellows may not choose their own placement. Not every type of office will have an exact match in the United States, so fellows will need to keep an open mind about learning how US offices work around different issues.

  • If you are selected for the program American Councils will assist you in applying for a J-1 visa. All visa fees will be covered through the program as well as travel to the visa interview. However, the granting of a US J-1 visa isa requirement for the program, and if you are rejected for a visa by the Consular section at the embassy you will not be eligible to participate. American Councils can assist fellows in the application process but holds no sway over visa granting decisions made by the Embassy.

  • No. All Fellows must be current residents and citizens of the country cohort for which they are applying.

  • PFP experiences are often very fellow-driven. This means that the fellows who are most successful often think about their goals and objectives for the program in advance of their arrival and can share them with their future worksites along with information about the fellows’ background and experiences at home. While at your U.S. worksite you will likely engage in a wide range of activities, which can include shadowing important meetings, conducting research, presenting on relevant topics, participating in office events, and many other activities.