Many of today’s biggest challenges arise from issues related to access to resources, environmental and economic instability, and gaps in effective governance. Addressing these requires leadership that is innovative, forward-thinking, and responsive to the needs of communities. Now in its second year, the Indo-Pacific Futures Fellowship from the East-West Center and the Doris Duke Foundation will examine the vital connections between food security, energy systems, and leadership for the greater good.

Fellows will explore how leadership can strengthen systems that balance economic growth, resource availability, and long-term sustainability. From personal food security to societal energy transitions, they will investigate strategies for providing reliable access to essential resources. Through storytelling, exploring perspectives, and immersive experiences, the program will foster meaningful conversations that unite different viewpoints and help shape a future where food and energy systems are both reliable and sustainable.

Participants will come from a range of backgrounds—spanning government, advocacy, communities, media and technology, arts, and entrepreneurship—bringing a variety of experiences and ideas. Through in-person sessions in Hawai‘i and Aotearoa (New Zealand), along Participants will come from a range of backgrounds—spanning government, advocacy, communities, media and technology, arts, business, entrepreneurship, including energy and food producers—bringing a variety of experiences and ideas. Through in-person sessions in Hawai‘i and Aotearoa (New Zealand), along with regular virtual meetings, they will engage with leading experts and collaborative activities designed to expand their knowledge, leadership capacities, and networks. The enduring skills and connections they gain will help them drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
 

For more information, please visit our website for more information. Questions can be directed to leadership@eastwestcenter.org.

Program Information
     Program runs October 2025-May 2026

• Pre-Residency Virtual Sessions: October 13-26, 2025
• Honolulu, Hawai‘i: October 27-November 7, 2025
• Virtual Sessions: November 8, 2025-May 24, 2026
• Wellington, New Zealand: May 25-31, 2026
   

Eligibility Criteria

• 5 to 10 years of professional leadership experience in any aspect of food and energy systems, including advocacy work in these sectors. Experience may comprise but is not limited to: elected officials, government agency representatives, advocacy group leaders, topic experts, community and industry leaders, artists, activists, and social and business entrepreneurs.
• Past experiences or current work with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
• There is no country restriction to apply/participate in the IPFF.
• Applicants will be expected to have a fluent level of English. Applicants are encouraged to provide an English language test score (such as IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC…) if available.
• A current passport with validity through the end of 2026.
• Able to fully commit to two weeks of travel in October and November 2025 and one week in May 2026, plus regular virtual connections in between and a capstone project to implement during and after the program.

Desirable Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 years of studies in a higher education institution sanctioned by a degree representing a full-time program of study is preferred but not required.
• Dedicated to supporting initiatives that address the needs of communities affected by global challenges.
• Proven ability to work with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
• Willingness to learn and try new techniques and approaches, and to face unfamiliar experiences with curiosity and openness to the process, as well as to be challenged and willing to push beyond their professional comfort zone with a commitment to their personal growth.
• Willing to engage fully in a place-based, action-oriented, creatively demanding program.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to complete writing and public speaking assignments with high quality.

Deadline
Applications must be submitted by April 18, 2025 (at 11:00 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time).
Completed applications include a Letter of Reference which will be accepted until April 27, 2025 (at 11:59 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time).

Letter(s) of Reference
One letter of reference from a professional contact is required to complete your application but two are suggested. Instructions with a link to the Letter of Reference form will be sent to your referee(s) via email upon the submission of your application. Inform your referee(s) ahead of submitting your application that a request will be coming from Submittable. Should your referee(s) require assistance, please have them contact our team at leadership@eastwestcenter.org. The program will not accept a Letter of Reference directly from applicants. References submitted past the deadline will not be considered during review.
 

Financial Information/Provisions 

The Indo-Pacific Futures Fellowship provides fellows with round-trip airfare to/from the program locations, program fee and materials, accommodation, travel insurance, meals, and some applicable visa-related costs (if required).  This program is subject to postponement/cancellation due to prevailing and unforeseen circumstances.

Submitting Your Application & Instructions
Create a Submittable account today to see the full application and apply!  Please refer to application guidelines and specific requirements of the program before completing this form.

• Please complete the application in English.
• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• Submittable does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser. Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your Submittable account, especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to freely edit your application, make sure to thoroughly review your application before submitting. If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time. The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If after submission you need to change something in your application, contact the EWC Leadership Program staff either through Submittable or at leadership@eastwestcenter.org to request open editing access. Open editing access will only be granted for editing/changing major fields such as Referee information.
• Submittable email notifications can be filtered as junk/spam. Be sure to add Submittable to your list of approved senders.

The Pacific Islands Development Program's quarterly publication Visions & Voices welcomes submissions of essays, articles, commentary, and concise pieces that pertain to the Pacific Islands region.

Submission guidelines: pireport.org/submissions

The East-West Center is pleased to announce the 2025 Jefferson Fellowships.

Theme: The Future of Food Security: Lessons from Southeast Asia 

Dates: October 5-23, 2025

Destinations: Honolulu, Indonesia, Thailand

This year’s Jefferson Fellowships program will explore growing concern about food insecurity in the Southeast Asia region caused by numerous challenges, including environmental conditions, rising prices, destruction of habitats, and disruptions in global supply chains. More details can be found here.

The broad purpose of the Jefferson Fellowships is to enhance public understanding through the news media of issues in the United States and the Asia Pacific through a three-week dialogue, study, and travel program that focuses on a particular theme. 

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Hawai'i Standard Time on April 13, 2025.

For additional program information, including participant obligations and programmatic details, please visit the East-West Center website. If you encounter any difficulties with this application, please contact jefferson@eastwestcenter.org.
 

Who should apply?

Ideal candidates:

• Are a print, broadcast, or online journalist working in the Asia Pacific region, including the United States.
• Possess at least 5 years of professional journalism experience.
• Have the ability to communicate in English in a professional setting.
• Have not participated in an East-West Center Media program within the last 3 years (i.e. after October 2022).

Preference will be given to journalists who clearly articulate the relevance of the theme to their areas of coverage and how they intend to use the knowledge gained to enhance the perspectives of viewers, readers, and listeners. Journalists are strongly encourage to generate content during and after the program in the form of formal print and broadcast stories, blogs, and social media communications.

The Indo-Pacific Region

For the Jefferson Fellowships, the Indo-Pacific region includes Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Application:

Applicants must submit each of the following documents to be considered:

• The online 2025 Jefferson Fellowships application form.
• A letter of interest (maximum 3 pages, double-spaced). Letter should include: (1) a brief description of your news organization or freelance work, job duties and experience; (2) what you expect to accomplish and what issues you want to explore during the program, including specific story ideas; (3) the relevance of the theme to your audiences and areas of coverage; (4) how participation will benefit your work as journalist. Please also include a proposed topic for the paper and presentation you will share as part of the Fellowship (see Participant Obligations below).
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
• An employer's statement of support completed by the applicant's supervisor/employer indicating that the applicant has the support of their media organization to attend the Fellowship. (Does not apply to freelance journalists.)
• Two (2) professional references with letters of recommendation.

In 2025, the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center (EWC) and the Republic of China's (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) will host a seven-week program that includes three-weeks in Honolulu, Hawai'i and four-weeks in Taiwan.

This program will provide individuals the opportunity to enhance their leadership capacities and build a network with other leaders from across the Pacific and Taiwan. Participants will engage in experiential learning in a cohort of 24 early to mid-career professionals from all sectors. PILP attracts participants possessing high leadership potential and a commitment to serve their national and regional development goals. The curriculum for these rising leaders will be centered around the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and thematically organized in the following areas identified in the 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan: Political Leadership & Regionalism, Peace & Security; Oceans & Environment, Climate Change & Disasters; Resources & Economic Development, Technology & Connectivity; and People-Centered Development. The program strengthens participants’ knowledge and understanding of key regional economic, social, political, health, educational and environmental issues, and cultivates culturally sustaining leadership capacities.

Program Dates:  August 1 - September 19, 2025 (Dates are tentative and subject to change)

Eligibility:

• Citizen of the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 
• Bachelor’s degree. Exceptions may be considered on the basis of other relevant experience and qualifications.
• The program is aimed at early- to mid-career professionals.
• A minimum of 3 years demonstrated impact in your professional career and/or local community.
   

 AI Transparency

We are looking for authentic and genuine submissions that reflect your individual experiences, perspectives, and unique writing style. We understand that AI (artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT) can be a helpful tool in crafting your application, and applicants are not forbidden from using it to help with responses. However, essays that are generated primarily or solely by such tools will be rejected. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• 11:59 pm, March 1, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)

NOTE: Reference forms will be due no later than March 8, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)
 

 IMPORTANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES
 

• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• The application software does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser.  Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your application account especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to edit your application after submitting, make sure to review your application before submitting.  If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time.  The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If, after submission, you need to change something in your application, contact the PILP team at PILP@eastwestcenter.org