Think Tank Fund Fellowships

The Think Tank Fund (TTF) of the Open Society Institute aims to support independent policy centers that strengthen democratic processes in their countries by identifying and analyzing policy options, consulting with the government and advocating their recommendations, involving stakeholders outside government circles in policy debates, and making their findings widely available to the public. The fund fosters centers that carry out nonpartisan, policy-relevant research on political and socioeconomic issues, and promote inclusive policy change that is open, transparent, and responsive to the public interest.

The Think Tank Fund pursues this mission through two distinct grantmaking programs complemented with a series of capacity-building and networking activities. To date, the Fund has a portfolio of some 40 grantees in 15 countries. This fellowship initiative is designed as an integral part of the fund’s capacity-building activities.

Fellowship Aims and Objectives

This fellowship program enhances TTF’s mission and has the following specific goals:

To enhance the professional capacity of junior researchers in organizing policy processes and developing innovative and quality policy products on current issues.
To contribute to institutional development of think tanks - sponsoring organizations by enhancing the junior employee’s skills and motivation; and by generating new ideas and broadening professional networks.
To enrich portfolios and networks of think tanks - hosting organizations by bringing researchers with a different background and strengthening the host organizations’ mentoring capacity.

Fellows can select any TTF-supported policy center outside their country of origin as a potential host organization. Applicants should contact the organization(s) directly to develop ideas for the fellowships that can be of benefit to both parties. Every year, TTF will select up to ten young, talented researchers employed by one of TTF’s grantees (view a current list of grantees and countries) and will provide them with an opportunity to spend up to three months in one of the leading think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe and gain practical experience.

Fellows are expected to engage in ongoing policy research projects at the hosting organization under the guidance of a senior policy analyst and develop a concrete policy product. "Policy product" refers to:

Research study / survey (fellows are expected to define clear tangible outcomes at the end of the study/ survey)
Drafting a policy paper / briefs / newsletters
Organization of an event/conference (thematic/content inputs on the event organized within the fellowship term)
Any other policy related product / activity that benefits both the visiting fellow and the hosting organization (e.g. designing and hosting policy blogs etc.)

For more information, see the Think Tank Fund Fellowships guidelines.