Apply for the IRI McCain Fellowship for Freedom (MFF) for Young Leaders Worldwide

The IRI McCain Fellowship for Freedom (MFF) brings together young leaders from around the world to continue the legacy of IRI’s 25-year Chairman Senator John McCain of fostering a new generation of democratic leaders on every continent.

The application will be open until 9:00 AM EST on November 20 2023

About the IRI McCain Fellowship for Freedom (MFF)

Since 2019, IRI has brought McCain’s vision of promoting political and economic freedom worldwide to life through its McCain Fellowship for Freedom. Created to honor Senator McCain’s longstanding belief that “free markets are not possible without free people,” the Fellowship brings together young leaders from around the world who are dedicated to fostering democracy and economic freedom. These leaders exchange ideas with policy makers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and other change makers to gain new insights and ideas on how to best promote democracy and citizen-centered governance. Since the program’s first iteration, IRI has hosted 16 global leaders from 15 different countries. 

IRI’s McCain Fellowship encourages peer-to-peer learning, provides targeted training, and cultivates a generation of political changemakers who are building more inclusive, transparent, and resilient democracies powered by free markets. Through a virtual technical assistance program, Fellows will have access to a global network of technical experts covering a range of issues.  

Each year, the Fellowship culminates in an Exchange where Fellows participate in discussions designed to cultivate their skills and networks to create positive change and support democratic resiliency. In the 2023 exchange, key sessions included workshops on national and local governance; meetings with business and tech leaders, including representatives from Amazon Web Services, Google and the Business Roundtable; and learning sessions on democratic practices, campaign management, and policymaking with leaders such as Ambassador Mark Green of the Wilson Center, who served as IRI President under Sen. McCain’s Chairmanship.

FELLOWSHIP SCOPE OF WORK 

McCain Fellows will be required to actively participate in a several-month program, including, but not limited to, the components outlined below: 

• Attend virtual sessions aimed at providing targeted assistance with skills related to policymaking, communication and advocacy.
• Attend an in-person program in the United States to meet with and learn from leaders in the governmental, non-governmental and private sectors. The program will take place in Washington, D.C. and be timed based on the selected cohort’s availability. 
• Use the network gained and lessons learned from participating in the program to implement advocacy initiatives in the fellow’s community as a young, political changemaker.  
• Engage with other fellows, including from the previous iterations of the MFF program, through virtual networking sessions and platforms.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

McCain Fellows are rising political leaders between the ages of 21 and 40 who are committed to the promotion of political and economic freedom in their countries. They have a proven track record of leadership and accomplishment in challenging environments. They embody the potential for transformational impact in their institutions, communities and countries. Through this program, these emerging leaders will be brought into IRI’s global network across more than 100 countries, leveraging their training and contacts to catalyze their contributions to free societies. 

For more opportunities such as this please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram

IRI will select up to eight young leaders who represent different regions, sectors and gender identities based on the following criteria: 

• Between the ages of 21 and 40; 
• Not a U.S. citizen;
• Proficient in English;
• Possesses robust experience in politics, government and/or private sector, with a preference for individuals with cross-sectoral experience; 
• Demonstrates a proven history of and passion for advocating for democratic and free market reform; 
• Maintains a position of authority and leadership within their current career and community. 

HOW TO APPLY

Access the application portal to apply. Please direct any questions to IRI’s McCain Fellowship team, via email at: [email protected].

For more opportunities such as this please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram