IREX seeks experienced professionals to read and evaluate applications for the 2027 Community Solutions Program.

The Community Solutions Program (CSP) is a professional leadership development program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government for experienced, results-oriented leaders ages 27-39 who are advancing regional or local economic development and creating measurable benefits for their communities. For 2027, community leaders will be selected to participate in the program, which includes:

• U.S-Based Professional Exchange: CSP participants take part in a three-month professional exchange in the United States in 2027 with an American host organization. Participants work alongside U.S. counterparts on practical local and regional economic development efforts, contribute their professional expertise to their host organizations and communities, and learn from American approaches to cross-sector collaboration and regional growth. 
• Applied Leadership and Skills Development: Participants build practical leadership and technical skills that support local and regional economic growth. Training may focus on areas such as coalition building and public-private partnerships, e-commerce and digital tools, and project development and management, resource mobilization, transportation and infrastructure, workforce development and transformation.
• SCALE-Up Project:  After returning home, participants develop and implement a community-based SCALE-Up Project that applies relevant approaches, tools, technologies, partnerships, or practices from their U.S. experience to a clearly defined economic development challenge in their home community. 

The CSP Participant Selection Committee supports CSP's open, transparent, and merit-based process. The 2026-2027 selection process includes two stages: (1) written application review and (2) review of one-way recorded semi-finalist interviews. 

CSP seeks reviewers: American and international civil society leaders, and alumni of U.S. Government (USG) programs working in coalition building and public-private partnerships, e-commerce and digital tools, and project development and management, resource mobilization, transportation and infrastructure, workforce development and transformation to apply. 

Expectations of Readers

Application readers will be responsible for evaluating applications and assessing each applicant’s ability to participate and succeed in the Community Solutions Program. Participation is voluntary. IREX will provide readers with several resources to guide them through the evaluation process.

Selected reviewers will receive required orientation, system-access instructions, the approved scoring rubric, and review guidance before assignments are released. The CSP team will communicate individual assignment volumes and any reviewer check-in requirements separately.

Between December 1 and December 16, 2026, reviewers will complete their assigned written application reviews. All assigned reviews must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 16, 2026. In appreciation of their service, confirmed reviewers who successfully complete their assigned work will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Timeline of the Reading Committee application and review process

• October 21, 2026: Selection Committee application launches
• November 16, 2026: Selection Committee application closes
• November 17, 2026: Selection Committee members are notified if they have been selected to join the Reading Committee
• November 19, 2026: Reading Committee members receive application review instructions, training resources, and access to virtual onboarding in Canvas
• December 1, 2026: Written application review begins
• December 4, 2026: Reading Committee members submit at least one application score
• December 7, 2026: Reading Committee Workshop and Q&A session
• December 16, 2026: All written application reviews are due by 11:59 p.m. ET
  All dates are subject to change. The CSP team will notify Selection Committee members if the timeline changes.

Interview Committee

Select members will be invited to participate in the Interview Committee. Members of the Interview Committee are only eligible for participation if they also participated in this year’s Reading Committee and successfully submitted all scores before or by the deadline. These members will be responsible for reviewing and scoring 5-10 pre-recorded interviews. If you express interest in participating on the Interview Committee, we will invite you to join the committee by January 8, 2027.

• January 8, 2027: Selected Selection Committee members are notified that they have been invited to review one-way recorded interviews
  January 13, 2027: One-way interview review begins
  January 13–29, 2027: One-way interview review period
  January 29, 2027: All one-way interview evaluations are due by 11:59 p.m. ET

All dates are subject to change. The CSP team will notify Selection Committee members if the timeline changes.

Benefits of Joining Selection Committee:

• Support a transparent, merit-based process to identify the next cohort of CSP participants.
• Join a community of professionals and alumni with experience in regional and local economic development.
• Apply your sector, regional, and professional expertise to the selection of experienced, results-oriented leaders.
• Strengthen your experience reviewing applications using standardized selection criteria and scoring guidance.
• Help identify leaders who can contribute to U.S. host organizations, learn from American approaches to regional economic development, and apply relevant learning in their home communities.
• Receive an official Certificate of Participation after successfully completing your assigned Selection Committee responsibilities

Selection Committee Reviewer Requirements:

• Have relevant professional or community expertise. CSP particularly welcomes reviewers with experience in regional or local economic development and related fields, including workforce development, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, finance, technology, tourism, food systems, trade and logistics, and cross-sector collaboration.
• Be available to complete assigned written application reviews between December 1 and December 16, 2026.
• Complete required CSP reviewer orientation and follow the approved FY26 CSP scoring rubric and reviewer guidance.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of all applicant information and review materials.
• Disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest and recuse yourself from reviewing applicants when directed.
• Not be a current FY26 Community Solutions Program applicant.
• Conduct all reviews independently and without the use of artificial intelligence, generative AI, automated decision-making tools, or other automated services to review, summarize, score, reproduce, or otherwise process applicant materials.
• Optional: Indicate interest in reviewing one-way recorded semi-finalist interviews between January 13 and January 29, 2027. Participation in the written application review stage is required for consideration for the interview stage.

How to apply

Complete the FY26 CSP Selection Committee application by Friday, November 16, 2026.

Complete Your Interest Form

Questions?

Email our team at csp@irex.org.