Apply for Agents of Change Youth Fellowship Program

This is a professional fellowship program for emerging leaders from the MENA region seeking meaningful careers at the intersection of climate change and security.

Focus Area

• The 2025 cohort will have a focus on water:
  • In the Middle East and North Africa, one of the most water-scarce regions in the world, water insecurity is intensifying. By 2050, the entire MENA population is projected to face extreme water stress. Accelerating climate change, increasing demand, and persistent challenges in water management and infrastructure are all contributing to this crisis. Tackling these issues and their links to the region’s conflict dynamics is crucial for fostering regional stability and supporting long-term peace, sustainability, and prosperity.

Components

• The program for 2025 will have two components:
  • Seminar Series: The fellowship program will include a virtual seminar series covering key topics related to water in the MENA region, as well as sessions on technical policy writing and storytelling. The series will feature leading experts in the field and will provide Fellows with key insights and a foundation for their research.
  • Capstone Projects: The Fellows will identify, develop, and complete a 3,000-word research paper focused on water in the MENA region that draws from their own experience and their research during the fellowship. Fellows will present and share their papers at a final in-person convening. The Wilson Center will compile and publish the papers in a collected volume.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Agents of Change Program is open to applicants from countries in the MENA region with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 3 years of work experience in a relevant field or a Master’s Degree and a proven interest in pursuing a career incorporating issues related to climate change, water, and peace.
• Candidates must be no older than 35 years of age at the time of submission.
• Fellows can be located in any geographic location, but should have strong and consistent Internet access in order to participate in video conferences and required meetings.

Application Requirements

• All applicants complete and provide the following materials:
  • Current resume or CV
  • Cover letter
  • Completed application form
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A short response (500 words maximum) to the following question: What is one strategy or approach you believe could effectively address the growing water insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa? Your response may focus on a single country or consider a regional perspective.

For more information, visit Wilson Center.