The biggest questions of our time call for community-centered and action-oriented leadership that is policy-aware and regionally and globally competent. Defining and resolving our common dilemmas requires inclusion and collaboration. The Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab, jointly launched by the East-West Center and the Japan Foundation, is for rising leaders from diverse sectors, including academia, civil society, non-profit, business, and government, who want to deepen their leadership practice and increase their impact. The Lab is for those who are ready to listen sincerely, question profoundly, and learn from real-world experience and practice.

Each year, leaders in the Lab will focus on a specific complex and interconnected social issue. Alongside fifteen other rising leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, leaders will join a year-long program that includes three one-week, in-person seminars held in Honolulu, Hawai‘i; Suva, Fiji; and Tokyo, Japan. Together, leaders will critically examine current responses to the issue and explore community approaches and their connections to local and regional policy. They will identify critical gaps and explore and test responses in their home communities, with guidance from community leaders, topic experts, and leadership mentors.

The 2025 Lab cohort will focus on leadership responses to the challenges and risks arising from the climate crisis. The program will begin virtually in October 2024, and will launch in-person in Honolulu, Hawai‘i in late 2024, reconvene in Suva, Fiji, and close in Tokyo, Japan. Throughout the year, leaders will critically examine climate adaptation plans and explore local communities' approaches to addressing vulnerabilities and meeting challenges.

Leaders who complete the 2025 Lab will be better equipped to support communities in articulating their adaptation goals and the vulnerability analyses they are rooted in, and in crafting transformative climate change action. Leaders will chronicle their experiences of testing community adaptation plans and build capacities and connections for inclusive, community-led climate change adaptation.

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

Program Information
Program runs October 2024-September 2025

• Honolulu, Hawai‘i (December 2024) 
• Suva, Fiji (April 2025)
• Tokyo, Japan (September 2025)

Financial Information/Provisions
The Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab 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.


Eligibility Criteria

• 5-10 years of deep work or research experience in an area with clear connections to climate change mitigation, adaption planning, natural resources or environmental governance, or related area
• A citizen and resident of one of the following countries: Japan, United States of America, Pacific Islands: American Samoa, Australia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu; South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan; Southeast Asia: Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
• Verbal fluency in English, with strong written English skills
• Demonstrable writing experience, including grants, Op-eds, articles in newspapers or magazines, blogs, and/or academic writing, etc.
• A current passport with validity through March 2026
• Able to commit to one week of travel in December 2024, April and September 2025, plus monthly virtual connections in between travel (estimated at about 4 hours/month).

Desirable Qualifications

• Deep and ongoing involvement in a specific organization, business, educational institution, or community impact initiative with clear connections to climate change mitigation, adaption planning, natural resources or environmental governance, or related area
• Professional, public, and/or community leadership track record
• Willing to engage fully in a place-based, policy-focused, creatively- and strategically-demanding program
• Interest in collectively generating community-focused policy and impact initiatives connected to climate change adaptation
• Interested in working and learning alongside people from a diversity of places, backgrounds, sectors, and communities
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in small teams or in large groups

Deadline
Applications must be submitted by May 31, 2024 (at 11:59 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time). Completed applications include a Letter of Reference. Letters of Reference will be accepted until June 9, 2024 (at 11:59 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time).

Letter(s) of Reference
One letter of reference is required to complete your application but two are suggested. References submitted by the applicant will not be accepted. 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.


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 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.
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Research Innovation & Collaboration and Exchange (RICE) 2024 Fellowships Program

The East-West Center (EWC) will provide RICE Fellowships for scholars, policy experts, non-government organization / civil society organization (NGO/CSO) members, researchers, or journalists from the Indo-Pacific Region, including the United States, to undertake research or other projects on topics related to the domestic/international governance, environmental issues, political economy issues around trade, technology and integration, and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Program Elements

RICE Fellows will undertake research or other projects at the EWC in the Honolulu or Washington, DC offices. The length of the RICE Fellowship will be based on the project as will the associated stipend, support, and travel funding. In some cases, a recipient may be permitted to work at another location, provided sufficient project-relevant justification is presented. 

During the Fellowship terms, participants will pursue their project interests while taking advantage of the resources and access of the East-West Center’s Honolulu and Washington, DC offices. Moreover, participants will have opportunities to collaborate with EWC researchers to enhance and advance their projects. Emphasis for selection will be toward proposed collaborations and exchanges which create or strengthen networks, partnerships, and shared outcomes. All project outcomes (e.g., EWC/Co-Branded publications, reports, videos, websites, databases, etc) will be co-branded between EWC and the applicants home institution, and preference will be given to outcomes which are sustainable. RICE Fellowships may include a monthly stipend and travel expenses depending upon the project proposed.

Examples of possible projects might encompass:

• Development of an EWC-Partner Organization publication or seminar series;

• Creating a new website or database (e.g., see North Korea in the World or Asia Matters for America); or

• Creating an exchange program for rising experts and leaders.

We urge innovative, collaborative exchange projects that convene impactful dialogues among peoples and products as well as develop and equip leaders.

Application Requirements

• A completed online application form

• A full CV

• Two letters of reference

• A 2-page statement outlining the proposed work. The proposal must include a summary of the project to be pursued (e.g, a research publication or other product as outlined above); a schedule and identified milestones to complete the project; an explanation of how the collaboration with EWC will further the proposed work (e.g., access to research experts, dialogs with key partners, convening for critical dialogue, etc); and the connections between the project and the mission and strategic pillars of the East-West Center.  Proposals should focus on bringing individuals and organizations from the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific together to share perspectives, consider common challenges and opportunities, and create collaborative outcomes.

• Budget for the work, including requested stipend, travel, housing, other costs.

NOTE: RICE funding subject to availability of EWC funds

Eligibility Information for Applicants

• Applicants must be nationals of a country from the Indo-Pacific or the United States and eligible to receive a fellowship stipend.

• Applicants must possess a minimum of a completed Master’s degree. Research applicants should have completed a PhD, while policy experts, NGO/CSO leaders, and journalists, among others, should have demonstrated experience in their professions.  Preference will be given to candidates who have not yet had the opportunity to conduct research, projects, and network in Honolulu or Washington, DC.

• Due to EWC funding regulations, non-US citizens or permanent residents who are selected as RICE Fellows will require East-West Center J-1 visa sponsorship during their residency. Acceptance of the fellowship will subject fellows to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or the two-year home country residency requirement before the fellow may apply for a change of status in the United States, permanent residency, or an H, L, or K visa.

RICE Fellowship participants must adhere to the East-West Center’s public health and COVID safety regulations.

Views expressed in RICE products and outcomes such as seminars, publications, website and similar will reflect those of project participants and not necessarily the EWC.

The Hawai‘i Pacific Foundation (HPF) Doctoral Research Award at the East-West Center is an award of up to $20,000 to promote educational access for Native Hawaiians or support outstanding doctoral students to conduct high quality research that advance commitment or contribution to the study of issues important to the Native Hawaiian community.  

Award funds may be used for tuition and/or institution fees, books, living expenses, equipment, travel supplies, software, and other expenses that are directly related to conducting their research.  The award period is up to six months and residency at the East-West Center is highly encouraged.  EWC will facilitate connections between the Awardee and its rich network of scholars who can provide support as they write their research findings.  Students may be studying at universities other than the University of Hawai‘i, as the Award is intended to support research by doctoral students, especially those who may need to be in Hawai‘i or need residency at the EWC in Honolulu.  At the conclusion of their research, the Awardee is encouraged to share their research findings with the EWC and the community for broader impact. 

Important Application Guidelines:
You must submit your scholarship application by 11:59PM (Hawaii Standard Time) on May 31 and should have the following documents on hand to upload to your online application:
 

• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Thesis or Dissertation Research Prospectus
• A scanned copy of your official transcript for each higher education institution attended [UH students may submit an unofficial transcript generated via star.hawaii.edu]
• Two Letters of Recommendation,  one of which from your graduate advisor at your home institution confirming advancement to candidacy or thesis 
• Detailed budget

 
For more information, please visit the East-West Center website, or email scholarships@eastwestcenter.org.
 

Please Note:
 

• 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 edit it afterward, make sure to review your application before submitting it. 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 scholarships@EastWestCenter.org.
•   Access to technical help with using Submittable is available here.  
• All fields with an asterisk (*) are required. 

 For inquiries, please contact the EWC Award Services Office at scholarships@eastwestcenter.org.
 Please include in your message your (1) full name and (2) award for which you are applying.