Requesting a Fellow

If you believe you can provide a supportive learning environment for an early-career family planning professional while enriching your own capacity, we encourage you to consider hosting a fellow at your organization.

The first step is to submit a Preliminary Request Form, which provides basic information about your organization, the proposed scope of work, the technical skills you are looking for, and the proposed supervisor. Please note that scopes of work must focus on family planning activities or include a substantial family planning component in a mix of other reproductive health activities.

If your preliminary proposal fits our program objectives, we will forward you the complete Proposal to Host a Fellow, which includes guidelines and a more in-depth application. (If you would like a copy of these materials before submitting your Preliminary Request, please contact us.)

Inviting you to move from a Preliminary Request to a formal Proposal to Host a Fellow indicates that we feel your request fits our program objectives. However, this formal proposal must also be approved by us as well as by USAID/Washington and your local USAID mission.

From Approval to Placement

When we receive all approvals, we will notify you and begin the process of identifying appropriate candidates for your request. It generally takes from three to six months from the approval of your proposal to the fellow's arrival at the placement site. These are the steps that occur upon approval of your proposal:

• The Population Fellows Program identifies several appropriate candidates from its pool of applicants who have passed our rigorous review process. Matches are made on the basis of host agency needs and the credentials of active candidates.
  
• The Program sends these candidates your scope of work for review. Those who are interested allow us to forward their resumes to you for consideration.
  
• We will arrange telephone interviews with any or all of the candidates. At a minimum, the top candidate must have the opportunity to interview by phone with his or her proposed supervisor.
• When you make your selection, we will make a formal offer to your selected candidate. If the top candidate does not accept, you may select another candidate from among those you interviewed or ask to have additional candidates proposed.
• Once a candidate has accepted the placement, arrangements are made for the fellow's orientation and for travel to the placement site.

From Placement to Arrival

Fellows can generally begin working with you as soon as they meet a few Program requirements and wrap up their personal and professional affairs. These include: providing appropriate notice to their current employer; attending a formal orientation at the Population Fellows Programs in Ann Arbor and at USAID in Washington; completing the University of Michigan employment paperwork; and preparing for relocation to the placement site.

On your end, there are several preparations to make, as well -– things like ensuring that staff fully understand the fellow's role, that the fellow's workspace is well-equipped, and that introductory documents are assembled and meetings arranged. As you approach this stage, you will receive specific guidance from us to help you lay the groundwork for your fellow's arrival and continue to support his or her transition as the fellowship progresses.

During the Placement

Program staff will be available to support you throughout the placement. We will contact you soon after your fellow settles in to discuss how he or she is adapting and will work with you to resolve any concerns throughout your fellow's tenure.