Freedom in the World Junior Fellowship Program 2025-26

The next cohort of Junior Fellows will begin at the start of the Freedom in the World 2026 project cycle and follow the project through to completion in early 2026.

Each Junior Fellow will be hired to join Freedom House on a fixed-term contract. At the completion of the fellowship, they will have developed a range of highly marketable skills that will help propel them on to successful careers. Junior Fellows will work closely with other members of the Research and Analysis team to ensure that all Freedom in the World research outputs adhere to the highest standards of quality and analytical integrity.

The eight-month, full-time fellowship is anticipated to begin in mid-July 2025, and end in mid-March 2026.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct data analysis, contribute to the development and launch of analytical pieces, social media content, infographics, and other support materials, and participate in briefings to key stakeholders, including US congressional and administrative staff on Freedom in the World findings;
• Develop and train a network of regional and thematic experts and acting as their primary point of contact;
• Maintain communication with external analysts, research staff, and programs staff;
• Coordinate the research process for an assigned region;
• Track democracy and human rights developments in the assigned region;
• Coordinate logistics for expert workshops;
• May require light domestic travel to participate in briefings and meetings.

Eligibility Criteria

• Education
  • Applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree in political science, human rights, international relations, media studies, language studies, or a related field between August 2024 and June 2025. Individuals who have begun or completed graduate studies are not eligible for the Junior Fellowship program.
• Experience
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in democracy and human rights around the world.
  • Experience with MS Office and database management.
• Technical Skills and Abilities
  • Comfort working with limited supervision on long-term tasks, finding solutions to problems as they arise, and taking ownership of your work.
  • Superb attention to detail and an ability to produce error-free work on tight deadlines.
  • Outstanding organizational skills and a keen desire to learn to use project management tools such as Asana, Trello, and Airtable.
  • Proven ability to analyze complex information, and to draft elegant and concise summaries for a general audience.
  • Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality and exhibit unquestionable integrity, honesty, and forthrightness.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to respond promptly to inquiries in a courteous and professional manner.
  • Ability to successfully work collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, external partners, and funders.
  • Strong interest in Africa.
  • Ability to assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses; pursue training and development opportunities; strive to continuously build knowledge and skills.
  • Ability to work as an effective team member, successfully balancing individual and team responsibilities.

Application Requirements

• Apply by submitting the following documents, as PDF attachments, through the Freedom House careers:
  • A resume (1 page)
  • A cover letter that addresses both of the following questions (1,000 words max):
    • What does defending democracy mean to you? They are interested in your personal thoughts and experiences, and how these relate to themes Freedom House identified in its most recent edition of Freedom in the World. You will be evaluated on thematic cohesiveness, quality of writing, and ability to demonstrate your dedication to democratic ideals.
    • How does the Junior Fellowship fit into your short- and long-term professional goals, and what do you hope to gain from the experience? You should identify how your experience and professional goals relate to items listed under Position Summary and Preferred Competencies.
  • Official or unofficial transcript
    • Your transcript is one part of an overall application package, and factors including GPA, choice of courses, course load, and academic institution are not formally weighted. Your transcript will primarily be referenced to verify your eligibility for the Junior Fellowship.
  • Tips for Preparing Your Application:
    • For security purposes, please ensure all the documents you upload are in PDF format.
    • Cover letters will be assessed on the quality of your writing, and whether they answer the questions posed.
    • Cover letters should share information beyond what is provided in your resume.
    • Materials must adhere to the stated page, word limits, and use a legible font.

For more information, visit Freedom House.